1. Tragedy: It is a serious play in which the main character (the tragic hero) suffers a downfall because of a tragic flaw (also known as hamartia) poor judgement or unavoidable circumstances.
Characteristics
- Serious subject matter.
- A tragic hero of high status or importance.
- Presence of a tragic flaw (hamartia).
- Conflict between the hero and opposing forces.
- The hero’s downfall evokes pity and fear in the reader/audience.
- Usually ends in death or great suffering.
Examples
- William Shakespeare’s Hamlet
- William Shakespeare’s Othello
- Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus
2. Comedy: It is a play designed to entertain and amuse the audience. It presents human weaknesses and social issues in a humorous way.
Characteristics
- Humorous situations.
- Mistaken identity or misunderstandings.
- Happy ending.
- Marriage, reconciliation or celebration at the end.
- Ridicules human foolishness.
Examples
- William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night
- William Shakespeare’s As You Like It
3. Tragicomedy: This is a combination of the elements of tragedy and comedy. Although serious problems arise, the play ends on a hopeful or happy note.
Characteristics
- Mixture of serious and comic events.
- Moments of tension and humor.
- Characters experience difficulties but avoid complete disaster.
- Ends positively.
4. Melodrama: A melodrama is a play with exaggerated emotions and a clear struggle between good and evil.
Characteristics
- Highly emotional situations.
- Clear hero and villain.
- Suspense and excitement.
- Good triumphs over evil.
- Appeals strongly to the audience’s emotions.
In summary, drama is literature written for stage performance. Its major forms include tragedy, comedy, tragicomedy and melodrama. Every drama contains characters, dialogue, conflict, plot and stage directions that help communicate its message to an audience.