CREATIVE WRITING: Elements, Techniques, and Literary Devices of Drama

Elements of Drama
1. Literary Elements
1.1. Plot – refers to the action; the basic storyline of the play.
• Aristotelian Three-Part Dramatic Structure:
✓ Beginning – Make it short. The exposition need not to be long in this part. Introduce
the main characters immediately, especially the protagonist. Show their situations
and their setting. Introduce the problem that will propel them to the rising action.
✓ Middle – This should be the longest part of any story. After the brief beginning full of
exposition, the middle part should be full of several rising actions that will bring the
character step closer to the climax. Do not let the character reach the climax
immediately; put some obstacles and hurdles that the character needs to face before
progressing to the next parts.
✓ End – When the climax achieved in the middle part, the end part immediately begins,
Since this part involves tying up loose ends for the falling action and denouement, it
should be as short as the beginning part, or even shorter. This is also the part where
the playwright gets the last chance to highlight the message of the play.
1.2. Theme – refers to the message that is intended to be expressed through the story. In other words, it is
the main idea or the lesson to be learned from the play.
1.3. Characters – the people (sometimes animals) portrayed by the actors. Typically, each character, both
major and minor, is listed alongside a brief description of the character’s role in the story.
Example:
Characters
Troy Maxson – a loving husband Lyons – Troy’s oldest son by previous marriage
Jim Bono – Troy’s friend Gabriel – Troy’s brother
Rose – Troy’s wife Cory – Troy and Rose’s son
Types of Character
• Protagonist – is the main character of the story.
• Antagonist – usually the villain or opponent of the main character.
• Round Character – is complex and undergo development.
• Flat Character – relatively uncomplicated and does not undergo change throughout the whole story.
1.4. Characterization – is the way the playwright / author presents a character.
1.5. Dialogue – refers to the words written by the playwright and spoken by the characters in the play.
- it refers to the conversation between two or more characters.
1.6. Music / Rhythm – refers to the rhythm of the actor’s voice as they speak.
2. Technical Elements
2.1. Scene (set) – refers to the dramatic part of a story, at a specific time and place.
2.2. Costumes – refers to clothing and accessories used by the actors to portray characters.
2.3. Properties – any movable objects that appear on stage.
2.4. Sound – refers to the effects an audience hears during the performance.
2.5. Lights
2.6. Makeup includes costumes, wigs, body paints used to transform the character.
Other Elements
1. Playwright – the author of a play.
2. Script – the written pages of a play. Scripts are divided into Acts and Scenes.
• Acts – long sections of a play, made up of multiple scenes, usually designed to separate the play into
its main parts and to give the audience a “break” from the performance.
• Scenes – shorter sections of a play, usually each scene occurs in one location at a specific time.
Multiple scenes make up an act. It is often signaled by the entrance or exit of a character or
change in setting or focus of action.
3. Setting – the place, together with other conditions, such as time and the environment, involved in which
the events occur. The setting in the drama can be presented through visual elements deals with
the scenes, costumes, and special effects used in it. The setting can as well be enhanced by using
viewable elements, sound effects, and music.
4. Conflict – the internal or external struggle that creates dramatic tension.
Internal Conflict External Conflict
- Man vs. Self - Man vs. Fate - Man vs. Nature
- Man vs. Man - Man vs. Supernatural
- Man vs. Society - Man vs. Technology
Techniques in Drama
1. Vocal Dynamics – actors need to expand their vocal toolbox and learn about that range, pitch, and pronunciation
which affect performance.
2. Body Language and Mannerisms – actors bring their characters to life by moving, reacting, and even standing in
nuanced ways that are natural for their character.
3. Use and Awareness of Space – actors need to be aware not just of your “marks” on stage, but also of the actors
who must interact with or move past you.
4. Improvisational Techniques – refers to the on-the-spot creativity of the actors.

Common Literary Devices Used in Drama

1. Imagery – the author’s attempt to create a mental picture in the mind of the reader. It appeals to the senses.
2. Symbolism – when an object is meant to be representative of something or an idea greater than the object itself
or it is the frequent use of words, places, characters, or objects that mean something beyond what they
are on a literal level.
3. Dramatic Irony – involves the reader (or audience) knowing something about what is happening in the plot,
about which the character (s) have no knowledge.
4. Foreshadowing – refers to the indicative words / phrases and hints that set the stage for a story to unfold and
give the reader a hint of something that is going to happen without revealing the story or spoiling the
suspense. Foreshadowing is used to suggest an upcoming outcome to the story.