Conventions Of Drama Essay - 1926 Words

Through the centuries, the conventions of drama have been altered in many different ways. These conventions are the setting, plot, characters and staging. The main factor which has been a dominant force during the changes of conventions has been the society. The society present during the time in which a play was written had a direct influence on the plot and characters. This is because drama is defined as a representation of life. Four plays which have been selected from Greek, Elizabethan, Restoration and Modern times can be analysed to show and represent the changes of drama. These plays are amp;#8220;Oedipus the King;, amp;#8220;Macbeth;, amp;#8220;The Way of the World; and amp;#8220;A Dollamp;#8217;s House;. The early†¦show more content†¦Another important and unique aspect to Greek theatre was that they consisted of a chorus. This chorus, was able to express the action happening throughout the play with song and dance. Scenes of violence were never acted out, so the chorus became quite vital in providing a means of interpretation to the audience. Besides the chorus speaking in patterned verse, the dialogue of Greek plays were in everyday prose. Elizabethan theatre was another period of drama which occurred during the sixteenth century. Most plays written during this time focused on kings and royalty. This was because they were very influential in society when the play was written. Though Elizabethan plays were still based on tragedies, writers (particularly Shakespear) were able to develop some comedy into the story line. The audience found this comedy to be amusing not only in the dialogue but also because of the fact that men played the roles of women. Along with comedy and tragedy, other important story lines at the time were deceit, death and murder. The staging of Elizabethan theatre was situated at places like the globe in London where the audience was seated around three sides of a platform projected into their midst. This was commonly known as an apron stage. It was by this type of stage that enabled a closer, more personal feel between the actors and audience. The audience of the Elizabethan theatre was able to ent ertainShow MoreRelatedConventions of Drama1980 Words   |  8 PagesThrough the centuries, the conventions of drama have been altered in many different ways. These conventions are the setting, plot, characters and staging. The main factor which has been a dominant force during the changes of conventions has been the society. The society present during the time in which a play was written had a direct influence on the plot and characters. This is because drama is defined as a representation of life. Four plays which have been selected from Greek, Elizabethan,Read MoreAddiction Responding Task Of The Theatrical Style1300 Words   |  6 Pagesreality. Addiction was an unrealistic piece of drama exploring the drug world, side effects and consequences of drug intake. Through the effective manipulation of masks, abstract props, generalised characters, social Existentialist morals, rhythmic movement, silhouettes, puppetry , a combination of realistic, unrealistic scenarios, in conjunction with the Elements of Drama- symbol, tension and space. All the Elements of Drama and non-realistic conventions conveyed the dramatic meanings of difficultRead MoreKoe No Katachi Film Analysis1611 Words   |  7 Pagesreveals a much darker theme than apparent at first sight. This movie encompasses and follows the cinematic rhetoric of a drama through its many similarities to the normal conventions. 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However, it is often considered through various conventions including iconography, similar themes and their stylistic features, as Bordwell and Thompson (2006:357) suggestRead More Discuss the ways in which the character of Oedipus in Oedipus the King1192 Words   |  5 PagesDiscuss the ways in which the character of Oedipus in Oedipus the King conforms to the conventions of the tragic hero. In your discussion refer to how the issues explored in the play have a wider significance than the tragedy of Oedipus as an individual. Assessment 9: Short Essay – Drama Discuss the ways in which the character of Oedipus in Oedipus the King conforms to the conventions of the tragic hero. In your discussion refer to how the issues explored in the play have a wider significance Read MoreGothic Theatre Essay1297 Words   |  6 PagesStir, defiantly showed the characteristics and conventions of Gothic theatre. During the course of the show, dramatic languages and Gothic conventions were displayed; like: Place, Tension, Contrast and Role, plus many more. Skills of drama were also used effectively throughout the production, for example applying stagecraft (design of lighting, sound, set costume, props). Two specific scenes that demonstrated dramatic languages and gothic conventions were â€Å"Opening scene (Johnathon arrives at the hotel)Read MoreEssay on Ancient Greek Theatre1179 Words   |  5 Pagesworship in its self. The City Dionysia happened every spring in the Theatre of Dionysus, the first home of theatre and the form of the play. It was from the dithyramb that the roots of drama developed. In 534 B.C. the tyrant-ruler of Athens changed the City Dionysia by introducing the first of the drama competitions at the Theatre of Dionysus, a contest that would continue for well over one hundred years and that would involve playwrights that are still world famous in the twenty first century