Chandalika | Class 12 English Notes

Drama

Drama is a literary form that presents a story or character through dialogue, typically intended for performance on stage. It can be composed in prose or verse. The essence of drama lies in the element of make-believe, where actors impersonate characters, creating an illusion of reality. This make-believe is more profound than what the audience usually perceives; for example, the stage often has a missing wall to allow the audience to witness the action, which is accepted as natural within the dramatic context. Drama is broadly classified into tragedy and comedy, but many subtypes exist, such as tragicomedy, which blends elements of both. Modern drama also includes 'problem-plays' that focus on middle-class life and social issues rather than traditional tragic or comic themes. With the advent of mass media like film, radio, and television, drama has expanded beyond the stage, encompassing a wide range of formats from soap operas and farces to serious new works and productions of classic plays. This chapter includes two plays: 'Chandalika' by Rabindranath Tagore, which explores the inner conflict of an untouchable woman, and an excerpt from 'Broken Images' by Girish Karnad, a monologue revealing the psyche of a celebrity writer.

📊 Diagram: Figure on page 1 illustrating the concept of drama and its elements.

🔗 Connection: This introduction sets the stage for understanding the play 'Chandalika' by Rabindranath Tagore, which is the next section.