English Lit 101: Literary Genres - Drama Tragedy Comedy Tragicomedy History Farce Melodrama Absurdist Theatre OneAct Play Monologue Soliloquy Aside

What It Is

Drama is a literary genre that involves dialogue and action performed by actors on stage. It can be categorized into several sub-genres, including tragedy, comedy, tragicomedy, history, farce, melodrama, and absurdist theatre. A classic example of a tragedy is Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex," which explores the downfall of the protagonist due to his own actions. Understanding drama is crucial for literary analysis as it allows readers to analyze the structure, themes, and character development in plays.

Key Terms & Concepts

• Tragedy: A drama that ends in the downfall or death of the protagonist, often due to their own flaws or circumstances. Example: Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex"
• Comedy: A drama that ends in a happy or lighthearted resolution, often with a comedic twist. Example: Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
• Tragicomedy: A drama that combines elements of both tragedy and comedy, often with a bittersweet ending. Example: Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night"
• History: A drama that is based on historical events or figures, often with a focus on accuracy and realism. Example: William Shakespeare's "Henry V"
• Farce: A comedy that involves exaggerated and absurd situations, often with a focus on physical humor. Example: Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest"
• Melodrama: A drama that emphasizes emotional and sensational elements, often with a focus on melodramatic plot twists. Example: Victor Hugo's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame"
• Absurdist Theatre: A drama that involves illogical and absurd situations, often with a focus on challenging societal norms. Example: Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot"
• One-Act Play: A play that consists of a single act, often with a self-contained story and characters. Example: Oscar Wilde's "The Can-Can"
• Monologue: A speech delivered by a single character, often with a focus on revealing their thoughts and feelings. Example: Hamlet's soliloquy in Shakespeare's "Hamlet"
• Soliloquy: A type of monologue that involves a character's inner thoughts and feelings, often spoken aloud. Example: Hamlet's soliloquy in Shakespeare's "Hamlet"
• Aside: A comment or speech made by a character to the audience, often to reveal their thoughts or feelings. Example: Puck's aside in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
• Dramatis Personae: A list of characters in a play, often with a brief description of each. Example: The dramatis personae in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet"
• Plot Twist: An unexpected turn of events in a play, often with a focus on surprising the audience. Example: The revelation of Macbeth's guilt in Shakespeare's "Macbeth"
• Character Development: The process of a character changing or growing throughout a play. Example: The transformation of the protagonist in Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex"

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: A monologue is the same as a soliloquy.
• Correction: A monologue is a speech delivered by a single character, while a soliloquy is a type of monologue that involves a character's inner thoughts and feelings.
• Misunderstanding: A farce is a type of tragedy.
• Correction: A farce is a type of comedy that involves exaggerated and absurd situations.
• Misunderstanding: A melodrama is a type of tragedy.
• Correction: A melodrama is a type of drama that emphasizes emotional and sensational elements.

Quick Application / Identification

1. Identify the genre of the following play: "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare. Answer: Comedy Reason: The play ends in a happy and lighthearted resolution, with a comedic twist.
2. Identify the type of speech delivered by Hamlet in the following passage: "To be or not to be, that is the question." Answer: Soliloquy Reason: The speech involves Hamlet's inner thoughts and feelings, spoken aloud.
3. Identify the type of situation in the following passage: "The characters are trapped in a room with no exit, and they are forced to engage in absurd conversations." Answer: Absurdist Theatre Reason: The situation involves illogical and absurd elements, challenging societal norms.

Last-Minute Revision

• Tragedy is a drama that ends in the downfall or death of the protagonist.
• Comedy is a drama that ends in a happy or lighthearted resolution.
• Tragicomedy is a drama that combines elements of both tragedy and comedy.
• History is a drama that is based on historical events or figures.
• Farce is a comedy that involves exaggerated and absurd situations.
• Melodrama is a drama that emphasizes emotional and sensational elements.
• Absurdist Theatre is a drama that involves illogical and absurd situations.
• One-Act Play is a play that consists of a single act.
• Monologue is a speech delivered by a single character.
• Soliloquy is a type of monologue that involves a character's inner thoughts and feelings.
• Aside is a comment or speech made by a character to the audience.
• Dramatis Personae is a list of characters in a play.
• Plot Twist is an unexpected turn of events in a play.
• Character Development is the process of a character changing or growing throughout a play.
• Sophocles wrote the tragedy "Oedipus Rex."
• Shakespeare wrote the comedies "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Twelfth Night."
• Oscar Wilde wrote the farce "The Importance of Being Earnest."
• Samuel Beckett wrote the absurdist play "Waiting for Godot."