AP English Literature Notes

Dan Parker

10/25/10 - 10/29/10

1 Drama
- drama works through both the visual and auditory media
- it is performed on a stage before a large audience, making it communal activity
- drama, unlike written literature, is designed to impart its meaning upon one viewing,
so more of the meaning is blatent
realistic drama: the world within the play is absolutely consistent with an actual
world: there is no hint to the actors that they are not real people. The events and
other parts of the play could really happen within the universe of the play.
unrealistic: works against the audience’s attempt to suspend disbelief. Often absurd
and could never possibly occur in reality.
aside: short line spoken only to the audience showing some of a character’s inner
thoughts
soliloquy: long speech spoken with only one character on stage. This shows the char-
acter’s innermost thoughts, but strains the bounds of realism.

1.1 Types of Drama

Tragedy: different depending on time period. We have already extensively dis-
cussed Greek tragedy. Hamlet, is one of the best examples of Elizabethan or
Renaissance tragedy in which some sort of fatal flaw led to a noble character’s
downfall. There is also modern tragedy in which we see the downfall of a normal
instead of a heroic character
Comedy: light drama where everything works out in the end. Usually humorous
and often ends in marriage.
Melodrama: basically, good versus evil with good winning at the end. Rather
serious, but nowadays have been overused and is mocked.
Problem Play: drama that discusses a social, economic, or political problem
Farce: comedy “without regard for human values”

1
 Comedy of Manners: a comedy that mocks upper-class life
Bourgeois Drama: a serious play that is centered around the problems of ordi-
nary (non-heroic, non-royal) characters
Theatre of the Absurd: comedy demonstrating that a rational understanding
of the universe is impossible and absurdity is the only way to keep from despair.
There is no reason for anything that happens.
- also see the hand-outs: Some Types of Drama and Theatre of the Absurd
protagonist: the central character, in much the same was as a normal literary protag-
onist.
antagonist: the force opposing the central character, again much the same as normal.
foil: another character that exists to show a contrast with the another character. Usu-
ally there are alike in all ways but one. Any difference in their end situation is thus due
to that one difference. Used to illustrate the effect one a single personality attribute.