THE ELEMENTS OF DRAMA
1. LITERARY ELEMENTS
Plot: the series of events that take place in a play
6 stages in a plot structure:
a. Initial incident: the event that “gets the story going”
b. Preliminary event: whatever takes place BEFORE the action of the play directly related to the
play
c. Rising action: a series of events following the initial incident and leading up to the dramatic
climax.
d. Climax: the turning point or high point of a story, when events can go either way
e. Falling action: the series of events following the climax.
f. Denouement or conclusion: another term for the ending-it is the French word for “unraveling”)
Character: a person portrayed in a drama, novel, or other artistic piece.
Exposition: is the “who, when, where and” part of the play.
Story organization: beginning, middle, end
Conflict: the internal or external struggle between opposing forces, ideas, or interests that creates
dramatic tension.
Suspense: a feeling of uncertainty as to the outcome, used to build interest and excitement on the part of
the audience
Theme: the basic idea of a play; the idea, point of view, or perception that binds together a work of art
Language: in drama, the particular manner of verbal expression, the diction or style of writing, or the
speech or phrasing that suggests a class or profession or type of character
Style: the shaping of dramatic material, settings, or costumes in a deliberately nonrealistic manner
2. TECHNICAL ELEMENTS
Scenery (set): curtains, flats, backdrops, or platforms, used in a dramatic production to communicate
environment
Costumes: clothing and accessories worn by actors to portray character and period.
Props: short for properties; any article, except costume or scenery, used as part of a dramatic
production; any moveable object that appears on stage during a performance, from a telephone to a train
Lights: the placement, intensity, and color of lights to help communicate environment, mood, or feeling
Sound: the effects an audience hears during performance to communicate character, context, or
environment
Makeup: costumes, wigs, and body paint used to transform an actor into a character
3. PERFORMANCE ELEMENTS
Acting:use of face, body, and voice to portray character
a. Character motivation: the reason or reasons for a character’s behavior; an incentive or
inducement for further action for a character
b. Character analysis: in responding to dramatic art, the process of examining how the elements of
drama—literary, technical, and performance—are used
c. Empathy: the capacity to relate to the feelings of another
Speaking: the mode of expression or delivery of lines
a. Breath control: proper use of the lungs and diaphragm muscle for maximum capacity and
efficiency of breath for speaking
b. Vocal expression: how an actor uses his or her voice to convey character
c. Inflection: change in pitch or loudness of the voice.
d. Projection: how well the voice carries to the audience
e. Speaking style: the mode of expression or delivery of lines
f. Diction: selection and pronunciation of words; clarity of speech.
Nonverbal expression:
a. Gestures: any movement of the actor’s head, shoulder, arm, hand, leg, or foot to convey meaning
b. Body alignment: physiologically correct posture and use of the body to ensure the maximum
capacity and efficiency of breathing and movement
c. Facial expression: physical and vocal aspects used by an actor to convey mood, feeling, or
personality
d. Character blocking: the path formed by the actor’s movement on stage, usually determined by
the director with assistance from the actor and often written down in a script using commonly
accepted theatrical symbols
e. Movement: stage blocking or the movements of the actors onstage during performance; also
refers to the action of the play as it moves from event to event.
