Miguel de Cervantes High School

Prof.: Pilar Molina - Language 2023

SELF-LEARNING GUIDE: DRAMATIC GENRE

THEME: Understanding the literary world of the dramatic genre

EXPECTED LEARNING: -They are familiar with the general characteristics of the dramatic genre, elements and
concepts.

REMEMBER THAT THIS GUIDE HAS ALL THE CONTENT, WRITE YOUR NAME ON ALL THE PAGES.

1.- THE ORIGIN OF THE THEATER

The origin of theater is closely linked to religious practices, as men and women, in the
deseo de agradar a sus dioses, celebraban o rendían culto con canciones y bailes, ambos componentes esenciales de la
performance. It was also common to represent scenes from the lives of the gods, forming a rudimentary
theatrical interpretation. The existence of modern Western theater is largely due to the influences of Greek theater.
1.2.- HISTORY OF GREEK THEATER
The festival in honor of Dionysus has great significance in the history of theater. In ancient Greece, at the end of the grape harvest
the god of wine Dionysus, also called Bacchus by the Romans, was honored with dances and praises. A group of
young people were heading to their temple, singing and dancing, led by a coryphée, or choir master, who was the best
I was doing these activities.

2.- THE DRAMATIC WORK AND ITS DIFFERENCE WITH THE THEATRICAL WORK

Dramatic work

is

Dramatic literary text Being represented on a stage

its goal is

developed through has is divided into becoming

Observations Structure Structure Work

Dialogue Works Works
internal external dramatic dramatic theatrical
adults minors

Start Act
Tragedy Farce
Development Scene
(Climax)
Comedy Farce

Frame
Outcome Tragicomedy Lend

The first characteristic of dramatic works is that they are written by a playwright to be
represented on a stage and in front of the audience. When they are actually represented, they will be called
theatrical works. The second characteristic is that works of this genre do not have a narrator who orders the
created world, but the characters themselves, through dialogue, develop the situations.
The main feature is the use of the direct style, which is the textual incorporation of the dialogue of the
characters to the narrative. It allows for the literal, objective reproduction of the words of the characters, which contributes
 Miguel de Cervantes High School
Prof.: Pilar Molina - Language 2023
3.- INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE DRAMATIC WORK

Internal structure of the dramatic work

Requires

Dramatic action Dramatic conflict

Composed of It is ordered

Presentation of the conflict

Climax Development of the conflict

Dramatic ending

Dramatic action: it is the framework or sequence Dramatic conflict: it is the struggle between
of actions that allow the work to develop. these two forces, the central problem of the
The dramatic action is the structured form that work. The conflict takes on the character of
it assumes the interaction between the characters and
dramatic within the work and can
ensures the development and resolution of the conflict. It
to refer to various topics: love, war,
It begins with a relative balance between two forces. revenge, etc. Additionally, the conflict can
opposite and the actions are carried out through being with oneself (internal conflict) or in
of tensions and relaxations among these forces, relationship with another person, society, the
those that are embodied in the protagonist and the universe or nature.
antagonist, which ends in a conclusion.

a) Presentation of the conflict: The opposing forces are presented: the most important characters and their motivations.
Usually, in this part, the protagonist and the antagonist meet for the first time, with a greater or lesser degree.
of knowledge about their rivalry.
b) Development of the conflict: The struggle of the conflicting forces occurs. At this stage, it moves towards the climax or
moment of maximum tension in the confrontation. Due to the high degree of psychological and emotional pressure that surrounds
the characters, the climax is a brief moment, after which the resolution quickly unfolds (next).
c) Dramatic resolution: The conflict between the two forces is resolved, one of them will emerge victorious and it ends with
imposing on the other, overcoming it and removing the obstacles that could have prevented it from reaching its final goal.

