From Theater to Drama

Chapter 2 is a comprehensive exploration of the dramatist's craft. Playwright stems from an ancient Saxon word, wyrhta, meaning a worker or craftsman. Drama derives from the Greek word, drao, which means "to do" or "to act." A drama depicts human actions in story form, performed by actors, singers, dancers, or mimes. Aristotle, in The Poetics, defined the major elements of drama as plot, character, thought, diction, music, and spectacle. In the chapter, we explain each element in detail, citing examples from Master Pierre Pathelin and other plays. Also, we consider how theater's use of these elements differs in non-Western cultures and has changed over time. The text goes on to study drama's three primary genres: tragedy, comedy, and tragicomedy. We compare and contrast these genres and analyze them historically. The chapter concludes by addressing the roles that style and convention play in the presentation of dramas in theaters throughout the world.