21ST Century Literature Prefinal Reviewer

21ST CENTURY LITERATURE PRE-FINAL REVIEWER
UNDERSTANDING DRAMA
What is Drama?
- drama has some significant similarities to fiction. It is the mainly the art of
depicting or portraying potential or imagined events and experiences. Mainly,
drama is best celebrated in theaters as scenes and situations are presented and
actors deliver lines on stage before an audience.
Important Definitions of Drama:
* Aristotle’s Poetics - “imitation of an action”.
* a complete story with structure and unity can be dramatic or comical,
having a beginning, middle, and an end.
* an artistic depiction of how a writer views and sees life through the use of
a conflict which is significant to make the events interesting and the
creation of characters that take part in the actions of the story.
* a work of literature which considers series of events developed to be a
cted out or performed on stage, with lines, actions, inactions, and silences
which are all intended to be delivered and projected by the characters to
establish the impression that the events are lifelike before a crowd.
Essential Features of Drama (Fumar, 2009)
Drama as a form of Dramatic Art - bears some emotional force or effect and
vitality.
Drama as a form of Visual Art - involves the depiction of scenes and action
on stage.
- make the depiction forceful and engaging.
- used like lights, set design, images, and
media experimentations.
Drama as an Auditory Art - lines and silences delivered by the characters.
Drama is physically Produced Art - an intimate and very close connection to
their audience.
- touch and tap all the major senses.
Drama is a Spectator Art - necessary changes during rehearsals and after the
performance as may be revealed by reviews.
Drama is a Continuous Art - audience must receive the story at any pace as
the playwright may decide as to whatever pace
the play may be set.
History of Drama
- ancient religious ceremonies had been the viewed as the cradle of the
earliest forms of drama. In ancient Greece, Greek drama originated from
rituals to venerate Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility. Aeschylus and
Sophocles added the second and third character respectively.
- English drama also started from religious rites and activities which mainly
involved mystery plays taken from the bible.
Genres of Drama
Tragedy - a very serious dramatic atmosphere.
Comedy - literary composition intended to amuse the viewing crowd.
Tragicomedy - combines the conventions of tragic and comic elements and
despite tragic circumstances; the story still ends happily.
Closet Drama - intended to be read, not performed on stage.
Farce - a comic drama in form and is primarily amusing and entertaining.
Melodrama - usually accompanied with music and with a song set at a
different pace.
Morality/Mystery Play - a medieval play which is mainly allegorical;
represents good and evil forces highlights the conflicts of the human soul.
Miracle Plays - usually about stories taken from the Bible or the lives of
saints.
Elements of Drama
Setting - time and place of the action.
Characters - ones involved in the actions and situations in a story.
Plot - action of a drama.
Dialogue - conversation and exchanges between or among characters.
Movements - involves the pacing and transition of acts.
Music - serves as a background used during performances.
Theme - about the message the play attempts to reveal.
READING ESSAYS
What is an Essay?
- “essay” is taken from the word “essais” literally means attempts mainly attributed
to Michael de Montaigne.
- prose form, of enough length and is intended to explain an idea, theory, or
impression.
- variety of texts like diaries, journals, letters, newspaper editorials, reports, and
reviews.
- share an opinion, insight, experience, or observation.
Building Blocks of the Essay
Form and Structure - includes the arrangement or order of ideas, unity,
coherence, expository device used, and patterns of development.
Content and Theme - focus of composition, quality of topic, as well as the
writer’s purpose and intentions.
Language and Style - tone, mood, diction, and literary devices used.
General Types of Essay
Formal Essay - “highbrow” or entirely intellectual topics; there is seriousness
in tone and language is formal. It is straightforward, objective, and clear.
Informal Essay - familiar essay. Deals with commonplace and light topics.
Classifications of Essays
Reflective Essay - heavily philosophical in nature.
Critical Essay - highlights the positive and negative aspects of certain work
being judged.
Editorial Essay - highlights the writer’s opinions about an important issue of
the day.
Nature Essay - showcases the beauty of nature and of outdoor life.
Scientific Essay - deals with the discussion of the explorations and findings
taken from scientific experimentations.
Narrative Essay - written in the form of a story as it utilizes events.
Speculative Essay - highlights contemplations which are difficult to prove by
means of posing inquiries about an interesting topic.
Biographical or Character Sketch Essay - shows a description of a particular
aspect of the life a certain person.
Didactic Essay - resembles a stone similar to a teacher.
Descriptive Essay - highlights qualities of something which provides
animation, clarity, and reality to a narrative essay.

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