7th Reading - Elements of Drama

Question 1

What is a story told in dialog by performers in front of an audience - which make certain elements come to life?

Answer 1

Drama

Question 2

What is the author of a play called?

Answer 2

Playwright

Question 3

What are the people who perform in the play called?

Answer 3

Actors

Question 4

What are the units of action in a drama called?

Answer 4

Acts

Question 5

What are acts sometimes divided into?

Answer 5

Scenes

Question 6

What is the playwright’s technique for creating believable characters?

Answer 6

Characterization

Question 7

Why is dramatic speech important in drama?

Answer 7

Because it advances the story’s action

Question 8

What is a conversation between the characters?

Answer 8

Dialogue

Question 9

What is a long speech that is spoken by a single character?

Answer 9

Monologue

Question 10

What does a monologue often reveal?

Answer 10

A character’s private thoughts and feelings

Question 11

What are the sets of bracketed information that describes the scenery and how the characters should move and speak?

Answer 11

Stage directions

Question 12

Name some abbreviations that playwrights use for stage directions.

Answer 12

"C" - center stage
"L" - stage left
"R" - stage right
"U" - upstage
"D" - downstage

Question 13

What is the place where plays are usually presented?

Answer 13

Theater

Question 14

What is the term used for the construction on stage that suggest the time and place for the action?

Answer 14

Set

Question 15

What is another word used for set?

Answer 15

Scenery

Question 16

What are small moveable items, such as a doctor’s clipboard or a student’s notebook, that actors use to make their action look realistic?

Answer 16

Props

Question 17

Name the type of drama that has a happy ending, and often features normal characters in funny situations?

Answer 17

Comedy

Question 18

What are two reasons for comedies to be written?

Answer 18

1. For entertainment

2. To explain faults of a society

Question 19

What type of drama that is in contrast with comedy and has the distinguishing feature of events that lead to the downfall of the main characters?

Answer 19

Tragedy

Question 20

What is a word that is often used to describe plays that address serious subjects?

Answer 20

Drama

Question 21

What are scripts for films called?

Answer 21

Screenplays

Question 22

How are screenplays different from plays?

Answer 22

They include camera angles and can allow for more scene changes than a stage play.

Question 23

What are scripts written for television called? They often contain elements similar to screen plays.

Answer 23

Teleplays