The Forms of Drama

experience that told a story in many ways to interest audience and its present action through performance.

2.1.1 The Forms of Drama

Since ancient day, there are two genres that have dominated dramatic criticism. They are tragedy and comedy. In order to widen our perspective on drama, the writer divided the forms types of drama into 4 categories: comedy, farce, melodrama and tragedy. 1 Comedy The word “comedy” is familiar to most people. Comedy has also an intention to provoke laughter. Alternbernd and Lewis 1966: 68 states: Comedy develops by farce by almost imperceptible gradation. The Farcial element, the result to hamming, clowning, wisecracking, wide open absurdity to stimulate laughter is the spice of life to many comedies. Based on the statement above the writer concludes that comedy is a humorous play with an important theme. The characters in the comedy confront themselves and each other in some conflict but their conflict will end in happiness. 2 Farce “Farce” is a humorous play; it is even called a wild humorous play. Shipley 1962: 57 defines farce as follows: Farce means low comedy, intended solely farce generally to provoke laughter through gestures, buffoonery, action, or situation, as opposed comedy of character or manner. Based on Shipley’s statement above the writer draw conclusion that farce is one of the drama that has an intention to provoke laughter by showing funny action or situation. 3 Melodrama “Melodrama” is a serious play. Hornby 1963:612 defines melodrama as an exciting and emotional drama, usually with happy ending. Benton 1970: 131 also stated that: The plot in melodrama threats the vicissitudes suffered by the virtue at the end of the villainous, but ends happily with virtuous triumphant. Based on the statement above the writer concludes that melodrama a play important theme that shows the controversy between the antagonist and protagonist and ends with the protagonist’s victory. 4 Tragedy Hornby 1963:1071 states that: Tragedy is defined as a play for the theater, film-play, of a serious solemn kind, with sad ending. Tragedy emphasizes on the tragic moment and appeals the sad moment. Based on Hornby’s definition above, the writer concludes that tragedy is a serious play in which the antagonist and protagonist confront with each other with the suffering ends. From the explanation in previous pages, the writer concludes that drama is a play. It is designed for many purposes for example religious purposes, informative purposes, entertainment purposes and it tells a story experience in many ways to interest audience and its present action through performance. Furthermore, drama has four major forms; they are Comedy, Farce, Melodrama, and Tragedy.

2.2 Humor