4.- BASIC GLOSSARY OF DRAMATIC GENRE

It is necessary for you to know some terms of the dramatic genre:

Notes: information and instructions given by the playwright to direct the actors (such as how to move,
tone of voice, clothing. Space, time, psychological state, etc)
Aside: A resource in which a character is in the midst of the action and addresses the audience to make them complicit in
something that the other characters should not know.
Mutis: A resource to indicate that a character exits the stage
Dialogue: Corresponds to the fundamental discursive form of the dramatic work, which allows for the complete development of the work.
The characters establish a dialogic communication, interacting directly, without intermediaries. The interventions
each of them is generally preceded by a colon and the name of the character that intervenes.
Dramatist: it is a writer of literary texts composed to be performed in a stage space. To these
writings are given the name of theatrical works or dramatic works
Director: is the one who takes on the dramatic world created by the playwright, that is, coordinates all the elements that
they compose the work, among them they distribute interpretations, direct the acting rehearsals and the work itself, in others
words, transform the dramatic text into theater.
Theater company: a theater company or theatrical company is an association of organized individuals that perform
theatrical works.
 Miguel de Cervantes High School
Prof.: Pilar Molina - Language 2023

Tragedy: It is a dramatic work whose protagonist

he is a noble character of lineage and prestige,
in addition to having great moral values, which is seen
facing a fatal or grim destiny. In this type
In works, destiny always wins, as it predestines.
to the character. His language is cultured in form and his tone is
solemn and elevated. Its purpose in the viewer or
The reader is to produce catharsis. This was achieved because
the spectators of the tragedy feel compassion for the Some examples:
character's destiny, who uselessly struggles against
The distresses of the Scylla
a supreme will. Such compassion goes in
increase, to the point that the viewer suffers Oedipus Rex by Sophocles
with the protagonist. The suffering is externalized to Antigone Sophocles
mode of release or inner purification. This
elevation of the soul, starting from fear, piety and
compassion was known to the Greeks as
catharsis.

Comedy: It is a minor work, of character

light. The characters are common and
currents. The purpose of comedy is
ridicule the flaws of the characters to
through a festive, playful style, in a way
that the viewer sees their representation
faults and errors that need to be corrected. The
comedy is faced with a conflict
failed, as misunderstandings occur and
confusions, so that upon clarifying it
the work ends. Its characters belong to everyone
social strata.
Some examples:

Tartuffe by Molière
A Midsummer Night's Dream
by William Shakespeare
The yes of the girls by Leandro
Fernández de Moratín

Drama or tragicomedy: It has a mix between the

tragedy and comedy. It is the closest thing to life
common. The protagonists can win or lose. Their
the name already places us in a form whose characteristic
it is essential to show, in the most realistic way possible,
the tragic and comic circumstances that make up the
life. The characters no longer represent archetypes,
they are not completely good beings either,
completely bad, but beings that respond to
human pattern, with defects and virtues, successes and
missteps. Unlike tragedy, man does not
it faces designs or superior wills, against
which fighting is useless. Neither the problems do Some examples:
 Miguel de Cervantes High School
FIRST DAY OF WORK
Prof.: Pilar Molina – Lenguaje 2023

Activity Read the following excerpt from a dramatic text and complete the requested activities.

LADY PAULA.- Very nice, right?

LADY MATILDE.- A lot. Very kind.
Mrs. Paula.- Very attentive people.
DOÑA MATILDE.- And who are they? (She watches them leave)
MADAM PAULA.- Ah, I don ’t know... I pay them fifty pesetas to come for a visit twice a
week...
MADAM MATILDE.- The price is not bad. It's economical.
MS. PAULA.- At twenty-five pesetas per half hour... But it gives you better results than real visits, which
There is no one who can stand them and they immediately tell you that something or other hurts... They come, they stay.
silent, and for half an hour you can tell them all your problems, without them allowing themselves to tell you theirs
yours, that you don't care a fig about...
Miguel Mihura
Maribel and the Strange Family
This fragment is a dramatic text because:
A. Tells a story imagined by its author and starring characters.
B. Born to be represented, as it is a theatrical text.
C. We did not find a narrator.

¿Qué personajes intervienen en el texto y de qué trata el diálogo que mantienen?

Is there any annotation in the text? What information does it provide us? Explain what annotations are.
they appear in theatrical texts and what they are used for.

Based on your previous answers, summarize in your own words the main characteristics of the texts.
dramatic.

Activity 2 V o F. Señala si las siguientes ideas son verdaderas o falsas.

The dramatic work corresponds to the literary dramatic text.

