What makes Drama different from other forms of literature?
• It is written to be performed/spoken; not read. • It is written to be performed live, not taped or recorded. • It is written to be performed to an audience. Why (and how) does this make a difference? • Knowing and understanding the characters becomes more important. • Knowing for whom the play was written is often important. Example- • We need to imagine or visualize certain things. Example- A brief (very brief) History of Western Drama (Europe, US as opposed to Asia, Africa) Greek drama originated with religious rituals to the gods in the fifth century BC. • Modern Drama originated with early Christian church services. • This led to MORALITY PLAYS throughout England in the 1400s. Definition: • Morality plays led directly to Elizabethan drama, which started in the 1500s. Shakespeare is one of many playwrights belonging to this category of drama. A look at a few types of drama (there are dozens) • TRAGEDY: a play that tells of the events of an important character and ends with a catas
