1. A drama is a story acted on stage for an audience.

2. Dramatic Elements
Dramatic elements are needed to bring a story to life on stage:
setting script speech character
props non-verbal actions conflict
costumes plot scenery
theme make-up sound/lighting
cast

3. Dramatic Elements Sort
Fold a sheet of paper in thirds, creating a column for each of the types of dramatic elements: Literary, Technical, Performance.
Sort the above elements of drama into the three columns.

4. Performance Elements: bring story to life on stage
Literary Elements:
create the story
Technical Elements:
produce the drama
Performance Elements:
bring story to life on stage

5. Theme Conflict Character Plot Setting Script Sound/Lighting Costumes
Literary Elements:
create the story
Technical Elements:
produce the drama
Performance Elements:
bring story to life on stage
Theme
Conflict
Character
Plot
Setting
Script
Sound/Lighting
Costumes
Make-up
Props
Scenery
Cast
Speech
Non-verbal
actions

6. Literary Elements

7. Dramatic Elements Discussion
Discuss the technical and performance elements that were in the play.
Discuss how the technical and performance elements helped bring out the literary elements.

8. ERQ Practice
A. Describe how a technical or performance element was used in the play using at least two examples.
B. Analyze how this element helped bring out a literary element.
For instance:
How the scenery helped you understand the plot
How the props helped you understand a character
How the costumes helped you see a character
How the nonverbal gestures helped you get the theme
How the scenery helped you understand the setting

9. Structure of a Drama
A drama is a story performed by actors for an audience. A drama has many parts. The written form of a drama is a script. The cast of characters is a list of who is in the play. Stage directions tell actors what to do; they are written in italic print. Dialogue is the conversation between characters. A monologue is when one character speaks at length to another. A soliloquy is when a character is alone on stage and thinks aloud. A scene has a fixed setting and continuous time frame. An act is made up of several scenes.

10. Annotating a Drama
While reading Act 1 of The Miracle Worker, stop to annotate the different dramatic structures (you can chunk so there are about two per page).
For each annotation, explain how that structure contributes to the meaning of the drama.
What does it help you understand about the setting?
What does it help you understand about a character?
What does it help you understand about the plot?
What does it help you understand about the conflict?
What does it help you understand about the theme?

11. Dialogue  shows how characters are trying to be polite
Stage directions  show the character of both Anne and Helen; shows the plot developing as they first meet and interact
Dialogue  shows how characters are trying to be polite
Stage directions  show the character of Helen
Dialogue  shows conflict between Keller and Anne

12. Dramatic Structure Group Activity
Assign the following roles in your group and read through the rest of Act One (page 28-40) together:
Stage Directions/Kate/Viney/First Crone’s Voice:
Annie/Second Crone’s Voice:
Keller/Third Crone’s Voice:
James/Boy’s Voice/Doctor’s Voice:
Complete the graphic organizer to identify the most important pieces of dramatic structure and how they add meaning to the drama.

13. Quote from Text (write enough to identify which part of drama):
Type of Dramatic Structure: Identify as stage directions, dialogue, monologue, soliloquy
Quote from Text (write enough to identify which part of drama):
Meaning: What does it tell you about the setting, character, conflict, plot or theme?
 Dialogue
 ANNIE: (HER BEST BEHAVIOR): Captain, how do you do.
KELLER: A pleasure to see you at last, I trust you had an agreeable journey?
 This section of dialogue reveals the polite character of Annie and Keller. They are using formal language and manners to make a good first impression.
 Stage Directions
( HELEN still groping for her makes her way out to the porch; she is messy, her hair tumbled, her pinafore now ripped, her shoelaces untied. )
 These stage directions show the character of Helen by giving an effective visual description of this messy girl.
 ANNIE [PLEASANTLY]: I’ll take the suitcase, thanks.
KELLER: Not at all, I have it, Miss Sullivan.
ANNIE: I’d like it.
KELLER [GALLANTLY]: I couldn’t think of it, Miss Sullivan. You’ll find in the south we--
 This section of dialogue shows the conflict between Anne and Keller; he is used to being in charge of women and she wants to be independent.