HISTORY OF DRAMA

DEFINATION: A composition in verse and prose intended to portray life or characters to tell a
story , usually involving conflicts and emotions ,through action and dialogue and typically
designed for theatrical performance is called drama…
The term drama comes from a Greek word which means action or to do, to act.The two
famous masks of drama represent the division between comedy and tragedy.They are symbols
of ancient Greek ; Thalia and Melpomene.Thalia was the muse of comedy and Melpomene
was the muse of tragedy.
History or origin of drama:
Some famous periods are:
1: Medieval Period:
The timeline of this period is from 11 to 15 century.It is famous for king Henry VI.There
are different types of plays that were originated during medieval period.This includes:
● Didactic plays
● Miracle plays
● Mystery plays
● Cycle plays
● Morality plays.
Famous drama of this period was ; The interlude of the student and a girl.
2:Renaissance Period:
The timeline of this period is 1600 to 1642.It includes the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and
King James I.The types of play includes; Tragi-comedy, Revenge plays and Melancholy.English
renaissance drama flourished until 1642 because of the civil war.The puritans took control over
London and then they compelled theaters to close on September ,2,1642.Then after this
Charles II opened the theaters in 1660.Famous drama of that time was ;
Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream and DR.Faustus.
Characteristics of renaissance period:
● Theaters become established and profitable.
● The renaissance theater was a unified theater allowing all social classes to attend.
● The roles were performed by special actors.
● There were certain dramatic gestures used to signify to the audience specific emotions.
3: Restoration Period:
The timeline of Restoration Period is 1660 onwards.it includes the reign of Charles II
who reopened theaters .This period also includes few types of drama:
● Heroic drama
● Pathetic drama
● Restoration comedy
Famous drama of Restoration period is ; All For Love (tragedy) by John Dryden.
4: Augustan Period:
This period includes the first half of the 18 century. It includes the reign of Queen
Anne , King George I and George II.It was ended in the 1740s with the deaths of Alexander
Pope and Jonathan Swift in 1744 and 1745.here are some characteristics of Augustan Period;
● Concept of individualism vs society
 ● Politics or social issues
● Response against rival authors.

5: Romanticism:
This period was from 1798 to 1837.It was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement
that originated in Europe towards the end of 18 century.
Characteristics:
● Depiction of nature
● Personification used in the poems
● Poets tried out to bring their inner feelings.
● People regardless of wealth and social issues appreciated art and literature .
6: Victorian Period:
The timeline of Victorian period is from 1877 to 1901.As the name signifies the reign
of Queen Victoria.Famous drama of Victorian Period was ; A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen.
7: Modern Period:
Modern period was from 1901 to 1945.The pivotal and innovative contributions of the
19 century Norwegian dramatist Henrik Ibsen and German theater practitioner Bertolt Brecht
dominate modern drama each inspired a tradition of imitation which include many of the
greatest playwrights of the modern era.Famous drama of modern period was ; Murder in the
Cathedral by T.S Eliot.
8: Post-modern Period:
The timeline of post modern period is from 1945 to 2000.Almost all types of dramas
were performed in this period.The famous drama of this period is : Waiting for Godot by Samuel
Beckett.and ; A Slight Ache by Harold Pinter in 1959.
ORIGIN OF DRAMA:MYSTERY PLAYS AND MIRACLE PLAYS:
Mystery plays were stories taken from Bible .Each play have 4 or 5 different scenes or
acts.The priests and monks were the actors .Each scene was performed at a different place in
town and people moved from one place to the next.The play usually ended outside the church
so that the people would go to church and hear a sermon after watching the play.
Miracle plays were about the life or actions of a saint ,usually about the actions that
made that person a saint.
MORALITY PLAYS:
These plays used allegorical characters to tell the story of mans life and ultimate journey
to the afterlife. An allegorical character is one who is symbolic and one who represents an idea
.As their name would suggest, morality plays teach their audience lessons on how to lead a
good and moral life.
TYPES OF DRAMA:
1: COMEDY : Comedies are lighter in tone and provide a happy conclusion.The intention of
dramatists in comedies is to make their audience laugh. Hence they use quaint circumstances
and unusual characters and witty remarks.
2: TRAGEDY:
Tragic dramas use darker themes such as disaster, pain and death. Protagonist often
have a tragic flaw; a characteristic that leads them to their downfall.
3: FARCE:
 Generally, farce is a nonsensical genre of drama which often overacts or engages
slapstick humor.
4: MELODRAMA:
Melodrama is an exaggerated drama which is sensational and appeals directly to the
senses of audience
5: MUSICAL DRAMA:
In musical drama, the dramatists not only tell their story through acting and
dialogue,nevertheless through dance as well as music . often the story may be comedic though
it may also include serious subjects.