Theatre Appreciation -- Six Parts of a Play -- Character

Character in the Play

Resource: Wilson, Chapters 13, 14, & 15

Objectives for this lesson:

Students will examine:

elements of character and characterization

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Aristotle's Six Parts of a Tragedy (click here for a slide presentation about the six parts of a play -- with sound -- requires a relatively fast connection and an internet sound plug-in installed)

1. Plot

2. Character

3. Thought (theme, idea)

4. Diction (Language)

5. Music (sound)

6. Spectacle

2. CHARACTER: the essences of human behavior.

Representative or quintessential characters (166) -- embodiment of of the characteristics of an entire group.
Only human as much as the playwright and production have made them distinguishable from other characters, physically, socially, psychologically, morally.
The concept of "decorum" was important in the Neoclassical period--characters should behave according to their class /circumstances (Example: The Cid)
Revealed ONLY by what characters says, does, what others say about him, react to him (stage directions, etc.).
Can also be revealed through how the character functions in the play -- what functions to they fulfill in the play ?

The following terms help describe characters according to their function in the play :

Protagonist (285...) -- "agon" = struggle; the pro side of the struggle -- often used to refer to the lead character in a tragedy.

Antagonist (285...) -- the anti side of the struggle -- often the bad guy, but could be anyone / thing that struggles against the protagonist.

Foil / Counterpart: (287) -- reveals some aspects of the main characters by having similar or different circumstances or by behaving similarly or differently

Stock characters (210...) -- exemplify one particular characteristic, as in commedia dell' arte --

Type -- a character who is larger than life who has a "dominant trait" -- as opposed to a "real" or life-like individual [Sporre, 95]. -- similar to "stock" characters -- for example: the "villain," the "good cop gone bad," the "precocious child," etc.

Narrators / Chorus and Non-Human characters (283).

[Confidante -- a character whom the protagonist or other important character confides in...

Raisonneur / author's character -- speaks for the author, giving the author's morals or philosophy -- usually not the protagonist

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Some questions to ask about characters in a play...

Are characters "major" or "minor?"
Shallow or well-drawn?
Extraordinary or ordinary?
Representative or particularized?

Important terms:

agon

protagonist

antagonist

foil

stock characters

type

Click here for a short study quiz on this lesson...

The last Four Parts of a Play

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Last revision date: April 29, 2004