In short, Dramatic devices are techniques used in dramatic works by playwrights to make stories more interesting to audiences. They are a form of literary device.
Dramatic devices are elements used by writers in plays or scripts to create drama, tension, and emotion. These can include the use of dialogue, stage directions, monologues, soliloquies, asides, flashbacks, foreshadowing, and more. They are crucial in conveying character emotions, advancing the plot, creating suspense, and enhancing the overall theatrical experience. We will explore the many different dramatic devices and we will look at some examples.
Dramatic devices and techniques
There is a multitude of devices and techniques used in dramatic writing. These terms can be used interchangeably, but for this article, we will call them dramatic devices.
Dramatic devices are conventions that are used in drama to enhance the action on stage. This can be used for many effects, including realism, emphasis or contrast.
Dramatic devices are essential tools in theatre. They serve as stand-ins for reality, enabling the audience to perceive the performance as authentic within its staged context.
Dramatic techniques, or dramatic methods, are specific strategies or methods used by playwrights and directors to tell stories on stage and create an emotional response. These techniques can involve elements of the script, like dialogue and characterisation, as well as theatrical components like lighting, sound, costuming, and set design. Effective use of these techniques can help to deepen audience engagement, create suspense, and bring a play's themes and characters to life. These techniques transmit information about characters or the plot that could not be conveyed by action alone.
Dramatic methods can also include how the themes and messages of a play are communicated through dialogue, action, symbolism, and metaphor.
Types of dramatic device
There is a multitude of conventions that can be used for different effects or purposes. Some types of dramatic devices include dramatic irony, soliloquy, aside, and paradox.
| Types of Dramatic Devices |
|---|
| Dramatic Device | Short Description |
| Dialogue | The conversation between characters which can reveal their thoughts, feelings, motivations, and relationships. |
| Stage Directions | Instructions in the script that guide actors' movements and behavior, and inform set design, props, lighting, and sound. |
| Monologue | A long speech by a single character, often used to express their inner thoughts or feelings. |
| Soliloquy | Similar to a monologue, but it's a speech where a character talks to themselves or to the audience, revealing their innermost thoughts. |
| Aside | A remark by a character intended to be heard by the audience but not by other characters on stage. |
| Flashback | A scene that interrupts the present action to depict an event from the past. |
| Foreshadowing | The use of hints or clues to suggest events that will occur later in the plot. |
| Symbolism | The use of objects, actions, or characters to represent an idea or concept greater than themselves. |
| Irony | A situation where the outcome is the opposite of what was expected, often used to create dramatic tension. |
Dramatic irony
The first device we can look at is dramatic irony.
Dramatic irony describes a situation in which the audience knows some information that some or all of the characters do not.
This results in heightened dramatic tension, especially in scenes that might allude to this information. Certain characters might be perceived differently by the audience than they are by other characters in the play due to unrevealed details or circumstances. Words and actions, therefore, can carry multiple meanings, making the action more interesting and exciting to watch.
Dramatic irony can be used either for comedic or dramatic effects. Audiences may laugh at the obliviousness of the characters on stage, or foresee potential tragedy.
Soliloquy
One of the ways in which dramatic irony can be achieved is through a soliloquy.
A soliloquy is a kind of monologue (a long speech spoken by a single character) that is addressed to the speaker themselves as they appear alone onstage.
Usually, the purpose of a soliloquy is to reveal the inner monologue of a character, allowing the audience to understand their thoughts, perspectives and intentions.
The information divulged during a soliloquy may not be privy to other characters in the play, therefore adding a layer of dramatic irony to enhance later action.
Aside
Similarly, this can also be achieved using an aside.
An aside is any speech delivered directly to the audience as a representation of a character's thoughts. Asides can be as short as a brief comment or as long as a whole speech.
Asides, like soliloquies, serve to reveal character information through personal thoughts that could not be shared through straightforward action.
The audience, therefore, may begin to feel involved and invested in the play, enhancing the dramatic experience.
Paradox
Another device is paradox.
A paradox is a statement that only seems like it contradicts itself but actually doesn't.
Paradoxes are used in drama to attract the audience's attention. They might seem to be ridiculous statements that offer humour in obvious self-contradiction; however, they usually still retain validity.
Dramatic devices examples
Now that we have established the major dramatic devices, we can consider some examples of how they can be used to great effect.
Dramatic devices in literature
It is important to look at how great dramatists have inventively used these same conventions as part of their craft to elevate and enhance their writing.
'To be or not to be'
Perhaps the most famous playwright in history, William Shakespeare (1564-1616), expertly deployed dramatic devices in his plays, cleverly using each to create unforgettable characters, stories and action.
The most widely known soliloquy in all literature is largely agreed as Hamlet's 'To be or not to be' from Act 3, Scene 1 of the play Hamlet (1599-1601). Hamlet's speech explores his deepest thoughts, contemplating suicide and the nature of death.
What makes this soliloquy so culturally impactful is the vulnerability exhibited by the titular character, Hamlet, who shares his innermost thoughts with the audience. There is an honesty conveyed through the soliloquy that can resonate with anyone, creating a feeling of intimacy on stage, especially poignant when considering the critical position that Hamlet finds himself in.
Another dramatic device used by Shakespeare in this scene is dramatic irony. Unbeknownst to Hamlet, his treacherous uncle, King Claudius, and his advisor, Polonius, are eavesdropping in secret. The audience is aware of this and understands the critical repercussions that might occur as a result, creating a sense of foreboding and anticipation.
Asides in Othello
Shakespeare's 1603 play Othello is a play largely concerned with deception and manipulation, particularly by its antagonist, Iago.
Throughout the play, Iago speaks to the audience through various asides, underscoring his treachery and deceit.
Even from his first aside, he cements his position:
With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio.
(Act II Scene I)
The dramatic device is quickly associated with Iago's villainy, creating in the audience a sense of dramatic irony of his true nature that is not understood by the rest of the characters.
What forms, therefore, is an inevitable fate that makes the ultimate tragedy of the play even more distressing: the audience is Iago's witness (and perhaps even corroborator) throughout, watching his plan unfold, also helpless to his evil nature.
Fig 1 - Dramatic devices are used to enhance the performance of plays.
Importance of dramatic devices
Dramatic devices are of incredible importance: with the inclusion of these conventions and techniques, playwrights can incorporate additional complexities, depth and detail into their work, making it a more enjoyable experience for audiences.
The major effect of all dramatic devices is to involve the audience, which makes the plot more immersive.
Straightforward action by itself may not be enough to emotionally involve audiences because they appear to operate from a distance. When an audience feels like they are part of the action on stage, however, the play becomes more believable and meaningful, thereby enhancing the dramatic experience.
Dramatic Devices - Key takeaways
- Dramatic devices are conventions or techniques used to make stage action more interesting to audiences.
- Key dramatic devices are dramatic irony, soliloquy, aside and paradox.
- Many examples of dramatic devices can be found in the works of Shakespeare.
- The most famous soliloquy is Hamlet's 'To be or not to be'.
- Dramatic devices serve to immerse the audience more effectively in the action of the play.
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