Understanding the Elements of Drama

What is a drama?

• A type of story meant to be read silently.

• A specialized kind of story meant to be performed.

• A long poem with many characters.

• A historical account of events.

Which of the following is an example of a dramatic art?

• A novel

• A movie

• A painting

• A song without lyrics

What does the "Cast of Characters" section of a play tell you?

• The names of the people who wrote the play.

• The names of the actors performing in the play.

• The names and descriptions of the characters who will be performed in the play.

• The names of the people who designed the set.

Is it possible for a character to be mentioned in a play script but never appear on stage?

• Yes, if they are only referenced by other characters.

• No, every character mentioned must appear on stage.

• Only if the play is a comedy.

• Only if the play is very short.

How are scenes in a play like chapters in a book?

• They both always have the same number of pages.

• They both tell you who the main character is.

• They are both sections of a story separated by time or location.

• They both must be read aloud.

What do stage directions in a play tell the audience or actors?

• The lines that characters speak.

• The names of the characters.

• The setting (time and place) of the scene and actions happening on stage.

• The title of the play.

How is a character's name written in a play script to show they are speaking?

• In italics.

• In all capital letters.

• In quotation marks.

• Underlined.

What is the purpose of the italicized text in brackets in a play script?

• It is dialogue that the actor should read aloud.

• It describes actions or settings for the team putting on the drama.

• It is a secret message for the director.

• It indicates a song should be sung.

What is the main difference between dialogue and stage directions in a play?

• Dialogue is spoken by characters, while stage directions describe actions or settings.

• Dialogue is always in italics, while stage directions are not.

• Stage directions are always read aloud, while dialogue is not.

• Dialogue is only for the actors, while stage directions are only for the audience.

Which of these are considered basic components of a play?

• Characters, scenes, stage directions, and dialogue.

• Title, author, publisher, and copyright date.

• Costumes, lighting, sound, and music.

• Acts, chapters, paragraphs, and sentences.