Dramatic StructureDramatic Structure

What is dramatic structure?What is dramatic structure?

A Map of a playA Map of a play

What are the parts?What are the parts?– In writing? Intro Body ConclusionIn writing? Intro Body Conclusion– In Performance? Intro Development ResolutionIn Performance? Intro Development Resolution

Components of a playComponents of a play

Theme- the moral or lesson a play teaches. For instance Theme- the moral or lesson a play teaches. For instance Goldilocks theme is- Don’t use other people’s stuff!Goldilocks theme is- Don’t use other people’s stuff!– Major Dramatic Question- the question that must be Major Dramatic Question- the question that must be

answered in order for the play to conclude. Example: Will answered in order for the play to conclude. Example: Will Goldilocks get caught?Goldilocks get caught?

– Universality- Themes should apply throughout time and to Universality- Themes should apply throughout time and to many different cultures and societies.many different cultures and societies.

– Concept- A statement of what the artist (or reader) feels the Concept- A statement of what the artist (or reader) feels the play is about as well as their take on it. Example- Goldilocks play is about as well as their take on it. Example- Goldilocks is a fun story where children learn good life lessons through is a fun story where children learn good life lessons through humor. Notice this statement is a combination of theme and humor. Notice this statement is a combination of theme and how I think it should be performed (fun-humor).how I think it should be performed (fun-humor).

Components of a playComponents of a play

Plot- the events of the story in order. Ie. The three Plot- the events of the story in order. Ie. The three bears went for a walk, then Goldilocks tried bears went for a walk, then Goldilocks tried their porridge…their porridge…

– Intro- Where characters are introduced and the Intro- Where characters are introduced and the conflict is foreshadowed.conflict is foreshadowed.

– Development- The ups and downs of the Development- The ups and downs of the problem.problem.

– Resolution- where the problem gets solved and Resolution- where the problem gets solved and normalcy returns.normalcy returns.

ThemeTheme

Theme- the lesson, the moral?Theme- the lesson, the moral? Let’s talk about the themes of commonly Let’s talk about the themes of commonly

known shows:known shows:– Trifles- The little things matter. Or Women are Trifles- The little things matter. Or Women are

good problem solvers.good problem solvers.– Titanic- Big ships sink too. Or Love is Titanic- Big ships sink too. Or Love is

everlasting.everlasting.– Ed- Friendships survive allEd- Friendships survive all

Themes should be UniversalThemes should be Universal

What is Universality? Across time, place, and What is Universality? Across time, place, and language barriers.language barriers.– Why should themes apply universally? The story of Why should themes apply universally? The story of

Oedipus is 2500 years old yet the lesson still affects all Oedipus is 2500 years old yet the lesson still affects all of us.of us.

– Examples? Romeo and Juliet? All children’s storiesExamples? Romeo and Juliet? All children’s stories

– Exceptions? Some stories can’t cross cultural barriers Exceptions? Some stories can’t cross cultural barriers because of different belief systems. For instance, in because of different belief systems. For instance, in some African tribes women are given as brides. some African tribes women are given as brides. Modern feminist theory in America would not agree Modern feminist theory in America would not agree with this. And if that were the theme, then the play with this. And if that were the theme, then the play would not relate to its’ audiencewould not relate to its’ audience

ThemeTheme

What is a Concept?What is a Concept?

– An underlying current driving the production.An underlying current driving the production.– Shakespeare redone- R&J Modern? The Shakespeare redone- R&J Modern? The

Leonardo DiCapprio version certainly was Leonardo DiCapprio version certainly was conceptually unique.conceptually unique.

– Trifles? How would you produce Trifles?Trifles? How would you produce Trifles?

PlotPlot The mapping of a play- How the events The mapping of a play- How the events

unfoldunfold

Above is a linear, or Aristotlean progression. The events Above is a linear, or Aristotlean progression. The events build and build until a climax and then resolve. In the last build and build until a climax and then resolve. In the last century a cyclical pattern was often usedcentury a cyclical pattern was often used

IntroductionIntroduction

– Prologue- Prologue- Used originally in Greek theatre, a Used originally in Greek theatre, a chorus member would speak directly to the chorus member would speak directly to the audience and set up the events and characters.audience and set up the events and characters.

– Feather Duster Scene- Feather Duster Scene- When realism When realism brought about a distaste for speaking brought about a distaste for speaking directly to the audience, playwrights often directly to the audience, playwrights often put a maid on stage who would dust while put a maid on stage who would dust while speaking to herself about the problems in speaking to herself about the problems in the house and the characters involved. the house and the characters involved. Nifty huh?Nifty huh?

– Exposition- Exposition- simply when the audience simply when the audience is being fed informationis being fed information

DevelopmentDevelopment

– Conflict- The problem of the playConflict- The problem of the play– Rising Action- Building of the problemRising Action- Building of the problem– Point of Attack- At the end of the exposition and Point of Attack- At the end of the exposition and

the beginning of the problem the beginning of the problem – Build- Another term for Rising AcionBuild- Another term for Rising Acion– Point of no Return- The point at which the Point of no Return- The point at which the

antagonist has chosen he must solve the [problem antagonist has chosen he must solve the [problem and cannot rest until he does.and cannot rest until he does.

– Climax- The biggest confrontation- where the Climax- The biggest confrontation- where the problem is tackledproblem is tackled

ResolutionResolution

– Falling Falling Action- Refer to the chart, the play begins at peace Action- Refer to the chart, the play begins at peace and builds to a climax, but also falls back to peace.and builds to a climax, but also falls back to peace.

