American Drama “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams美国戏剧《玻璃动物园”田纳西威廉姆斯.ppt

American Drama: “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams English III US Literature Drama A drama, or play, is a narrative meant to be performed. A play is a written script brought to life by actors, producers and directors. A script for a drama contains traditional narrative elements like plot, setting, characters, dialogue and theme. The script also contains stage directions, which inform the actors how to move, how to react, and when and where to enter and exit. Stage directions may even include how to interpret a character’s motives. Directors and other behind-the-scenes producers of drama refer to them for information on sound effects, lighting, props and costumes, etc. Reading Drama When you watch a drama, or play, you hear the dialogue and see the staging. However, when you read a drama, you must envision the action and staging. Therefore, you must read the stage directions. Basic Drama Vocabulary Drama = a serious play Comedy = humorous play Protagonist = the principal character around whom the action of the play revolves Antagonist = the person or force working against the protagonist in the play Monologue = a story, speech or scene performed by one actor Cast = group of actors in a play Downstage = acting area closest to the audience Upstage = acting area furthest from the audience Objective = a character’s goal or intention (motive) Memory Play Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie is a memory play. The “memory” play is a non-linear structural pattern in modern American drama. Post-World War II, many playwrights began to tap into the power of memory as a narrative device. The action is conveyed by an involved narrator recalling the incident(s). Tennessee Williams Born Thomas Lainer Williams in Columbus, Mississippi in 1911 Lived with his grandparents, sister (Rose) and mother while his father travelled for a telephone company Father took a job and moved the family to St. Louis, away from the grandparents Tennessee Williams: Biography The ch