The origin and evolution of drama genre in literature. Akhmedova Gulkhumor

The origin and evolution of drama genre in literature.
Akhmedova Gulkhumor

Master’s department

Uzbekistan State World languages University
M. Yu.Umarova

Ph.D, Associate Professor,

Chair of Linguistics and Literature Critical Studies
Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the origin and evolution of drama genre in literature. The use of "drama" in a more narrow sense to designate a specific type of play dates from the modern era. "Drama" in this sense refers to a play that is neither a comedy nor a tragedy—for example, Zola's Thérèse Raquin (1873) or Chekhov's Ivanov (1887). It is this narrower sense that the film and television industries, along with film studies, adopted to describe "drama" as a genre within their respective media.

Drama occurred in England between 16-17^th century. English dramatists: Christopher Marlow, Ben Johnson, Shakespeare.

In English, the word play or game was the standard term for dramas until William Shakespeare's time—just as its creator was a play-maker rather than a dramatist and the building was a play-house rather than a theatre.

Key words: drama, dramatist, genre, Christopher Marlow, Ben Johnson, William Shakespeare, term.

Introduction

Drama is defined in this modern usage as "a genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone" which focuses on in-depth development of realistic characters who must deal with realistic emotional struggles.

The word “drama” is derived from the Greek word “chan” means to do, to perform; a kin to Greek “drainein” means to be ready, to do and technically it means deed, action on the stage. This meaning indicates that it has a particular relation with action. A cursory glance at its history clearly shows that since its inception, action has been an integral part of it. [1, 1993, 743]

Definition of Drama

Drama is an imitation of life in which dialogues and acting are in full consonance with real life where acting and performance occupy the first place and dance and dialogues occupy the second place. Drama is a branch of fine arts. According to some scholars the drama is a literary miracle which is written for the stage; dialogues and speeches are in the form of poem; sentiments and feelings are expressed by body and tongue.

Hari Ram Shankar, a Sanskrit scholar defines drama as follows:

“Drama is the representation by actors put up for show at certain place before spectators in the form of imitations of conditions and situations in which persons are placed from time to time by certain means, leading to enjoyment of a particular pleasure”. [2, 1964, 99]

The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a collective form of reception. The structure of dramatic texts, unlike other forms of literature, is directly influenced by this collaborative production and collective reception.

Mime is a form of drama where the action of a story is told only through the movement of the body. Drama can be combined with music: the dramatic text in opera is generally sung throughout; as for in some ballets dance "expresses or imitates emotion, character, and narrative action". Musicals include both spoken dialogue and songs; and some forms of drama have incidental music or musical accompaniment underscoring the dialogue. Closet drama is a form that is intended to be read, rather than performed. In improvisation, the drama does not pre-exist the moment of performance; performers devise a dramatic script spontaneously before an audience.

Drama is studied by Aristotle’s “Poetics”.

Aristotle suggested that mimesis (imitation) is innate in humans; theatre probably came from the dithyramb, a hymn sung or chanted before religious rituals in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine, rebirth, and fertility.

Aristotle’s six elements of drama are: Spectacle, Character, Fable (Plot), Diction, Melody and Thought.

Generally, the things that makes a good drama are: the involvement of an interesting issues, the use of the right dialogue and monologue, knowledge of the main issues, the use of unique and interesting characters, a clear theme and an understandable yet interesting plot.

Drama is divided into comedy and tragedy

Sometimes, scholars distinguish between high comedy, which appeals to the intellect (comedy of ideas) and has a serious purpose (for example, to criticise), and low comedy, where greater emphasis is placed on situation comedy, slapstick and farce.

Drama is one of the first forms of storytelling in human history. Dating back to at least the 5th century BC in Ancient Greece, drama became an important part of celebrations for gods and competitions were held for the best new work of drama. Drama was popular in many other parts of the world as well, especially in the modern-day nations of India, China, and Japan. Drama examples have continued to be important in different areas of the world and throughout different time periods. One of the primary reasons that drama has continued to have such an important place in literature is its unique way of presenting a narrative in real time. Thus, even if the story is from Ancient Greece, the audience is confronted with the story in front of them in the modern day and should therefore be able to have stronger feelings of catharsis than if reading the text as a historical document.
References:

1. The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, Vol.l, (Oxford 1993), P-743.

2. Mishra, H.R.; The Theory of Rasa in Sanskrit Drama, (Vindhyacha! Prakashan, 1964) P-99

3. www.owlcation.com

4. www.researchgate.net

5. www.slideshare.net