Drama analysis

Good day Philippine literature students! Welcome to out topic drama analysis. Drama analysis is another important skill a student of literature like you needs to possess. Drama analysis is a very worthwhile and fulfilling activity for literature students like you. Our drama analysis topic will be anchored on the drama entitled, The World is an Apple written by Alberto S. Florentino. You may download and obtain a copy of the drama by clicking here. I suggest you print such documents for your consumption. It will come handy when the need arises such as reviewing and studying for the Midterm Exam. Later, I will teach you how to do drama analysis. So, what are you waiting for? Join me now and together let us proceed with our lesson. Enjoy!

Intended learning outcomes

By the time of completion of this lesson, you should be able to:

1. identify the elements of drama;
2. explain the message of the drama, “The World is an Apple;” and
3. analyze a Filipino-written drama.

Teaching and learning activity

What is a Drama?

The term drama came from the Greek word “dran” which means “to do” or “to act.” Drama is a composition in prose or poetry that presents a story told entirely in dialogue and action. It is written with the intention of its eventual performance before an audience. Drama has a two-fold nature: that of literature and theater.

Historically, Greek drama began as a religious worship for the Greek god Dionysus. He is the Greek god of wine, revelry, and physical pleasure. He is handsome and vigorous-filled with the joy of life. He is the “Father of the Greek Theater.” When grapes were harvested, the Greeks would hold drama festivals to celebrate in his honor called “Feast of Dionysus.” This went on every year and all people from all walks of life went to see dramatic performances of great Greek dramatists and playwrights.

What are the types of Drama?

These are types of drama according to the form of genre.

• Tragedy is a dramatic presentation where the series of heroic overtures of the protagonist involve misery, defeat or even death of the hero. These series of unfortunate events are normally brought about by the hero himself due to his weakness in character. This is called “hubris,” a Greek word known as “tragic flaw” of the protagonist’s character. In the drama, The World is an Apple, the protagonist Mario’s flaw was not thinking twice before filching the red, big, delicious apple which rolled down from the crate. This single misstep led to series of unfortunate events causing more misery and trouble not only for him but for his entire family.
• Comedy is a dramatic presentation where the opposite of a tragedy’s outcome is presented. The protagonists victoriously overcome the odds and the drama ends happily unlike tragedy’s.
• Melodrama is also known as tragicomedy where elements of tragedy and comedy are combined. Like tragedy, it has all the workings of a protagonist involved in a monumental fight. However, it presents a protagonist who emerges victoriously in the end amidst all trials and struggles similar to a comedy.
• Farce is an exaggerated comedy which primary aim is to evoke laughter and presentation of lesson in life as secondary.
• Social play involves depiction of social ills and problems commonly seen in the larger community which aims to spread awareness among the entire population.

What are the elements of Drama?

There are elements of drama which are worth exploring needed for your drama analysis later. These are:

