The elements of drama are essential pieces to the structure of a drama or play. Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, identified six key elements of drama: plot, character, thought, diction, melody, and spectacle. Below are the important elements of a drama:
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Plot: The plot is the sequence of events that make up the story of the drama. It is the most important element of a narrative and comprises arguably the most important element of a play. The structure of a drama is only as effective as it is intentionally formed to elicit the desired response from its audience. A play usually has a beginning, middle, and end/08%3A_About_Drama/8.02%3A_Elements_of_Drama).
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Character: Characters are the people or entities that the plot revolves around. They are the elements of plays, TV shows, and films that audiences can connect to. For Aristotle, the characters in a drama are secondary to the plot. Characters are mainly representative of certain morals or qualities (i.e., their character) and how those morals or qualities affect the outcome of the plot.
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Thought: Thought refers to the themes or ideas that the drama explores. It is the underlying message or meaning of the drama. For Aristotle, the main point of drama was its relevance to life, how it can build character and teach us something.
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Diction: Diction refers to the language used in the drama. It includes the choice of words, the style of language, and the way in which the characters speak. The choice of language as one of the elements of drama is crucial, as it forms a major means of communicating the story of the drama to the audience.
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Melody: Melody refers to the music or sound effects used in the drama. It can be used to create atmosphere, build tension, or evoke emotion. It is an important element of drama that can bring new meaning to the language and characters.
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Spectacle: Spectacle refers to the visual elements of the drama, including the setting, costumes, and special effects. It is about what the audience sees and can make a drama memorable. Spectacle and atmosphere can bring new meaning to the language and characters.
In contemporary drama education, there is no prescribed or definitive list of the elements of drama. However, the elements listed above are the most common and form the basis of any great drama. They are aspects that are incorporated into drama classes and can be further improved by using them in fun drama games.
