{"id":8295,"date":"2013-10-29T19:39:52","date_gmt":"2013-10-29T19:39:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/?page_id=8295"},"modified":"2026-03-25T11:56:57","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T16:56:57","slug":"dramas","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/dramas\/","title":{"rendered":"Dramas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t<div id=\"mmDeferVideoEncompass__WypwA07E28\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.webp\" type=\"image\/webp\">\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"> \n\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" id=\"videoThumbnailImage__WypwA07E28\" data-source-videoID=\"_WypwA07E28\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" alt=\"Dramas Video\" height=\"464\" width=\"825\" class=\"size-full\" data-matomo-title = \"Dramas\">\n\t\t\t<\/picture>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<style>img#videoThumbnailImage__WypwA07E28:hover {cursor:pointer;} img#videoThumbnailImage__WypwA07E28 {background-size:contain;background-image:url(\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/857-dramas-2.webp\");}<\/style>\n\t\t\t<script defer>\n\t\t\t  jQuery(\"img#videoThumbnailImage__WypwA07E28\").click(function() {\n\t\t\t\tlet videoId = jQuery(this).attr(\"data-source-videoID\");\n\t\t\t\tlet helpTag = '<div id=\"mmDeferVideoYTMessage__WypwA07E28\" style=\"display: none;position: absolute;top: -24px;width: 100%;text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-style: italic;font-size: small;border-top: 1px solid #fc0;\">Having trouble? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v='+videoId+'\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to watch on YouTube.<\/a><\/span><\/div>';\n\t\t\t\tlet tag = document.createElement(\"iframe\");\n\t\t\t\ttag.id = \"yt\" + videoId;\n\t\t\t\ttag.src = \"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/\" + videoId + \"?autoplay=1&controls=1&wmode=opaque&rel=0&egm=0&iv_load_policy=3&hd=0&enablejsapi=1\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.frameborder = 0;\n\t\t\t\ttag.allow = \"autoplay; fullscreen\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.width = this.width;\n\t\t\t\ttag.height = this.height;\n\t\t\t\ttag.setAttribute(\"data-matomo-title\",\"Dramas\");\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass__WypwA07E28\").html(tag);\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass__WypwA07E28\").prepend(helpTag);\n\t\t\t\tsetTimeout(function(){jQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoYTMessage__WypwA07E28\").css(\"display\", \"block\");}, 2000);\n\t\t\t  });\n\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t\n<p><script>\nfunction 8H5_Function() {\n  var x = document.getElementById(\"8H5\");\n  if (x.style.display === \"none\") {\n    x.style.display = \"block\";\n  } else {\n    x.style.display = \"none\";\n  }\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"moc-toc hide-on-desktop hide-on-tablet\">\n<div><button onclick=\"8H5_Function()\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/toc2.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"show or hide table of contents\"><\/button><\/p>\n<p>On this page<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<nav id=\"8H5\" style=\"display:none;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#What_is_a_Drama\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">What is a Drama?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#History_of_Dramas\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">History of Dramas<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Types_of_Dramas\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Types of Dramas<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Drama_vs_Fiction\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Drama vs. Fiction<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Dramatic_Elements\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Dramatic Elements<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Review\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\"><input id=\"transcript\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"transcript\">Transcript<\/label>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"transcript-spoiler\">\n<p>The word <em>drama<\/em> tends to get casually thrown around describing something as sensational or wild. But when it comes to literature, what does it really mean? From William Shakespeare to Sophocles, dramas have been pieces of literature that have moved readers and audiences for centuries. Today, we\u2019ll go into detail about what a drama is, where dramas came from, and look at the different types of dramas. Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"What_is_a_Drama\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>What is a Drama?<\/h2>\n<p>\nFirst, what is a drama? A drama is a type of narrative writing that is meant to be performed in front of an audience. Dramas are most notably performed as plays in a theatre though many dramas have been recreated and adapted for film, TV, or radio. Nowadays, drama is commonly used to describe a genre of storytelling in film and television like <em>The Godfather<\/em> or <em>The Expanse<\/em>. Despite what the name implies, dramas are not always serious. There are 5 types of classic dramas that are all unique from each other: comedy, tragedy, farce, melodrama, and musical drama.