24 Drama

DramaPlotThesequenceofeventsthatcreateandthenresolveaconflict.Plotmovement:BeginningofstoryRisingactionClimax(peaktension)orCrisis(dramaticturningpoint)Fallingaction(falloftragichero)ResolutionorDenouement(Pointatwhichconflictendsandoutcomeismadeclear)OriginofDramaDefinitionAristotle:drama“imitatedhumanaction.”DictionaryDefinition:Dramaisacompositioninproseorverse,adaptedtobeacteduponastage,inwhichastoryisrelatedbymeansofdialogueandaction,andisrepresentedwithaccompanyinggesture,costume,andscenery,asinreallife.ASimpleHistoryofDramaDramaarosefromancientrituals.Primitiverituals:celebratingthedeathandrebirthofvegetarian(orfertility)god,becausecropslikericeandwheatwereregardedasgodssacrificingtheirlivesforthesurvivalofmanEgyptianrituals:celebratingthedeathandrebirthofOsiris,rulerofthehell,performedatAbydos,Egypt,between2500BCandabout550BCGreekrituals:celebratingthedeathandrebirthofDionysusEnglishDramaEarlyformsofEnglishdramaTheMiracle/mysteryPlay(13thcent.)奇迹剧TheMoralityplay(14thcent.)道德剧TheInterlude(16thcent.)插剧TheClassicalDrama(16thcent.)古典剧Earlycomedy:GammerGurton’sNeedle《盖墨·格顿的针》Earlytragedy:Gorboduc《高布达克》TheRiseofChristianDrama—TheMiraclePlayP.46Aftertheactorsintroducedsecularandcomicalelementsintotheperformance,thepriestsforbadeplaysinsidethechurch.However,thepeopleenjoytheplaysandtheplayscoverthewholeBiblestoriesfromCreationtoLastJudgment.TheMoralityPlayP.47So,shortlyaftertheMiraclePlaytherewastheMoralityPlay.WhywastheretheMoralityPlay?Helpconsolidatingthestandardofmorals,pavewayfortheconceptionofvaluesandidealsTheMoralityPlayP.47AMoralityPlaypresentstheconflictofgoodandevil,withallegoricalpersonages,suchasMercy,Peace,Hate,Folly,etc.,theycontendforthepossessionofthehumansoul.TheClassicalDramaP.47FromtheGreekandLatindramatheplaywrightslearnedalltheimportantrulesinstructureandstyle,themoreexactconceptionsofcomedyandtragedy,andtheorderlydivisionintofiveacts.Asaresult,theplaywrightsdevelopedtheformsofdramaintotheMiracleplays,Moralityplays,InterludesandClassicalplays,whichpavedthewayfortheflourishingofdrama.ElizabethanDramaThetheater,theactor,theaudience,theplaywright“UniversityWits”大学才子JohnLyly,RobertGreene,ThomasNashe,ThomasKyd,ChristopherMarlowe---S’spredecessors1585-1620:thegoldenperiodofEnglishdramaElementsofdrama1.PlotThestructureofaplay’saction,theorderoftheincidents,theirarrangementandform2.CharacterThevitalcenterofaplayHowtheylook,whattheysayandinwhatmannerstheysay;whattheydoandhowtheiractionsrevealwhotheyareandwhattheyrepresentThehumanqualitiesarethemostengagingfeature.3.DialogueDramaisdescribedas“personsmovingaboutonstageusingwords.”MajorfunctionsofDialogue:toadvancetheplot,toestablishsetting,andtorevealcharacter.4.StagingThingslikepositionsofactors,nonverbalgesturesandmovements,scenicbackground,propsandcostumes,lightingandsoundeffects5.ThemeItisthecentralideaoftheplay.EarlyTheaterGlobalTheaterChristopherMarlowe马洛ChristopherMarlowe(1564-1593)Life(1564-1593)themostpreeminentbeforeShakespeareSonofapoorshoemaker,Cambridgeedu.7plays,2poemsandsometranslationina6-yearcareerMysteriousdeathMajorWork1TamburlainetheGreat(1587)《帖木儿大帝》aged23,tooktheLondontheatrebystormstartedthegoldenperiodofEnglishdramaintheR.desireforinfinitepower&authorityMajorWorks2&3TheTragicalHistoryofDoctorFaustus(1588)《浮士德博士的悲剧》Masterpiece,basedonGermanlegendforinfiniteknowledgeTheJewofMalta(1592)《马耳他岛的犹太人》forinfinitewealthBarabas,stronglysuggestingS’sShylockAPortraitofEdwardII(1592-93)MajorWork4WhatThesePlaysshowMarloweshowsinvariouswaysthespiritoftherisingbourgeoisie,theinsatiableappetiteforpower(asinTamburlaine),forknowledge(asinFaustus),forwealth(asinTheJewofMalta),andforhappiness(asinEdwardII).WhatThesePlaysshowTheheroesintheseplaysallhavesomethingincommon:aresolutecharacter,ascornoforthodoxcreeds,andanoverpoweringpassion.Theseheroesarethetypicalimagesoftheeraoftheprimitiveaccumulationofcapital,presentingthepraiseofindividualityfreedfromtherestraintsofmedievaldogmasandlaw,andtheconvictionoftheboundlesspossibilityofhumaneffortsinconqueringtheuniverse.SignificanceofMarlowe(p.54)ThespiritoftherisingbourgeoisieThespiritoftheRenaissance,humanistidealsInsightofindividualismBlankverse,“Marlowe’smightylines”PavingthewayforShakespeareMarlowe’sLiteraryAchievementp.55HewasoneofthegreatestpioneersofEnglishdrama,andhisworkpavedthewayfortheplaysofShakespeare.HereformedtheEnglishdramaandperfectedthelanguageandverseofdramaticworks.Marlowe’sLiteraryAchievementp.55ItisMarlowewhofirstmadeblankversetheprincipalinstrumentofEnglishdrama.Hisblankverseisvigorous,fluidandprecise,andinterpretedtherestlesslymovingandquestingspiritoftheRenaissancewithatranslationofthoughtsandemotionsintorhythmicalspeechwithhappyexactness.