American Division Literature . [ 18 ]

18- ] American Division Literature .

Chapter Four .

Drama .

Drama – a play is a literary composition or story that is intended to be acted out by actors or players [ usually ] on a stage . Drama was present in ancient Greek Dionysian religious ceremony , but modern drama is more closely a product of Western European medieval drama , a new form that was developed from Christian Church ritual in the ninth century .

Dramatic Structure .

    It refers of course to “ plot”. Just as in prose narrative , the plot of a drama centers around conflict : person vs. person , person vs. group , person vs. environment , person vs. nature , or person vs. self . Each event is arranged within the dramatic structure to move along the story line of the plot – the action and to have some impact upon the audience .

The structure of a typical stage play might look like this :

1-[ Exposition ; introduction or status quo:

   During the opening of the play the setting is established and the audience meets the main characters . The opening scene , however , develops  a sense of credibility by “ filling you in” on the circumstances that motivate the actors . Also , the introduction – sets the tone . Sometimes the story begins in the conflict to come .

2-] Conflict or exciting force :

   The conflict is the point at which you recognize a threat to something and / or to someone you have come to care about in the introduction or to something or someone that you are , in the course of the story , coming to care about . Obstacles are placed in the way of the protagonist [ the main character. These obstacles may arise from another person , a group , nature , the environment or from psychological conflict that are generated from within the protagonist . Called the “ exciting force" , it sets into motion the rising action in the play . It is very important because it gives the characters motivation for their words and deeds and it gives the audience motivation to care .

3-] Rising action or complication :

     Once the exciting force has set the action in motion , the struggle builds dramatic structure toward a confrontation . This stage in the dramatic structure consists of a series of emotional highs and lows , with each high gaining intensity . This conflict becomes more complicated .

4-] Climax , crisis or turning point :

  Then , it happens – the inevitable moment of confrontation . This is the point of climax – the turning point in the plot – the point at which there is a reversal from rising action to falling action .Climax is also a synonym for crisis when you are determining the structure of a story or a drama , but climax can also refer to the point of highest intensity for the reader or audience – a point that might come before or after the crisis .

5-] Falling action :

Briefer than rising action , the falling action may still have some suspenseful moments , but for the most part gives the reader or audience a sense of completion , with the various unsettled issues at work within the plot reaching some state of resolution .

6-] Resolution or dénouement :

The hero has won or lost ; issues are resolved ; order is restored .

      How the structure is handled depends on many factors , including the lengthy of the play and the intended audience , the use of dramatic elements , the settings and the genre of the play .

Length and Audience :

  In a typical three-act play , both the exposition and the introduction of the conflict may occur in Act 1 . The conflict may continue into Act 11 , with rising action , leading to the point of crisis [ the turning point ] happening just before the curtain closes on the second act . Act 111 , then , is left to the falling action and the resolution .