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"History_of_Dramas\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>History of Dramas<\/h2>\n<h3><span id=\"Ancient_Rome_and_Greece\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Ancient Rome and Greece<\/h3>\n<p>\nBefore we delve deeper into the different types, it\u2019s important to know how they started. Dramas can be traced back to the 5th century in Ancient Rome and Greece. Playwrights made productions that started with just one actor and a chorus that sang to help tell the story. Back then most dramas were usually religious in nature and only written and performed by adult men, with the exception of younger boys who would perform women\u2019s roles until after the renaissance. There were only three prominent genres at that time: comedy, tragedy, and satire. <\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"The_Middle_Ages\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>The Middle Ages<\/h3>\n<p>\nMoving forward to the Middle Ages, dramas reemerged through the church as a new method to teach the people about the Bible since services were in Latin and most people couldn\u2019t speak Latin and were illiterate. These dramas were known as <strong>mystery plays<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<p>Around the 16th and 17th centuries, the Renaissance period caused a renewed interest in art\u2014plays were becoming popular in England as a means of entertainment, socializing, and social critique. Plays about the ruling class like <em>Henry V<\/em>, or tragedies like <em>Othello<\/em> were popular around this time. They were performed by acting companies that traveled all over the country. <\/p>\n<p>Playwrights like William Shakespeare began to make a name for themselves and permanent public theatres were being built. Thus, theatre began to take root and become the classic English drama we know today.<\/p>\n<p>English drama plays during this time were originally performed in or around local inns or open courts until permanent theaters were constructed outside the city. The most popular, The Globe Theatre, where Shakespeare plays were performed was built in 1599.<\/p>\n<p>Theatres were 3 stories tall and were typically polygonal. In other words, the theatre and seating were angled to basically surround the stage so that onlookers could see the performance from three sides \u2013 front, left, and right. <\/p>\n<p>Dramas also took place during the day because artificial light hadn\u2019t been created yet; at best candles were lit in the evening and the scenery was virtually nonexistent. The settings were mostly described by the characters\u2019 dialogue, leaving the audience\u2019s imagination to do the rest.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Types_of_Dramas\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Types of Dramas<\/h2>\n<p>\nToday, dramas can be separated into five types.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Comedies\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Comedies<\/h3>\n<p>\nComedies are narratives with the intent of making the audience laugh.  <em>A Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream<\/em> is a comedic drama about a turbulent marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta and the hi-jinx that ensues with them and 4 young actors.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Tragedies\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Tragedies<\/h3>\n<p>\nJust like the name suggests, tragedies were indeed tragic. The subjects they dealt with were dark, like war and death, and protagonists were always burdened with a tragic flaw that kept them from their happy ending.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Farce\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Farce<\/h3>\n<p>\nThis type of drama is similar to a comedy but aims at entertaining through highly exaggerated and improbable situations. <em>The Canterbury Tales<\/em> by Geoffrey Chaucer is made up of dozens of characters with their own unique and sometimes extravagant stories, leaving the \u201cplot\u201d to be lost to some readers and audiences.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Melodrama\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Melodrama<\/h3>\n<p>\nThis type of drama is meant to appeal to the audience\u2019s emotions. The story is meant to be passionate and sensational, with characters portrayed using stereotypes and one-dimensional personalities.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Musical_Drama\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Musical Drama<\/h3>\n<p>\nThis is a form of drama where music, especially singing or dancing, is used along with dialogue and acting to tell the story.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Drama_vs_Fiction\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Drama vs. Fiction<\/h2>\n<p>\nDenoting the difference between drama and fiction can be a bit tricky. Both narratives are fueled by the imagination to tell stories, but dramas are written to be acted out in front of an audience, whereas fiction is meant to be read. Drama is also based in dialogue, meaning that the story is driven through conversations, \u201cspeeches,\u201d and interactions between characters. Fiction, on the other hand, may use a narrator to move the story forward outside of dialogue from the characters. <\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Dramatic_Elements\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Dramatic Elements<\/h2>\n<h3><span id=\"Asides\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Asides<\/h3>\n<p>\nDramas may use something called an <strong>aside<\/strong> to express a thought or information during a play that only the audience can hear. The character will break the 4th wall and address the audience directly about whatever is on their mind or that they feel we should know. It could be thought of as a \u201ctime freeze\u201d where everyone else on stage is frozen and the only people who can hear the character giving the aside is the audience. Once it\u2019s over, the drama continues as if nothing happened.