phil lit.

• drama - comes from the greek word "drao" which means to "to do/to act"
• comedy and tragedy - masks identified with drama that illustrate the classic conventional distinction
• drama - sometimes referred to as a play, features characters caught up in a plot, or series of events in a storyline
• playwright - author who writes plays
• types of drama

  • comedy
  • farce
  • tragedy
  • melodrama
• comedy - a type or genre of drama that is intended to make people laugh
• main themes of comedy

  • the tone is lighthearted
  • ingenious wordplay or twists of phrases
  • serious issues are addressed in a lighthearted manner
  • misunderstandings are amusing
  • a happy ending
  • characters who are silly and out of the ordinary
  • usually concludes with a wedding, especially in romantic comedies
• sub-genres of comedy - romantic comedies
• farce - another type of drama in literature which is, broadly humorous
• the main themes of farce:

  • exaggerated wit
  • jokes that are slapstick
  • the plot is illogical
  • unexpected occurrences
  • humor is frequently coarse and inappropriate
• tragedy - most common and popular types of drama and it tends to be sad
• the main themes of tragedy:

  • a fatal fault in the protagonist
  • situations that easily spiral out of control and not in a good way
  • human agony, hate, or poverty are frequent topics. these are darker topics than in a melodrama
  • describes the demise of a once heroic or well-liked persona
  • an unredeemable conclusion in which one or more characters die
  • arrives at a terrible catharsis
• melodrama - exaggerated kind of drama in literature, in which conventional one-dimensional characters such as heroes, heroines, and villains contend with exciting, passionate, and frequently deadly situations
• the main themes of melodrama:

  • character cliches include heroes, heroines, villains, mentors, and so on
  • romantic or sombre stories with a sweeping arcs
  • plots and events that are larger-than-life
  • character reactions are exaggerated
  • clearly defined literary topics
  • character flaws must be overcome in order to attain a resolution
  • ending that is sometimes cheerful and sometimes sad
• features of drama:

  • meant to be performed rather than read
  • emphasis on dialogue, character, and stage direction
  • may include elements of music, dance, art, poetry, and prose
  • usually fictional, though may include nonfiction or be inspired by true stories or historical events