Dramatic structure
The is how the or story of a play is laid out, including a beginning, a middle and an end. Plays may also include , which are smaller stories that allow the audience to follow the journey of different characters and events within the plot. Plays also feature an element of conflict, which does not necessarily mean a fight or argument but instead an obstacle that needs to be overcome.
A typical dramatic structure is , with events occurring . This might include:
- exposition - introduces background events and characters
- rising action - a series of events that create suspense in the narrative
- climax - the part of the story where the suspense reaches its highest part
- falling action - the main conflict starts to resolve
- resolution - the conclusion of the story where questions are answered and loose ends are tied up
Structures can also be , with the action of the play moving forwards and back in time. This is done through the use of and , to help make the play more exciting or to highlight points through contrast and .
Alternatively, plays may follow a structure, with the play ending at the same time as it began. This can be exciting for the audience as they try to work out how the character ended up in the position they see at the start of the play.
Traditionally, plays use and to help define particular moments in time, and a new scene will show the audience that the action is taking place in a different location.