– Putting the Pieces Back- Putting the Pieces Back- Just another way of saying Just another way of saying Falling ActionFalling Action

– Denouement- Denouement- French from untying- the final resolutionFrench from untying- the final resolution

CharactersCharacters ProtagonistProtagonist. . the central character of a story. Pthe central character of a story. Protagonistrotagonist

is the term used by literary critics. In most cases we see the plot is the term used by literary critics. In most cases we see the plot from the point of view of the protagonist, though some stories from the point of view of the protagonist, though some stories have a narrator who is not the protagonist.have a narrator who is not the protagonist.

AntagonistAntagonist. . This is the character who causes or leads the This is the character who causes or leads the conflict against the protagonist. The antagonist is usually a conflict against the protagonist. The antagonist is usually a villain, but not always. Every story has a protagonist, but some villain, but not always. Every story has a protagonist, but some stories do not have an antagonist, as some types of conflict do stories do not have an antagonist, as some types of conflict do not require one. not require one.

ConfidantConfidant. . Many stories include a secondary character Many stories include a secondary character whose main function is to listen to the protagonist. The confidant whose main function is to listen to the protagonist. The confidant (or confidante, if a woman) may play a part in the character (or confidante, if a woman) may play a part in the character development of the protagonist, but even more often, he gives development of the protagonist, but even more often, he gives the protagonist an excuse to provide plot information for the the protagonist an excuse to provide plot information for the reader.reader.

More characters…More characters…

FoilFoil. . This is a character, usually a secondary one, who helps us This is a character, usually a secondary one, who helps us to understand the protagonist or another major character by to understand the protagonist or another major character by providing a contrast. In the old western movies, the hero was providing a contrast. In the old western movies, the hero was always tall and handsome, had a good singing voice, wore a white always tall and handsome, had a good singing voice, wore a white hat, rode a palomino stallion, and was strong and brave. His hat, rode a palomino stallion, and was strong and brave. His sidekick was always short and fat, had a gravelly voice, wore a sidekick was always short and fat, had a gravelly voice, wore a ridiculous-looking hat, often rode a pinto pony, and was weak and ridiculous-looking hat, often rode a pinto pony, and was weak and timid. Technically speaking, this sidekick was a foil (as well as a timid. Technically speaking, this sidekick was a foil (as well as a confidant). He made the hero look more heroic just by standing confidant). He made the hero look more heroic just by standing next to him. next to him.

NarratorNarrator.. This is the character who tells the story. The This is the character who tells the story. The narrator may be a realistic or fictionalized version of the author or narrator may be a realistic or fictionalized version of the author or an entirely imaginary character whom we accept for the sake of an entirely imaginary character whom we accept for the sake of the story, though we know he is not really the author. The narrator the story, though we know he is not really the author. The narrator may be a main character or a minor one, may or may not know all may be a main character or a minor one, may or may not know all of the facts of the story, and may be of the facts of the story, and may be reliablereliable or or unreliableunreliable. .

Now let’s look at Trifles-Now let’s look at Trifles-

What were the events in the plot?What were the events in the plot?– Which parts were the introduction?Which parts were the introduction?– The development? The development? – Resolution?Resolution?

Well that depends on the who we think the play Well that depends on the who we think the play was about and what the Major Dramatic was about and what the Major Dramatic Question was?Question was?

MDQ- Will the women cover for MDQ- Will the women cover for Mrs. WrightMrs. Wright

Introductory elementsIntroductory elements– Exposition about what happened when the Exposition about what happened when the

neighbor and sheriff arrived last night.neighbor and sheriff arrived last night.– We find out they are looking for motive.We find out they are looking for motive.– We see early that the men view the women’s We see early that the men view the women’s

things as unimportant (trifles).things as unimportant (trifles).– The women start to notice clues as to Mrs. The women start to notice clues as to Mrs.

Wright’s guilt.Wright’s guilt.

MDQ- Will the women cover for MDQ- Will the women cover for Mrs. WrightMrs. Wright

DevelopmentDevelopment– The women find the bird cage, stitching, and The women find the bird cage, stitching, and

other clues that clearly point towards her guilt.other clues that clearly point towards her guilt.– They discuss the woman’s role. And how most They discuss the woman’s role. And how most

men, including Mr. Wright, abuse that role.men, including Mr. Wright, abuse that role.– They indirectly discuss whether or not to cover They indirectly discuss whether or not to cover

for Mrs. Wright.for Mrs. Wright.

MDQ- Will the women cover for MDQ- Will the women cover for Mrs. WrightMrs. Wright

ClimaxClimax– They hide the clues and change the subject They hide the clues and change the subject

when the men re-enter. Notice how this answers when the men re-enter. Notice how this answers our MDQ.our MDQ.

– Now there is no doubt about the fate of the Now there is no doubt about the fate of the play. All of the rising action has pointed to this play. All of the rising action has pointed to this decision to cover the information.decision to cover the information.

MDQ- Will the women cover for MDQ- Will the women cover for Mrs. WrightMrs. Wright

ConclusionConclusion– This play has a pretty quick resolution. The This play has a pretty quick resolution. The

clues are hidden and the women make a few clues are hidden and the women make a few snide comments to the investigators about their snide comments to the investigators about their arrogance and ignorance and the play ends.arrogance and ignorance and the play ends.

Trifle’s CharactersTrifle’s Characters

Protagonist- The women- probably Mrs. Protagonist- The women- probably Mrs. Hale who talks Mrs. Peters into covering.Hale who talks Mrs. Peters into covering.

Antagonist- The men – who represent the Antagonist- The men – who represent the law.law.

Confidant- The women serve this role to Confidant- The women serve this role to each other as they share stories about how each other as they share stories about how men have mistreated women.men have mistreated women.

ENDEND