What is Drama?
         What is Drama?
  Drama is a type of literature that is 
    Drama is a type of literature that is 
    primarily written to be performed for 
    primarily written to be performed for 
    an audience.  When reading a play, it 
    an audience.  When reading a play, it 
    is important to keep certain features 
    is important to keep certain features 
    of drama in mind.  Some of these 
    of drama in mind.  Some of these 
    features relate to drama as 
    features relate to drama as 
    literature; others reflect its character 
    literature; others reflect its character 
    as a performance.
    as a performance.
                History…
                History…
   Greek Drama 500-400 B.C.
     Greek Drama 500-400 B.C.
   Medieval:  The Middle Ages 1200-
     Medieval:  The Middle Ages 1200-
     1500 AD
     1500 AD
   Elizabethan & Jacobean 1500-1642
     Elizabethan & Jacobean 1500-1642
                    th
                     th
     Restoration & 18  Cent. Drama 1660-
     Restoration & 18  Cent. Drama 1660-
     1800
     1800
   Romantic Era 1800-1880
     Romantic Era 1800-1880
   Modern Era 1850-Present
     Modern Era 1850-Present
     Types of Drama- Tragedy
     Types of Drama- Tragedy
   Tragedy:  A play in which the 
    Tragedy:  A play in which the 
    main character experiences 
    main character experiences 
    disaster, but faces this 
    disaster, but faces this 
    downfall in such a way as to 
    downfall in such a way as to 
    attain heroic stature.* 
    attain heroic stature.* 
   Even though Tragedies are 
    Even though Tragedies are 
    “gloomy” they are 
    “gloomy” they are 
    triumphant, because they 
    triumphant, because they 
    inspire exaltation at the 
    inspire exaltation at the 
    greatness human beings can 
    greatness human beings can 
    attain even in defeat.
    attain even in defeat.
                 Comedy
                 Comedy
   Comedy closes with a 
     Comedy closes with a 
     peaceful resolution of 
     peaceful resolution of 
     the main conflict.*
     the main conflict.*
     High Comedy:  The humor 
       High Comedy:  The humor 
       arises from subtle 
       arises from subtle 
       characterization, social 
       characterization, social 
       satire, and sophisticated 
       satire, and sophisticated 
       wit.
       wit.
     Low Comedy:  Emphasizes 
       Low Comedy:  Emphasizes 
       absurd dialogue, bawdy 
       absurd dialogue, bawdy 
       jokes, visual gags, and 
       jokes, visual gags, and 
       physical humor.*
       physical humor.*
            Types of Comedy
            Types of Comedy
   Romantic Comedy:  The main 
     Romantic Comedy:  The main 
     characters are lovers, and the plot 
     characters are lovers, and the plot 
     tends to follow the pattern of “boy 
     tends to follow the pattern of “boy 
     gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl 
     gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl 
     again.”
     again.”
   Satiric Comedy:  Uses humor to 
     Satiric Comedy:  Uses humor to 
     ridicule foolish ideas or customs with 
     ridicule foolish ideas or customs with 
     the purpose of improving society.
     the purpose of improving society.
     Comedy of Manners:  Satirizes the vices 
       Comedy of Manners:  Satirizes the vices 
       and follies of the upper class.*
       and follies of the upper class.*