American Drama: Guide Reading for pgs. 1199-1203 in Elements of Literature
I. ___________ is probably the most difficult form of writing.
II. Writing plays is difficult because ____________________________.
A. Bringing the play to life requires the help of a director, ___________, ______ ____________, _____________ _________________, lighting technician, stagehands, musicians?and a responsive ____________________.
B. Producing a play is a _______________ effort, and much can go wrong. Give an example of what could go wrong. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
III. __________________ and ______________________ are essential elements in drama.
A. Some of the high points in a play may even be ________________________. Give an example of this. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
IV. What are the theatrical trappings that often draw young writers to the stage? _______________, ____ ________________ ______________, and the _____________________________________________________________________________.
A. Playwrights soon learn that _____________________ ________________________
are rarely enough in themselves.
B. The ________________ and ____________________ are there only to serve a story, and it must be a story that engages the passions of the collaborators.
C. List the collaborators: the ________________________, the ____________________, and dozens of others who work to produce the play.
D. Which is more important in a play? ____ a significant story OR ______ stage effects
Why? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
V. Structure: Organizing Our Emotions
A. What is the main reason a play not go as originally planned? ________________________________________________________________________
B. Name one play that works in theater even though it ignores the usual principles
of drama. ______________________________________________________
C. Early on, the playwright organizes the audience?s _______________________ behind
some character or group of characters.
1. The playwright places these characters that the audience is ?for? in a situation involving _____________________, but it?s not just any conflict.
2. The ____________________________ is the major character who wants something and who drives the action forward.
a. This character may struggle against both _________________ conflict and _____________________ conflict.
b. _________________ conflict is the opposing side.
c. _________________ conflict is a struggle which takes place in the protagonist's mind and through which the character reaches a new understanding or dynamic change.
d. _____________________ is dialogue, description, etc., that gives the audience or reader the background of the characters and the present situation.
3. Why is audience participation important to the performance of a play? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. The basic elements of drama include _________________________, which gives us information, and a _________________________, the major character who struggles against internal conflict and external conflict.
VI. How a Play is Produced
A. _________________________ remains the goal of most playwrights.
B. Why can?t a producer guarantee that a play will be produced, even if the producer is very interested in the play? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
C. Why is theater often called the "fabulous invalid"? ________________________________________________________________________