1. Setting identifies the time and place in which the events occur. It consists of the historical period, the moment, day and season when the incidents take place. In your drama analysis, you need to consider the following:
   1. Setting of time is the particular time of the day, day of the week, month of the year and so on, depending on what is revealed in the drama or play. In our drama analysis piece, The World is an Apple, the setting of time is one sunny Saturday afternoon.
   2. Setting of place is the particular location within an area where the drama was performed, a  particular locality, or a particular venue depending on your chosen drama for drama analysis.
   3. Weather condition is the atmospheric outlook of the time and place where the drama took place. Sometimes, it adds a particular element to the events which transpire as the drama unfolds. However, in the drama The World is an Apple, the weather is sunny and particularly fine.
   4. Social condition is the socio-economic situation the characters are presented. The couple Mario and Gloria are embroiled in a very tragic situation as suggested by their shanty dwelling, fabricated and installed behind the walls of Intramuros.
2. Characters are the most important elements of a drama. They are the actors who perform and deliver the lines which make the drama engagingly unfold. There are type of characters which we typically encounter in a drama presentation. They are:
   1. Protagonist is the primary character typically identified as the hero. In our drama analysis, the protagonists are Mario and Gloria.
   2. Antagonist is the character who opposes the protagonist. In our drama springboard, the antagonists are Pablo and the company where Mario previously
   3. Foil is a character who is exactly the opposite of another character whether primary or secondary character. Mario and Gloria are foils to each other.
   4. Dynamic character evolves as the drama unfolds like Mario.
   5. Static character does not show any change at all like Gloria and Pablo in the entire course of the drama.
3. Mood refers to atmosphere exuded in the drama. This is the prevailing emotion and outlook felt by the characters in the entire drama. The observable mood in the drama The World is an Apple would be serious and sad as revealed in the setting and the lines delivered by the character themselves.
4. Conflict refers to the struggle or opposing forces involving the characters in the drama. There types of conflicts evident in the drama, The World is an Apple. They are:
   1. Man vs. Man involves a conflict between two or more characters. In our drama analysis, we have Mario and Gloria as well as Gloria and Pablo.
   2. Man vs. Society involves a conflict between a character and the society as shown with Mario against the warehouse company which kicked him out of work because he “stole” an apple.
   3. Man vs. Himself is presented when a character is grossly involved with a dilemma of which he is normally forced to act against his will. Mario fights the urge to return to his bad ways of the past but is contemplating of uplifting his family situation.
   4. Man vs. God is normally presented as a conflict where a character is fighting against the superior being (God or Fate) which normally the character is powerless and completely overwhelmed.
5. Theme refers to what the drama is all about. This element is considered as the unifying element that defines the dramatized idea of the play. The theme is normally presented as a declarative sentence containing the entire gist of the drama. Normally, the theme is dependent on how the audience perceived and appreciate the entire drama. In our drama analysis of the play The World is an Apple, the theme may include: “A man’s folly brings misery to his family.”
6. Moral is the lesson the drama wants to convey. It is the gem of thought which one may use as a guide.  Unlike the theme, the moral is presented as an obligatory (imperative) sentence such as: “A man ought to think twice before doing something.” This moral may be elicited from our drama analysis of the piece, The World is an Apple.

Assessment Task

Writing a drama analysis

Now that you already have substantial knowledge about dramas, it is now time to write a drama analysis. We will do this to satisfy our intended learning outcome number 3. To do it, please adhere to the following instructions and enjoy!

1. First, choose any of the following dramas or any drama/play written by a Filipino playwright not listed here. Click on the title to read or download a copy for your consumption. Read and analyze your chosen drama and carefully note the elements we discussed earlier.
   1. Three Rats
   2. Why Women Wash the Dishes
   3. The Cadaver
   4. Walang Sugat
   5. Sa Pula, sa Puti
   6. Any other Filipino Written Drama/Play
2. Then, you need to download the drama analysis sample. You may click here to download a sample analysis for you to imitate.
3. Download the Drama Analysis Matrix document by going to our Edmodo Online Class Platform by clicking here . This is the MS Word document template which you will be using to do a drama analysis.
4. Do not tinker with the documentary format of the matrix. Just encode your responses in the allotted spaces and let the document expand as you input your responses to each of the entries.
5. Save your document and upload your soft copy to our edmodo online class. In this way, you will also have a backup in case of any eventuality. Print a copy for submission and grading.

References

• Soriano-Baldonado, Rizza. (2013). Readings from World Literatures:  Understanding People’s Culture, Traditions and Beliefs:  A Task-Based Approach.  Great Books Publishing, Quezon City.
• Vinuya, Remedios V. (2012). Philippine Literature:  A statement of Ourselves. Grandbooks Publishing, Inc., Metro, Manila.
• ncca.gov.ph/subcommissions/…/philippine-literature-during-the-american–period/
• http://markjan-markjan.blogspot.com/2009/03/sa-pula-sa-puti-ni-francisco-soc.html