Drama Basics

Drama - a form of literatures written to be performed for an audience Drama - a form of literatures written to be performed for an audience. Tragedy – form of literature in which the main character is brought to ruin as a result of a “tragic flaw” (ex. a moral weakness). There is an unhappy but meaningful ending. Comedy – light and humorous.

Drama includes all the elements of fiction we have studied. Foil – a foil is a character with similar qualities to the main character but who contrasts in personality to the main character. Example: Draco Malfoy is a foil for Harry Potter…similar in age and circumstance but differ in personalities, values, intentions, etc.

Context Context relates to the background necessary to understand the full meaning of a piece of literature. You can read ANY book and understand it but do you get a deep understanding of the full meaning, significance, etc. of the work? Probably not, if you don’t know anything about the time period, region, history, politics, etc. of when the story was set and who was involved in and what they were going through.

example If a story is set in the Great Depression and you have no idea when that was, what that was, what parts of the world were affected and how it affected people like that characters in your piece of literature then it is likely you won’t fully understand their circumstance and, hence, the point of the larger story.

The Crucible The Crucible is based on the the Salem Witch Trials. Arthur Miller wrote it as a response to the “Red Scare” and McCarthyism phenomona in the United States. He felt that when government started to seek out communists and communist sympathizers among their own people (with NO EVIDENCE) it was essentially a “witch hunt”.

Topics in the Crucible Extremism – in any form but religious in particular. When justice and common sense are lost because leaders are blinded by ideology and authority of religion. Revenge – grudges (even petty ones) can lead to horrible consequences.

Superstition – even with no basis in fact curses, etc Superstition – even with no basis in fact curses, etc. are used as reasons for ruination and execution. Marriage – impact that adultery, unfaithfulness have on a relationship.

Literary Analysis Irony Suspense Tragic elements Characterization Conflict