English Class 11 Chapter 10 Notes Bihar Board बिहार बोर्ड

Definition: The word ‘Drama’ comes from a Greek word meaning “thing done”. It represents a world modeled on ours through acting.
Drama vs. Play: In many cultures, “drama” is more commonly used than “play”. While the two terms are synonymous, drama is preferred in literature and is a composite art combining literary and representational aspects.

Core Elements:
- Plot: The sequence of events in the play.
- Character: Individuals who carry out the actions of the plot.
- Dialogue: The spoken words between characters.
- Gestures: Physical movements that convey meaning.
- Scenic Effects: Visual elements that enhance the setting.
- Music: Enhances the emotional and thematic aspects of the play.
- Soliloquy: A character’s speech revealing inner thoughts.
Importance of Words: Words can either be central to the drama or secondary, depending on the play’s style. For instance, G.B. Shaw’s plays emphasize the importance of words.
Representation: Drama is meant for performance, with actors embodying different characters, making it a representational art.

Stages of Dramatic Structure:
- Exposition: Introduction of the plot and characters.
- Complication: Development of the conflict or rising action.
- Crisis: The turning point of the story.
- Denouement: The resolution or falling action.
- Catastrophe/Conclusion: The final outcome, which can either be tragic (in tragedies) or happy (in comedies).
Principle of Parallelism: A key feature in drama, where motives, interests, and themes are repeated.
Principle of Contrast: Integral to the conflict, which is the backbone of drama.

Miracle Plays: Emerged after the Norman Conquest, focusing on religious themes. Examples include Ludus de Sancta Kathurian.
Morality Plays: Developed in the Middle Ages, personifying virtues like Beauty and Strength. Famous plays include Marriage of Wit and Wisdom and The Pride of Life.
Interludes: A later form of drama that flourished in the 16th century, with John Heywood being a notable writer.

Renaissance Influence: Revival of interest in Latin literature; writers drew inspiration from classics. Roister Doister by Nicholas Udall was the first real comedy, and Gorboduc by Thomas Sackville and Thomas Norton was the first English tragedy.
University Wits: Predecessors of Shakespeare, including John Lily, Thomas Kyd, and Christopher Marlowe, who laid the groundwork for Elizabethan drama.
Shakespeare: His works spanned various genres, including early comedies, histories, mature comedies, and great tragedies like Hamlet, Othello, and Macbeth. His plays reflect the Renaissance spirit, emphasizing free will and individual destiny.

Jacobean Drama: After Elizabeth’s death, drama became more pessimistic. Notable playwrights include Ben Jonson and John Webster.
Restoration Comedy: Post-1660, theatres reopened, and comedy flourished with writers like Etherege, Wycherley, and Congreve, who developed the comedy of manners.
18th Century Drama: Marked by a decline in quality, with only Goldsmith and Sheridan making significant contributions.

19th Century: Drama was generally mediocre due to a lack of appreciation from the middle-class society.
20th Century: Revival of drama with figures like John Galsworthy, George Bernard Shaw, and T.S. Eliot, who revived verse drama. Samuel Beckett and Harold Pinter also made significant contributions, exploring themes like existentialism and broken family ties.

American Drama: Rich tradition with playwrights like Eugene O’Neill and Arthur Miller, who explored psychological and societal issues.
African Drama: Wole Soyinka from Nigeria experimented with English language and dramatic techniques, focusing on themes like civil violence and universal brotherhood.
Indian Drama: Indian playwrights like Rabindranath Tagore and Girish Karnad made significant contributions, often translating their works into English to reach broader audiences.