Defenseless Creature

Defenseless Creature

Anton Chekhov/Neil Simon

Page 612-621

Drama

• a play for theater, radio, or television.

Anton Chekhov

This is the author of the story from the 1880s. This was a story, not a play at this time.

At the time, Chekhov was just simply trying to support his family while he finished medical school.

He went on to become one of Russia's most famous playwrights and helped develop the modern short story.

This is the modern writer who adapted it into a play.

• He also, wrote for TV and radio programs.

Drama

• Farce

• a comic dramatic piece that uses highly improbable situations, stereotyped characters, extravagant exaggeration, and violent horseplay.

Drama features

• a script

• cast of characters

• description of the setting

• dialogue

• stage directions

4 types of drama

• comedy

• tragedy

• tragicomedy-mix of both comedy and tragedy

• melodrama (straight drama) most of today's dramas-not extreme in comedy or tragedy

Dramatic Irony

• irony that is inherent in speeches or a situation of a drama and is understood by the audience but not grasped by the characters in the play.

• What does all that mean?

Defenseless Creature

• Women, back in the day, were thought of as fragile, helpless, and childlike.

• The author is poking fun of that stereo type with having the woman say it, but not act like it at all.