B.A III (Special English)

Subject: English Drama

« Definition and Elements of Drama:

          Drama is one of the most important forms of literature. It is mode of fictional representation through dialogue and performance. Drama is considered as the mother of all arts as it is used to inform, educate and entertain the people. M. H. Abrams in his work ‘ A Glossary of Literary Terms’ defines the term drama as a composition designed for performance in the theatre, in which actors take the roles of characters, perform the indicated action and utter the written dialogue. Plot, character, dialogue, staging and theme are the major elements of drama. These elements can be stated as given below:

1)    Plot:

      Plot is the soul of drama. Plot means systematic arrangements of events in the story. In his work Poetics, Aristotle regarded plot (mythos) as the most important element of drama-more important than character. Aristotle considered plot as the soul of tragedy. According to Aristotle, action in dram is complete in itself. It has proper beginning, middle and an end. Tragedy, Comedy and Tragic-comedy are the major divisions of drama.

          For the dramatic purpose, plot means plan, scheme or pattern. It must be a whole, complete in itself and of certain magnitude. It must have unity of action.Plot gives meaning, vigor and vitality to the play. It is the most dominant element of drama. According to Aristotle, simple plot and complex plot are the two kinds of plot. Aristotle gives preference to a complex plot.

2)   Characters:

         Character is the next important element of drama. We can’t imagine the drama without characters. Characters in drama can be classified as a major, minor, static and dynamic, flat and round.

          Hamertia which means tragic flaw is one of the traits of the Tragic Hero. The tragic hero is a high-ranked and gentle person. But he suffers from flaw or fault which brings his doom. This flaw is called “Hamertia”. Lust for power is the flaw of Macbeth, while too much thinking and less action is Hamlet’s tragic flaw. Both the heroes are destroyed by these flaws. In this way, characters provide liveliness to play. Characters and plot are inseparablepart of drama.

3)   Dialogue:

Dialogue means conversation between people in literary work. According to the critics of drama, reading drama means reading dialogue. An important dramatic convention of dialogue is the use of a soliloquy to express a character’s state of mind. Soliloquy may be defined as thinking aloud to himself on the part of the character. This is to say that it is the expression of the character’s private thoughts into the speech which is observed by the audience. It is not supposed to be heard by anyone and is spoken when on other actor is present.

          Aside is the shortest form of soliloquy. It is a thought spoken aloud by an actor in front of other characters who are not supposed to hear it. Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” and Macbeth’s “If it were done, when its done” are the fine examples of soliloquy.

          Dialogue is very significant element of drama. Dialogue reveals the nature of character and also gives us information about his relations with the person spoken or of the person not present when the conversation takes place. Dialogue contributes to forward the action of drama. J. L. Styan rightly describes dialogue as dramatic speech.

4)   Action:

Drama brings life experiences realistically to the audience. It is the most concrete of all genres of literature. In drama, characters or actors talk to themselves and react to issues according to the impulse of the moment. Action is the core aspect of drama.

5)    Conflict:

          Conflict adds interest to the drama. The conflict can be internal as well as external. The conflict can be the protagonist’s struggle against fate, nature, society or another person. Without conflict, drama becomes monotones. The internal conflict is also called psychological conflict. External conflict deals with man vs man, man vs society, man vs nature, man vs supernatural, man vs fate etc.

          Conflict is the essence of drama. It enlightens life and grants dignity and worth to human life. Hence, conflict is an important element of drama.

6)   Stage Directions:

       Stage direction is also an important element of drama. Drama is meant for both reading and performance on the stage. It is performed in front of audience with the use of set, lighting, music and costumes. Stage directions are guidelines as well as suggestions that are given by the dramatists in the script of the play. Stage directions help to establish a link between the reader and the dramatist. In such a context, it can be stated that stage directions are important in the production of drama.

7)   Theme:

       Theme is an important element of drama. Theme is the central topic, subject or message within a narrative. It is the message that the play gives to the audience. It can be clearly stated through dialog or action or can be inferred after watching the entire performance. The theme is the philosophy that forms the base of the story or a moral lesson that the characters learn.

In this way, plot, characters, dialogue, action, conflict, stage directions and theme are the major elements of drama. Drama is an imitation of life. It is branch of literature which is both literary art and representational art. Drama gives us a direct presentation of life experiences.