Dramatic Terms 5.4

1. Narrative Structure

 

 

2. plot

Plot is a literary term used to describe the events that make up a story or the main part of a story. These events relate to each other in a pattern or a sequence. The structure of a novel depends on the organization of events in the plot of the story.

Plot is known as the foundation of a novel or story which the characters and settings are built around. It is meant to organize information and events in a logical manner. When writing the plot of a piece of literature, the author has to be careful that it does not dominate the other parts of the story.


3. setting

setting, in literature, the location and time frame in which the action of a narrative takes place.

4. tragedy

Tragedy is kind of drama that presents a serious subject matter about human suffering and corresponding terrible events in a dignified manner.

Aristotle defines Tragedy in his famous work “Poetics” as:

“Tragedy is an imitation of an action that is admirable, complete (composed of an introduction, a middle part and an ending), and possesses magnitude; in language made pleasurable, each of its species separated in different parts; performed by actors, not through narration; effecting through pity and fear the purification of such emotions.”

From the above definition, we can understand the objective of the Greek tragedies i.e. “…purification of such emotions” also called “catharsis”. Catharsis is a release of emotional tension, as after an overwhelming experience, that restores or refreshes the spirit.

English Tragedy

Shaped on the models of Seneca, the first English tragedy appeared in 1561, written by Thomas Norton and Thomas Sackville. The play chose the story of a British king and his sufferings at the hand of his two disobedient sons as a subject matter. The importance of the play lies in the fact that it transformed the style of English drama from morality and mystery plays to the writing of tragedies in the Elizabethan era.

The Difference between Greek and English Tragedies

We notice the following differences between the tragedies by the Greek playwrights and those written by English playwrights:
1. Greek tragedies focused on a single theme and plot. English tragedies, on the other hand, have several story lines developing into plots and sub-plot.
2. Greek tragedies depicted “great” characters in their tragedies who were mortals but equal to gods and goddesses in their significance. Heroes of English tragedy may come from all walks of life.
3. Greek tragedies had a serious subject matter that was treated in a most dignified manner. English tragedies, on the other hand, tend to mix tragic with comic. Modern playwrights argue that such depiction is nearer to life as our life is a mixture of good and bad fortunes.
4. The performance of a Greek tragedy was a religious affair while English tragedies may intend to instruct or touch upon a religious or ethical issue but their main objective is to entertain.

 5. character/characterization

An author can use two approaches to deliver information about a character and build an image of it:
1. Direct or explicit characterization
This kind of characterization takes a direct approach towards building the character. It uses another character, narrator or the protagonist himself to tell the readers or audience about the subject.

2. Indirect or implicit characterization
This is a more subtle way of introducing the character to the audience. The audience has to deduce for themselves the characteristics of the character by observing his/her thought process, behavior, speech, way of talking, appearance, and way of communication with other characters and also by discerning the response of other characters.