Introduction to Drama

The word
drama
derives from Greek verb
“dran”
which means
 “to perform”

Drama Definition

Drama is a
 story
presented in
 dialogue form
 by
actors
on
a stage
 before
an audience

  It is believed that drama originated from

ancient Greek and medieval Christian religious
ceremonies

 Aristotle

divided drama into
tragedy
and
comedy
 a distinction valid for classical times

Tragedy

A play dealing with 

tragic events

(suffering extreme distress or sorrow) 

and having 

an unhappy ending

 especially one concerning    

the downfall of the main character

 

Comedy

 A professional entertainment consisting of 

jokes and sketches, intended to make an audience laugh

A play in which the writer exposes, The social evils or the shortcomings and follies of the people like pretension and hypocrisy.

The characters of a comedy also not serious. They have variety in their moods.

In comedies the characters ultimately triumph over adversity (difficulty) usually has a happy ending.

 

 

Whether ancient or modern,
plays represent
 a wide range of emotions and views of the world.

The dramatist indicates his
moral attitudes
through the speeches and actions of the characters.

  

In learning drama
it is crucial to have an understanding of the
four

 major elements of drama
 namely

story
dialogue
 action
  character

Dramas or plays are written for
 performance
Because of this, they are different in their nature
from novels or poetry

 Reading a novel or poem is a private act
 But
a drama is written so that
the lines might be spoken by actors in a public theatre, and it is shaped with the conventions of
theatre in mind

 

 

So to learn to read a play is to learn to understand its potential as theatre

 If one does not see that potential in the text, it will impoverish the text for the reader

 

 

Let’s look at the
four major elements
of Drama

 

 

 

Story

The events in a drama
tell a story

The ability to understand the story would
be the basic desire of a person watching a drama

As learners of drama, it is
necessary to understand
not only
“what happens”
but also
“why”
This requires
an understanding of the
plot or the arrangement of events
in the story

 

Almost every play has
five
structural elements
 exposition
complication
 crisis
 falling action
resolution

Exposition

This provides the essential

 background information

 It introduces the cast
 begins the characterization
initiates the action

 

Complication

 This introduces and develops

the conflict

 

Crisis

This is the
turning point of the play
when
the emotional intensity is at its highest
 It may involve
an event
 leading to a decision
 or
there may be
 an open conflict
between
the protagonist and the antagonist

Falling action and Resolution

 In a tragedy

 falling action results from the protagonist‘s loss of
control and a final catastrophe often appears inevitable

 In a comedy
the plot itself overflows with complications where all the characters face difficult situations
By an unexpected twist in the plot, these complications are often resolved

An effective resolution or denouement shows
the skill of the dramatist, as that is where he gets his message across

 

Dialogue

Dramatic dialogue is very different from the dialogues we exchange among us in our day-to-day lives
 
Our everyday conversations, out of context, may not be interpreted correctly due to direct
or indirect references to previous situations

Another feature of dramatic dialogue is that it
leaves out trivial details

 Each utterance is meaningful because the story in the drama should be
presented within 2 or 3 hours of stage time

 Hence irrelevant details and unnecessary repetitions
are left out.

On the other hand, dramatic dialogue should include sufficient background information for the
audience 

to find out without much difficulty the time, place and circumstances of the action
(setting)

 Some playwrights make use of a narrator but others bring out the background
information gradually during the first act

Action

Sometimes the action in a play is indicated or suggested in the script

 but as readers and learners of drama we may imagine
the characters to be
 moving about with gestures and expressions
appropriate to the dialogue

Being aware of
the action and stage directions
would make the
understanding wholesome
as these emphasize the
themes and characters
introduced in the dialogue

Character
 
Details of each character are conveyed to us in different ways

a) The name and physical appearance
 (although not very reliable)

b) His/her behavior or patterns of action during play (E.g. mannerisms)

c) Through the dialogue and through asides or soliloquies and in the way a character speaks
(word choice, grammar etc.)

d) How the character responds to other characters.

e) What others say about a character 

The understanding of a drama depends on

the extent to which the audience understands
the personalities and motives of the major characters 

Good characterization is a reflection of the
skill of the dramatist

How do we read drama?
 

Reading drama is not exactly the same as watching a play performed for an audience
Your reading would not be coloured by the interpretations of directors and actors
 But there is other information that you have to take into consideration for the correct understanding of a play 

They are

a) Dramatis personae or the cast of characters

 In a play, a list of characters generally precedes the dialogue
This list may give short descriptions of the characters and their relationship to other characters in the work

b) Some playwrights of the play give the setting or the time and place of action at the beginning of the text

c) Instructions for the actors and the stage directions are given within parentheses in the
body of the text

 

d) This (c) is to be followed very carefully because through these the reader imagines what would happen when the play is acted on stage

 This sheds light on the characters and
would do justice to the intention of the playwright

The bear
by
Anton Chekhov 

Playwright

Anton Chekhov

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov who was born in 29 January 1860 was a Russian playwright and short-story writer who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short fiction in history.

