Forms of Drama
Definition
- Drama is a type of narrative, usually fictional, that is performed. Drama usually involves actors on stage in front of a live audience.
- Thus, as a narrative mode, there is the assumption that drama requires participation and collaboration between the actors and the audience.
- It is, of course, possible to read works of drama, yet the full expression of drama is in the context of performance.
The Origin of Drama in Literature
- The origin of English drama seems vague. There is no certain evidence proving its origin.
- However, it can be traced back from century of succeeding Norman Conquest to England on 1066.
- Many historians believe that drama came to England along with them.
- There was information that when the Roman where in England, they established vast amphitheatre for production some plays, but when they left, the theatre gone with them
- Originally, the term drama came from Greek word δρᾶμα (drama), meaning “action” or “to act” or “to do”.
- William J. Long argues that “drama is an old story told in the eye, a story put into action by living performers”.
- Thus, drama is the form of composition design for performance in the theatre, in which the actors take role for certain characters, perform certain action and utter certain dialogues (Abrams and Harpham, 2015:95).
- In England, drama had a distinctly religious origin from the church as the part of services.
- Apart from its origin, the Latin Church had condemned Roman theatre for many reasons. Thus, drama could not develop until tenth century when the church began to use dramatic elements as part of their services in the certain festival or ritual.
- The motives of the church began to use dramatics elements seem unclear. But, it was certain that the purpose was didactic, that is, to give deep understanding about the truth of their religion to the believer.
- The oldest existing church drama was “Quem Quarritis” trope (whom are you seeking), when the three Marrys visited the empty tomb of Christ and met angel. Their conversation with angel consists of four sentences in Latin then adapted and performed by the clergy in very simple performance.
- This simple beginning gradually grew more elaborate. This drama called liturgical drama, in which the story simply taken from the scripture.
- The earlier play were given inside the church, the story were written by the clergy and performed by the clergy using Latin language.
- However, drama were not performed in all churches, only in certain cathedrals and monasteries where there were enough clergy to perform the plays.
Dramatic irony is an important stylistic device that is commonly found in plays, movies, theaters, and sometimes in poetry.
Storytellers use this irony as a useful plot device for creating situations in which the audience knows more about the situations, the causes of conflicts, and their resolutions before the leading characters or actors. That is why readers observe that the speech of actors takes on unusual meanings.
For instance, the audience knows that a character is going to be murdered, or will make a decision to commit suicide; however, one particular character or others may not be aware of these facts. Hence, the words and actions of characters would suggest a different meaning to the audience from what they indicate to the characters and the story. Thus, it creates intense suspense and humor. This speech device also emphasizes, embellishes, and conveys emotions and moods more effectively.
The following are the Major Forms of Drama
Drama MCQ ( 181-200)