Drama

A drama is a story acted on stage for an audience.

Dramatic Elements

Dramatic elements are needed to bring a story to life on stage:

setting script speechcharacter

props non-verbal actions conflict

costumes plot scenerytheme make-up sound/lightingcast

Dramatic Elements Sort

Fold a sheet of paper in thirds, creating a column for each of the types of dramatic elements: Literary, Technical, Performance.

Sort the above elements of drama into the three columns.

Literary Elements:create the story

Technical Elements: produce the drama

Performance Elements:bring story to life on

stage     

Literary Elements:create the story

Technical Elements: produce the drama

Performance Elements:bring story to life on

stage

ThemeConflictCharacterPlotSetting

ScriptSound/LightingCostumesMake-upPropsSceneryCast

SpeechNon-verbal actions

Literary Elements

Dramatic Elements Discussion

Discuss the technical and performance elements that were in the play.

Discuss how the technical and performance elements helped bring out the literary elements.

ERQ PracticeA. Describe how a technical or performance element was used in the play using at least two examples.B. Analyze how this element helped bring out a literary element. For instance:

How the scenery helped you understand the plot How the props helped you understand a character How the costumes helped you see a character How the nonverbal gestures helped you get the

theme How the scenery helped you understand the setting

ERQ ModelThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer play included

performance elements such as the actors’ ways of speaking. For instance, when the actress portrayed Becky she spoke in a light, chirpy voice. On the other hand, when she played the Widow, she talked in a dragging, rough voice.

The performance element of speaking helps to bring out the literary element of character. By adopting different ways of speaking, the actress brought a variety of characters to life. When she spoke in the light, chirpy voice, she showed that Becky was a young, energetic girl. When she spoke in the rough, dragging voice, she showed the Widow was old and feeble.

Structure of a DramaA drama is a story performed by actors for an audience. A drama

has many parts. The written form of a drama is a script.The cast of characters is a list of who is in the play. Stage directions tell actors what to do; they are written in italic print. Dialogue is the conversation between characters. A monologue is when one character speaks at length to another. A soliloquy is when a character is alone on stage and thinks aloud. A scene has a fixed setting and continuous time frame. An act is made up of several scenes.

Annotating a Drama

While reading Act 1 of The Miracle Worker, stop to annotate the different dramatic structures (you can chunk so there are about two per page).

For each annotation, explain how that structure contributes to the meaning of the drama.

What does it help you understand about the setting?

What does it help you understand about a character?

What does it help you understand about the plot?

What does it help you understand about the conflict?

What does it help you understand about the theme?

Dialogue shows how characters are trying to be polite

Stage directions show the character of HelenDialogu

e shows conflict between Keller and Anne

Stage directions show the character of both Anne and Helen; shows the plot developing as they first meet and interact

Dramatic Structure

Group Activity Assign the following roles in your group and

read through the rest of Act One (page 28-40) together: Stage Directions/Kate/Viney/First Crone’s Voice: Annie/Second Crone’s Voice: Keller/Third Crone’s Voice: James/Boy’s Voice/Doctor’s Voice:

Complete the graphic organizer to identify the most important pieces of dramatic structure and how they add meaning to the drama.

Type of Dramatic Structure:

Identify as stage directions, dialogue,

monologue, soliloquy

Quote from Text (write enough to

identify which part of drama):

Meaning: What does it tell you about the setting, character,

conflict, plot or theme? Dialogue  ANNIE: (HER BEST BEHAVIOR): Captain,

how do you do.KELLER: A pleasure to see you at last, I trust you had an agreeable journey?

 This section of dialogue reveals the polite character of Annie and Keller. They are using formal language and manners to make a good first impression.

 Stage Directions ( HELEN still groping for her makes her way out to the porch; she is messy, her hair tumbled, her pinafore now ripped, her shoelaces untied. )

 These stage directions show the character of Helen by giving an effective visual description of this messy girl.

 Dialogue  ANNIE [PLEASANTLY]: I’ll take the suitcase, thanks. KELLER: Not at all, I have it, Miss Sullivan.ANNIE: I’d like it.KELLER [GALLANTLY]: I couldn’t think of it, Miss Sullivan. You’ll find in the south we--

 This section of dialogue shows the conflict between Anne and Keller; he is used to being in charge of women and she wants to be independent.

     

     

Dramatic Structure ERQ

Use your text annotations and graphic organizer to answer the following ERQ. Remember to APE: Answer the question, use Proof from the text, and Explain how the proof answers the question.

Explain how the dramatic structure helps a reader better understand The Miracle Worker. Include at least two specific examples from the text.

Dramatic Structure ERQ

ModelThe dramatic structures in The Miracle Worker, such as stage directions and soliloquies, help the reader understand the theme of perseverance in the play. One scene contains stage directions that describe Anne repeatedly spelling words into Helen’s hand. This dramatic structure of stage directions helps the reader visualize how hard Anne is working to communicate with Helen, despite how hard Helen is fighting it. Later in the same scene, Anne talks to herself saying, “Don’t worry. They’ll find you, you’re not lost. Only out of place.” This soliloquy, another structure in this drama, reveals how Anne is struggling to reassure herself and keep going in her new position as Helen’s teacher.