Answer to Question #212338 in English for Gloria

Question

In your own words describe the key features of drama and how focusing on them will assist the learners to plan their plays?

Answer 1

dramatic tension: drives the drama and keeps an audience interested. The tension comes when opposing characters, dramatic action, ideas, attitudes, values, emotions and desires are in conflict creating a problem that needs to be resolved (or unresolved) through drama.

language and texts: referring to the use of spoken or written words that observe particular conventions and language registers that communicate ideas, feelings and other associations. Texts refer to the use of published texts, online materials and other compositions the reference of which adds meaning to the drama.

metaphor: creating an image or idea of one thing by saying it is something else. For example, ‘He is a lion of a man.’ In drama, the use of metaphor can be more subtle such as a metaphor of a mouse created through a character having a squeaky voice and small darting movements. Design and stylistic elements can also be metaphors for characterisation or provide meaning in terms of theme.

mood: describes the feelings and attitudes, often combined of the roles or characters involved in dramatic action often supported by other Elements of Drama as well as design elements. The mood is the emotional impact intended by the playwright, director and/or other members of the creative team.

relationships: refers to the qualities of the connection between two or more characters or roles. That relationship may be fixed (largely unchanged by the dramatic action) or variable (challenged or changed by the dramatic action). The relationship may be cooperative (as in a friendship), adversarial (as in enemies), neutral (neither positive nor negative) or non-existent (as in total strangers). Those relationships will be defined by shared interests, common objectives, cultural values and/or human need.