INTRODUCTION TO DRAMA

CONTENT

1. Introduction to Drama
2. Types of Drama
3. Features of drama

Introduction to Drama

Drama as a genre of Literature is a piece of writing to be performed for an audience or a play for the theatre, television or radio. Drama is taken from the Greek word, dramenon which means, do or act. It can also be defined as an imitation of life or imitations of actions of human beings.

Types/Forms of Drama

1. Tragedy
2. Comedy
3. Tragi-Comedy
4. Farce
5. Melodrama
6. Satiric Comedy
7. Domestic Tragedy
8. Mime/Dumb Show
9. Pantomime
10. Monologue/Monodrama

1. Tragedy:

This is the oldest form of drama and was the first to be recognized in the forms of drama. In tragedy, the protagonist is involved in a struggle or conflict which leads to his ruin or disappointment. Tragedy could be defined as ‘a serious play that ends sadly, especially with the death of the main character’. E.g. Williams Shakespeare’s Othello and Frank Ogodo’s Harvest of Corruption.