Dramatic works are characterized by presenting a conflict between opposing forces.

The theatrical work corresponds to the representation of the dramatic work on a stage and in front of an audience.

The director is responsible for the decoration of the stage.

The interventions of a character are called dialogues.

 Miguel de Cervantes High School
Prof.: Pilar Molina - Language 2023
FIRST DAY OF WORK

Activity 3 Choose the correct alternative for the following questions.

1.- The dramatic genre is characterized by: Read the text and then answer questions 6 to 8.
A. It has a dialogued structure.
B. The characters tell us the story
C. It represents a tragic reality (Dusty village road. Hot afternoon of
Time and space are fictitious. summer. The old man leads his donkey by the halter. The
E. It has a narrator mounted boy. Group of villagers, heading towards
the travelers.)
2.- Comedy is a light representation and Villagers: (mocking) look at what you
humorous, whose purpose is: funny! The world upside down; the poor old man barely
A. To provoke laughter in the receiver he can walk and the boy very mounted on it
B. Ridicule the characters' flaws. donkey.
Get off, you good-for-nothing, you have no pity for the
C. Make the recipient reflect on the value
poor grandfather!...
of life.
Grandfather: I believe these people are right, my son.
D. Propose an optimistic vision towards the
Get down and I will go up.
life.
E. Achieve catharsis in the spectator Boy: as you command, grandfather.
The old man rides the donkey, the boy takes it.
of the halter and continue on their way)
3.- Identify the INCORRECT statement in
relation to the dramatic work.
Public opinion. (Fragment).
A. It aims to be represented.
B. The shares are delivered through the 6.- The dramatic speaker in the previous text
dialogue of the characters. manifests through:
C. It has been created to be represented in a
scenario. I. Language of annotations.
D. The conflict can be conceived as II. The multiplicity of dramatic voices.
antagonism of abstract forces. III. The information provided by the structure.
E. The appellative function predominates in it.
language. A. Only I
B. Only II
4.- The language of annotations informs about: C. Only III
D. Only I and II
I. The actions that the characters must perform E. I, II, and III
(gestures, attitudes).
II. The clothing that they must wear. 7.- In the text, the language of annotations
III. the stage decoration. corresponds (to):

A. Only I A. The words of the villagers.

B. Only II B. To the dialogue between the grandfather and his grandson.
C. Only I and II C. The description of the action space.
D. Only II and III D. Everything that is not dialogue.
E. I, II and III E. The grandfather's monologue.

5.- The language of annotations guides, among others, 8. The previous text notes that:
about:
I. The place to which the characters are heading.
I. Costumes and decoration. II. That the road is dusty and the afternoon is
II. Movement of the characters. warm.
III. Type of dialogue of the characters. III. The attitude of the villagers.

A. Only I A. Only I
B. Only II B. Only II
C. Only I and II C. Only II and III
D. Only II and III D. Only I and III
 Miguel de Cervantes High School
Prof.: Pilar Molina - Language 2023
SECOND DAY OF WORK

Activity Read the following micro-story and transform it into a dramatic work. You can add characters.
4 actions to the history.
Don't forget to use the elements indicated in the guide (language of annotations, dialogues, etc.).

Fairy tale
A frog wearing a crown on its head says to a man: 'Kiss me, please.' The man
think: "This animal is enchanted. It can turn into a beautiful princess, heir to a"
kingdom. We will marry and I will be rich.” He kisses the frog. Instantly, he finds himself transformed into a
slimy toad. The frog exclaims, happily: "My love, it’s been so long since you were enchanted, but
I finally managed to save you!

Alejandro Jodorowsky

Activity Once the dramatic text is written, complete the response of the following scheme in the box of
5 down.

Start Presentation of the

dramatic conflict.

Development Evolution of
dramatic conflict.

Climax Moment of
maximum tension in
the conflict
dramatic.

Outcome Resolution of
dramatic conflict.

SELF-ASSESSMENT GUIDE

ASPECTS TO EVALUATE P. IDEAL P. REAL

Your dialogue presents a situation related to the text by Alejandro Jodorowsky.
3
Miguel de Cervantes High School
Prof.: Pilar Molina - Language 2023