A.

Definition of Drama

 Drama is one genre of literary works that etymologically comes from the

Greek i "dran" which means to do something (Suwardi 2005: 189).

 While Suyoto (2006: 1) limits the definition of drama as follows, drama is the

story of human life that is presented on stage based on the script, uses

conversation, behavior, supporting elements such as the stage, and witnessed

by the audience.

 While Waluyo (2006: 1), revealed that drama is an imitation of human life

projected on stage.

 Meanwhile according to Esser, (2007: 122) drama is interpreted as Handlung

or "play" which is more directed to the part of the stage (Theater). A poet who

writes a play is called a Dramatiker or playwright.

 The word drama comes from the Greek word draomai which means to act,

react, and so on, so drama means action (Hasanuddin, 1996: 2). Drama is an

art that depicts human nature and attitude and must give birth to human will

with action and behavior (Hasanuddin, 1996: 2)

 The term drama is also known to originate from the word drama (French)

which is used to describe the plays of middle class life. Drama is one form of

art that tells stories through the conversation and action of its characters.

Conversation or dialogue itself can be interpreted as action. The key word for

drama is motion. Each drama will rely on motion as a special feature of the

drama. These keywords are distinguished from poetry and fiction prose

(Endraswara, 2011: 11).

THE DRAMATIC NATURE, LANGUAGE AND RHETORIC

The understanding on the dramatic nature, language and rhetoric will help us

understand the specific characteristics.of drama. We can also see by examining these

features that there are many aspects in drama which need to be noticed and

emphasized. Thus, the explanation of each is praiseworthy.

A) The Nature of Drama

One notable uniqueness in drama is related to the fact that it has two

kinds of audience: those who read the manuscript and those who watch the

performance. Each of this type of audience needs specific attitudes and

knowledge to be able to enjoy a play either as a text or as a performance.

Thus, defining the nature of drama means the revelation of the text as well as

the performance. Both are interesting to discuss.

1. The Text

The text of a play is the printed (or handwritten) play. As there is no

narration or description in drama, its most notable features are dialogue,

monologue, and stage directions. By understanding this, we can study the

written language of a play in order to arrive at certain conclusions regarding

the play's artistic values, which must be examined easily through reading the

play.

- Dialogue is the conversation of two or more characters

- A monologue is spoken by a single character that is usually alone

onstage
 - Stage directions are the playwright's instructions about facial and vocal

expression, movement and action, gesture and body language, stage

appearance, lighting, and similar matters

The three aspects mentioned above play important roles in delivering the

actions and events in the play

2. The Performance

In drama performance, the audience must be willing to accept certain things

in the imagination For example, if several years pass between one act and

the next while the curtain has been lowered for only ten minutes, the

playgoer must accept the passing of time. The audience must also accept

the fact that when one character whispers to another, it must be loud enough

for everyone in the theater to hear; while it should also be noted that the so-

called "asides" which the other characters are not supposed to hear are

obviously delivered in loud enough voices for them to hear Those are called

dramatic conventions, which the audience has to keep in mind to help they

visualize mentally the way the play works when performed on stage.

B) language, imagery, and style

The language, imagery and style used by the dramatist may convey

intimate details about the characters lives and their deepest thoughts such as

their loves, hatreds, hopes, and plans. To bring such revelations before the

audience, dramatics employ words that have wide ranging connotations and

that acquire many layers of meaning. They also make sure that the words of

their characters fit the circumstances the time, and the place of the play.

The words used by the characters also define the relationships within

the play. This is because the language used by particular character when
 talking to one person in the play will be altogether different from the language

he uses when talking to another character. For example the way in which

othello talks to casio defines the relatinship between them as one existing

between commanding officer and subordinate officer, while the way in which

othello talks to his new bride defines his marriage relationship.

Images are designed to reinforce characterization and meaning as

certain kinds of images are repeated we can often talk about patterns of

imagery. In general, imagery is more commanly found in tragedy rather than

in comedy, comedy often relies more heavily on social statement than on

imagery for supporting meaning. In addition, playwrights often use figurative

language they explain their ideas by the use of analogies which can be

presented in differents ways. There are countless kinds of figures of speech

such as allegory, alliteration, personafication, paradox, etc.