His career as a playwright produced four classics, and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics. Along with Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg, Chekhov is often referred to as one of the three seminal figures in the birth of early modernism in the theatre

His well-known literary contributions include The Seagull, Uncle Vanya , Three Sisters, The bear and the Cherry Orchard and so on. Most of his works centered upon the themes of serfdom, the rise of the middle class, the downfall of the feudal system, etc

Chekhov practiced as a medical doctor throughout most of his literary career. In 1888, Chekhov was given the Pushkin Prize, and after that, he was elected a member of the Society of Lovers of Russian Literature.

Chekhov finally married an actress, Olga Knipper, who had performed in his plays in 1901. He died in Germany from tuberculosis on 15 July 1904.

 The Play

Anton Chekhov’s classic play The Bear 

revolves around two protagonists, 

Popova and Grigory Stepanovtch Smirnov.

It is a one act play and considered to be a 

humorous paly or a comedy

It is subtitled ‘Farce in One-Act’

 

Comedy is a play in which the writer exposes, The social evils or the shortcomings and follies of the people like pretension and hypocrisy. The characters of a comedy also not serious. They have variety in their moods.

 The Bear is a farce rather than an absurd play because it is full of fun, fury, and boisterous noisy laughter. The behavior of the characters is ridiculous, funny, emotional, and sentimental

 A farce

A comic dramatic work using buffoonery (behaviour that is ridiculous but amusing) and horseplay (rough, boisterous play)and typically including crude characterization and ludicrously (in a way that is Foolish unreasonable )improbable situations

Chekhov presents the richest segment of society in the best possible manner.

Development of the Plot

    The conversation between Popova and Luka reveals that he is trying to convince her that she should enjoy life while her beauty lasts.

 He further highlights the futility of mourning for her dead husband for such a long time.

 Despite her late husband’s unfaithfulness to her 

she, vows to prove her love by mourning for him till her death.

                        She is irritated by Luka announcing the arrival of Smirnov to whom her dead husband owes 1200 rubles. He asks for cash to pay the interest on a mortgage. Popova’s peace is disturbed.

                                   She is willing to pay Smirnov only after her steward comes back the day after tomorrow. But Smirnov reiterates that he needs the money desperately.

                                   The argument builds up to a climax as Smirnov highlights the infidelity of women and Popova reveals the same about men.

·         Popova insults Smirnov calling him a bear. Smirnov is asked to go out. He refuses. Popova calls Luka to show Smirnov out.

 The insulting continues.

                         Smirnov suggests Popova should pay for insulting him by engaging in a duel with him.    

                  

                             Popova brings her late husband’s pistols but asks Smirnov to teach her how to fire.

 Characterization

      There are 3 main characters in the play.

      Their physical features are presented at a minimum

For example, 

Popova is a little widow with dimples on her cheeks. 

Smirnov is attracted by the beauty of her eyes.

      Smirnov is middle-aged and Luka is an aged footman.

     Chekov makes use of absurd behavior and dialogues to bring out character

Popova

Despite the exaggerated behaviour the play demands, Popova’s character reveals certain traits.

 

i. She is very emotional

The play opens with Popova fixing her eyes on a photograph of her late husband. She weeps and talks to him about her love.

 

ii. Has a strong determination

Even though it is impractical to mourn for the rest of her life, she vows to do it.

 

iii. Bold and courageous

When Smirnov challenges her to a duel, she accepts it and does not give up even after he expresses his love for her.

 

 

Smirnov

 

i. He is rude and ill-mannered. 

He enters the house without a show of courtesy and behaves rudely.

 

ii. Irritable

When Popova refuses to pay him, he gets angry and shouts at her without any sympathy for a woman in mourning.

 

iii. Chauvinistic

He highlights his male superiority over women.

 

iv. Manipulative

He has lent money to many men and they have all evaded him. His intention is to get what Popova owes him at any cost.

 

 

Luka

Loyal - He advises Popova to stop mourning as she should enjoy life. He tries to save her form smirnov’s insults.

 

 

Themes

 

i. Money

The effect of money on human behavior.

 

ii. Infidelity

Popova reveals about her late husband's relationship with other women.

 

iii. Emancipation of women

Popovas behavior suggests the extent of action a woman is capable of.Smirnov is taken aback by Popova’s boldness.

 

iv. Inconsistency of human behavior

Popova’s and Smirnov’s attitudes towards each other change rapidly.

 

v. Condition of the woman in Russian society

 

 

Setting

Pre-revolutionary Russia; The main characters belong to the land owning class.

 

 

Literary Techniques

i. Humour

Absurd behavior and dialogues create humour

 

ii. Metaphor

Popova says “You’re a boor! A coarse bear!

 

iii. Incongruity and contrast

Violence and love are juxtaposed at the end of the play.

 

iv. Suspense

The arguments between Popova and Smirnov bring about tense situation

 

 Source

Internet

English Literary Appreciations Teachers manual