Unit 4: Craft and Structure

Drama is a story that is written as a script and intended for performance by actors.

The struggles that characters face in a drama spark a sequence of events, called the plot, which eventually reaches a climax, the point of highest intensity in the action.

The struggles that characters face in a drama spark a sequence of events, called the plot, which eventually reaches a climax, the point of highest intensity in the action.

The resolution, or settling of the conflict, allows the story to wind down and leads to the drama's conclusion.

Through this effect, the author, or playwright, explores a theme—an insight or a message about life.

Through this effect, the author, or playwright, explores a theme—an insight or a message about life.

The characters of two people in love, the conflict of circumstances that keep the lovers apart, and themes about the power, difficulties, and danger of love, are concepts that still have relevance in the modern world.

The characters of two people in love, the conflict of circumstances that keep the lovers apart, and themes about the power, difficulties, and danger of love, are concepts that still have relevance in the modern world.

A playwright divides a script into basic units called acts.

A playwright divides a script into basic units called acts.

Within acts, there may be further divisions known as scenes.

Characters' speech is called dialogue, and notes in the script on how the play should be performed are called stage directions.

Characters' speech is called dialogue, and notes in the script on how the play should be performed are called stage directions.

A prop is a movable object, such as a book, a pen, or a flashlight. Props add realism to the action in a play.

A tragedy traces the downfall of the main character, or protagonist, who is often called the tragic hero.

A tragedy traces the downfall of the main character, or protagonist, who is often called the tragic hero.

In classic drama, the tragic hero is an important person, such as a general or a king.

The hero is admirable but is defeated by a tragic flaw, a mistake or character defect.

A comedy has a happy ending for the protagonist.

Many screenplays, teleplays, and operas are framed in three acts.

Many screenplays, teleplays, and operas are framed in three acts.

Many ancient Greek plays also employ the convention of the chorus, a group of actors onstage who observe the action but do not participate in it.

In other modern dramas, a narrator may replace the chorus.

A monologue is a long speech that one character delivers to other characters onstage.

A soliloquy is a speech in which a character, alone on stage, "thinks aloud," revealing private thoughts.

An aside is a remark that a character makes to the audience but that other characters do not hear.

Through the use of characterization—the dialogue and actions that reveal a character's personality—a playwright provides clues about the human qualities of a character as well as clues about the character's motivation, or reasons for behaving a certain way.

Through the use of characterization—the dialogue and actions that reveal a character's personality—a playwright provides clues about the human qualities of a character as well as clues about the character's motivation, or reasons for behaving a certain way.

In literary terms, complex characters are round, rather than flat, and dynamic, rather than static.

In literary terms, complex characters are round, rather than flat, and dynamic, rather than static.