Varieties of Drama

Focus Questions (Answer these questions in your notebook) What are the differences between tragedy and comedy? Think of some of the different comedies you have seen. What are some of the devices playwrights use to make people laugh?

Tragedy Tragedy – A play in which the protagonist does not achieve desired goals or is overcome by opposing forces. This is considered to be humanity’s highest literary achievement. The focus in every tragedy is the protagonist who faces a struggle and is eventually overcome by the opposing force (antagonist). Hamlet Julius Caesar Internal weakness Too much pride Outcome seems predestined and the audience sees there is nothing the tragic character can do to avoid it.

The tragic protagonist is brought from happiness to misery The tragic protagonist is brought from happiness to misery. Through the suffering they usually acquire a sense of truth and self. They also become isolated from society because of a weakness or error in judgment. (Marcus Brutus) A tragedy must make the audience feel pity (for the main character) and fear (that we too could have made the same mistake).

5 Characteristics Found in Tragic Characters Have a flaw or make an error with serious consequences. Make no apology for their actions. Set goals based on firm beliefs. Know that anything worth having demands some sacrifice. They are willing to make the sacrifices themselves (not asking others)

Comedy Comedy – A play that treats characters and situations in a humorous way and has a happy ending. Comedy comes from Greek words komos and ode, meaning “revel song”. In comedies all characters usually come together at the end of the play even villains. Usually deal with situations and characters that most audiences can easily identify.

Tragedy vs Comedy Comedy usually depends on situations unique to a specific time and place. Predictable Intellectual, mental Protagonist achieves goals. Characters come together. Protagonist less than average. Based on strong human emotions felt and understood by all. Inevitable – can’t change outcome. Emotional Protagonist fails to achieve goals. Protagonist alienated from society. Protagonist average or better person

Seven Common Causes of Laughter. What are some of the things that make people laugh? Identify and explain the 7 common causes of laughter. Exaggeration Incongruity Anticipation Ambiguity Recognition Protection Relief

Types of Comedy Low Comedy – physical antics 3 stooges Carpenter scene (The 3 Stooges 2012 movie trailer) Silent films relied on this. Play is quite exaggerated in performance. Farce – Main type of low comedy. Include practical jokes, clowning, and physical humiliation (ear pulling, shin kicking, pie throwing) Burlesque – Similar to a farce, but much more exaggerated. It is a mockery of a topic like society’s views. The audience should have prior knowledge of the topic. Parody – Mocks a certain work by imitating the author’s style for comic effect. (Spaceballs on Star Wars)

Comedy (cont) High Comedy – a type of comedy that includes satire, clever lines, word plays (puns) and allusions. One must pay attention to dialogue. Satire – presents humourous attacks o accepted conventions or society, holding up human vices and follies to ridicule. A satirist has the goal to change something for the better by ridiculing it. (Rick Mercer Report)

Screen scene – some actors hide from other actors onstage Screen scene – some actors hide from other actors onstage. May pop out to talk. Aside – Lines spoken directly to the audience. Caricature – An exaggeration of a certain feature of a character or literary work.

Other types of Drama Identify a description, the features, and an example of the following types of drama: Fantasy Romantic comedy Sentimental comedy Melodrama