Drama

Drama is a genre of narrative fiction or semi-fiction intended to be more serious than humorous in tone, focusing on in-depth development of realistic characters who must deal with realistic emotional struggles. Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance, which comes from Classical Greek δρᾶμα, meaning 'action'.

History

Drama originates from Ancient Greece, where classical Athenian drama was part of festivals celebrating Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility. The Greeks created the forms of tragedy, practiced by Sophocles and Euripides, and comedy, practiced by Aristophanes. These forms were later adopted by the Romans and have influenced drama up to the present day.

Types of Drama

Drama can be divided into several types, including:

• Tragedy - A serious play in which the main character suffers a downfall due to their tragic flaw.
• Comedy - A play that is intended to be humorous and ends happily.
• Melodrama - A sensational dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions.
• Farce - A comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay and typically including crude characterization and ludicrously improbable situations.
• Musical Drama - A genre of drama in which singing and dancing play an essential part.

Elements of Drama

The main elements of drama include:

• Plot - The sequence of events or incidents of which the story is composed.
• Character - The person, animal, or thing in the story.
• Theme - The main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work.
• Dialogue - The conversation between characters in a drama.
• Setting - The time and place of the action.
• Conflict - The struggle between opposing forces that is the basis of the plot.

See Also

• Theatre
• Play (theatre)
• Screenplay
• Teleplay

References

Drama Resources
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