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Soliloquies\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Soliloquies<\/h3>\n<p>\n<strong>Soliloquies<\/strong> are similar to asides but are presented more like a speech than a passing thought or remark. If there are other characters present on stage, they completely ignore the person giving the soliloquy. Soliloquies are usually meant to share a character\u2019s inner thoughts the audience would otherwise have no way of knowing. Time isn\u2019t frozen during a soliloquy, instead we\u2019re putting a metaphorical spotlight on a character for a few seconds and continue with the play as usual. <\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2><span id=\"Review\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Review<\/h2>\n<p>\nBefore we go, let\u2019s look at a couple of review questions to see what you remember:<\/p>\n<p>1. Which of the following describes a farce?<\/p>\n<ol style=\"list-style: upper-alpha;\">\n<li>A play that appeals to the audience\u2019s emotions through sensational and passionate storytelling.<\/li>\n<li>A play that aims to entertain the audience through highly-exaggerated situations.<\/li>\n<li>A play that deals with dark subjects, such as war or death.<\/li>\n<li>A play that involves both dialogue and music to tell the story.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"><button class=\"buttontranscript\" onClick=\"toggle('Answer1')\">Show Answer<\/button><\/div>\n<div id=\"Answer1\" style=\"display:none; box-shadow: 1.5px 1.5px 5px grey; background-color:#E0E0E0; padding: 30px; padding-bottom: 15px; width: 60%; margin: auto; text-align: center;\">\n<strong>The correct answer is B.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>2. A soliloquy is\u2026<\/p>\n<ol style=\"list-style: upper-alpha;\">\n<li>A character expressing their thoughts aloud, regardless of who is around them.<\/li>\n<li>A character expressing a passing thought or remark in such a way that time freezes around them and only the audience can hear them.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"><button class=\"buttontranscript\" onClick=\"toggle('Answer2')\">Show Answer<\/button><\/div>\n<div id=\"Answer2\" style=\"display:none; box-shadow: 1.5px 1.5px 5px grey; background-color:#E0E0E0; padding: 30px; padding-bottom: 15px; width: 60%; margin: auto; text-align: center;\">\n<strong>The correct answer is A.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: auto;\">Answer B is describing an aside.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nI hope this review was helpful! Thanks for watching, and happy studying!<\/p>\n<ul class=\"citelist\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/empires\/thegreeks\/background\/24a_p1.html\"target=\"_blank\">\u201cThe Greeks &#8211; the Origins of Theatre &#8211; the First Actor.\u201d Pbs.org<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mystery_play\"target=\"_blank\">\u201cMystery Play.\u201d Wikipedia<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.enotes.com\/homework-help\/development-drama-from-greek-modren-english-period-137657\"target=\"_blank\">\u201cExplain the Chronological Development of Drama from Greek to the Modern English Period. &#8211; ENotes.com.\u201d n.d. ENotes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-britlit1\/chapter\/english-renaissance-theatre\/\"target=\"_blank\">\u201cEnglish Renaissance Theatre | English Literature I.\u201d n.d. Courses.lumenlearning.com<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"home-buttons\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/reading-comprehension\/\">Return to Reading Comprehension Videos<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\nfunction toggle(obj) {\n          var obj=document.getElementById(obj);\n          if (obj.style.display == \"block\") obj.style.display = \"none\";\n          else obj.style.display = \"block\";\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Return to Reading Comprehension Videos<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":99952,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-8295","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"page_category-reading-comprehension-videos","7":"page_category-video-pages-for-study-course-sidebar-ad","8":"page_type-video","9":"subject_matter-english"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8295","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8295"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8295\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":260743,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8295\/revisions\/260743"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99952"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}