2. The Elements of Drama
The elements of drama, by which dramatic works can be analyzed and evaluated, can be categorized into three major areas:
- literary element
- technical Element
- performance element
3. Aristotle’s Six Elements of Drama --Literary Elements--
4. plot
5. theme
6. character
7. dialogue
8. music/rythm and spectacle
9. Elements of Drama in The Modern Theater
--Literary Elements--
10. convention, genre, audience
11. --Technical Elements--
12. scenery set, costume and properties
13. light, sound and make up
14. --Performance Elements--
15. acting, character motivation, character analysis and empathy
17. conclusion
1. The Elements of Drama
Arranged by:
Annisa Nur Fitria
Ghea Hafiiza Nazmi
Mardiatun Nisa
Maya Putri Amelia
Zahrah Fawziah
5C
2. The Elements of Drama
The elements of drama, by which dramatic
works can be analyzed and evaluated, can be
categorized into three major areas:
LITERARY ELEMENTS
TECHNICAL ELEMENTS
PERFORMANCE
ELEMENTS
3. Aristotle’s Six Elements of Drama
--Literary Elements--
Plot Theme Characters
Dialogue Music/Rhythm Spectacle
4. Plot Plot refers to the action; the basic
storyline of the play.
Initial
incident
Preliminary
event
Rising
action
Climax
Falling
action
Denouement
Six Stages in a Plot Structure
5. Theme refers to the meaning of the play.
Theme is the main idea or lesson to be
learned from the play. In some cases, the
theme of a play is obvious; other times it is
quite subtle.
Some General Themes
Theme
Conflict--
between two
individuals
Conflict between
man and a
supernatural
power
Conflict between
the man and
himself
7. Various Forms of
Dialogue
Dialogue
This refers to the words written by the
playwright and spoken by the characters in
the play. The dialogue helps move the
action of the play along.
An exchange between two or more characters
• A character that is typically alone on stage delivers a long
speech which is called a soliloquy. Emotions and innermost
thoughts of the character are revealed in a soliloquy.
Soliloquy
• This is spoken by a character to another character or to the
audience but is not heard by the other characters on stage.
Asides reveal what a character is thinking or feeling.
Aside
8. This refers to the visual elements of a
play: sets, costumes, special effects,
etc. Spectacle is everything that the
audience sees as they watch the play.
While music is often featured in
drama, in this case Aristotle was
referring to the rhythm of the actors'
voices as they speak.
Music/Rhythm
Spectacle
9. Elements of Drama in The Modern
Theater
--Literary Elements--
Characters Plot Theme
Dialogue Convention Genre
Audience
10. Genre refers to the type of play. Some
examples of different genres include
comedy, tragedy, mystery and
historical play.
These are the techniques and
methods used by the playwright and
director to create the desired stylistic
effect.
Convention
Genre
Audience
This is the group of people who watch the
play. Many playwrights and actors
consider the audience to be the most
important element of drama, as all of the
effort put in to writing and producing a
play is for the enjoyment of the audience.
12. Clothing and accessories are worn by
actors to portray character and period.
The theatrical equipment, such as
curtains, flats, backdrops, or platforms,
used in a dramatic production to
communicate environment.
Properties are any article, except costume
or scenery, used as part of a dramatic
production; any moveable object that
appears on stage during a performance,
from a telephone to a train
Scenery
(set)
Costumes
Properties
13. The effects an audience hears during
performance to communicate
character, context, or environment.
Light elements means that every
placement, intensity, and color of
lights have to be set as needed to help
communicate environment, mood, or
feeling.
Makeup includes costumes, wigs, and
body paint used to transform an actor into
a character.
Lights
Sound
Makeup
14. --Performance Elements--
• The use of face, body, and voice to
portray character
Acting
• The reason or reasons for a character’s
behavior; an incentive or inducement
for further action for a character in
drama.
Character
Motivation
• In responding to dramatic art, the
process of examining how the elements
of drama –literary, technical, and
performance –are used.
Character
Analysis
• The capacity to relate to the
feelings of anotherEmpathy
15. Conclusion
In drama, there are 3 major elements which are literary,
technical, and performance elements. Literary
elements consist of plot, theme, characters, dialogue,
music, spectacle, convention, genre, and audience.
Technical elements consist of scenery (set), costumes,
properties, lights, sound, and makeup. And the last,
performance elements consist of acting, character
motivation, character analysis, and empathy. For each
element hold specific role in ensuring the success of a
drama, we have to pay attention to each element that
constructs it.
