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UGRC 160-Introduction to Literature

SESSION 11
DRAMA: PART TWO

Dramatic Technique
Session Objectives
At the end of the session the student will;

• Understand the craft of the dramatist and the


tools he or she employs in weaving the plot of
the narrative to achieve the ultimate goal of
sustaining the interest of his or her audience
What are dramatic techniques?
Dramatic techniques include literary devices and
staging elements deployed by the playwright,
director or stage manager to enhance the
emotional, aural, and visual experience of the
audience and to optimally project a script's
intentions.
What are dramatic techniques? Cont’d.

It is important to remember, when reading a play that


drama is written to be performed rather than to be
read. It can be difficult to fully appreciate a piece of
drama if you are reading it silently from a book. A
dramatist has an advantage of being able to use most
of the literary devices that are available to novelists, as
well as using dramatic devices or techniques peculiar to
the stage.
Dramatic Techniques
Speech directions: Cues or words in brackets that tell the actor how to say
the lines.

Asides: When a character temporarily turns away from another character and
speaks directly to the audience.

Entrance and exits: When characters exit and enter a scene. It is always
worthwhile to pay particular attention to what is being said as they enter or
what they say as they leave.

Scenes and Acts: It is important to pay attention to when a playwright


chooses to end a Scene and/or an Act (a number of scenes). It is usually
significant in building audience expectations of what is to come.

Symbolism: When an object is used to represent something else, e.g. a


broken vase may symbolize a broken relationship.
Dramatic Techniques, cont’d.
Stage Directions: They tell us what should be happening on stage and will often
include clues, e.g. the darkening of the stage may suggest somethinby g bad
approaching. Apart from stage directions, actors often benefit from the cues provided
prompters offstage especially when they are in danger of forgetting their lines.

Soliloquy: When a character is alone on stage and speaks out his or her thoughts
aloud. Language that invites action A character can say something that requires others
to act or react. By the way, how does this differ from a monologue?

There are many other techniques that dramatists adopt in order to make their plays
successful and appealing to audiences. Can you think of some others not mentioned
above? Does the use of sound or lightening in staging plays, for instance, constitute a
dramatic technique? Why? Can you tell what techniques are being used in the next
slide?
Dramatic Techniques in Pictures

THANK
YOU

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