Dramatic Structure

Dramatic Structure

                Dramatic structure involves the overall framework or method by which the playwright uses to organize the dramatic material and or action.  It is important for playwrights to establish themes but the challenge comes in applying structure to the ideas and inspirations.  Understanding basic principals of dramatic structure can be invaluable to the playwright.  Most modern plays are structured into acts that can be further divided into scenes.  The pattern most often used is a method by where the playwright sets up early on in the beginning scenes all of the necessary conditions and situations out of which the later conditions will develop. Generally the wants and desires of one character will conflict with another character.  With this method the playwright establishes a pattern of complication, rising action, climax, and resolution.  This is commonly known as cause to effect arrangement of incidents.

The basic Characteristics of the cause to effect arrangement are:

1.Clear exposition of situation
2.Careful preparation for future events
3.Unexpected but logical reversals
4.Continuous mounting suspense
5.An obligatory scene
6.Logical resolution