One thing that characterizes drama is that all the possibilities must be conveyed in the

form of dialogues from the characters. As a result of this, if a reader who reads a drama text

without witnessing the performance of the drama will inevitably have to imagine the flow of

events on the stage. The author in principle takes into account special opportunities or

restrictions due to the orientation of the performance. That is, however the drama writer has

chosen many languages as the main characteristic of this drama which gives the intended

limitation. The advantage of drama compared to the genre of fiction and poetry genre lies in

the performance. Connoisseurs will witness the experience expressed by the author.

Connoisseurs really "witness" the events that are on stage. As a result, the audience will be

deeper, more concentrated, and more intense.

Another feature is that drama is constructed and shaped by elements as seen in other

literary genres, especially fiction. In general, as in fiction, there are elements that shape and
build from within the work itself (intrinsic) and elements that influence the creation of works

which certainly come from outside the work (extrinsic). The author's creativity and the

element of objective reality (universal reality) as extrinsic elements influence the creation of

drama. While deari in the work itself, the story is formed by elements of characterization,

plot, setting, conflicts, themes and mandates, and aspects of language style. In addition, there

are three elements which constitute a unity causing the drama to be performed, namely the

script element, the performance element and the audience element. The staging elements are

decomposed again into several parts such as stage composition, fashion, makeup, lighting,

and sound.

Drama Characteristics according to Prof. M. Atar Semi:

1. Drama has three dimensions, namely the dimensions of literature, movement,

and speech. Therefore, drama scripts are not specifically arranged to be read as

novels or short stories, but more than that, in the creation of drama scripts, it is

considered that the scripts can be translated into sight, sound, and behavior. If

a play script is enjoyed as a piece of writing, then when reading it the reader's

imagination leads also to the situation of sound vision, and the physical

movements of the players, because everything is depicted or clearly illustrated

in the script

2. Drama gives a stronger emotional influence compared to other literary works.

This is caused, drama with all the events that are displayed can immediately be

seen by the audience. An act of violence or rape that is immediately seen by

the eye gives a stronger emotional influence than if the event took place in the

imagination. The influence is stronger if the players and the stage arrangement

are so perfect
3. For most people, watching a drama is more fun and produces a longer lasting

experience compared to reading a novel. This is caused by the concentration

and intensification of emotions created by seeing and hearing events that

occur.

4. Drama is composed with a limitation. It is limited by two conventions,

namely: intensity and concentration. Both of these conventions exist because

they consider that the possibility of power is capable of following the

performance. No matter how interesting a performance, it can be unattractive

if it lasts for a long time. In addition, the physical and mental endurance of the

audience also varies, so it is considered that the amount of time which is

roughly generally can be followed well. That is why the intensity and

concentration is the specificity of drama.

5. Specific drama which is very important is the physical limitations of the

players. One of the physical limitations of drama when compared to other

literary works is: drama only concerns human and humanitarian issues. That is

because drama is played by humans. Drama cannot demonstrate the events of

the lion's life in the wilderness, about angels in heaven, or challenge life below

sea level. It is indeed possible to give a picture of the natural background by

using screens or other decorations. But nature is not alive, the sea is not

bumpy, palm trees do not wave.

6. Drama has limited use of material objects. In novels, short stories or poems

many things can be used as material objects: even in film too much can be

used using trick photography, but that cannot be done on stage. Very few

miracles and major disasters can be poured into drama. It should also be
 remembered that not everything that can be included in the performance can

be done convincingly.

7. Drama can have limitations not only in terms of artistic but also in terms of

performance. It is not appropriate if on stage a fight event is shown which can

shock the audience. If in the novel it could be depicted sex scenes or nude

actors, but on the stage it is impossible to do. Exploiting such lusts is staged

which is considered dirty, and can destroy the value of a drama or

performance.

8. Another limitation that drama has compared to other literary works is that

drama is limited by the intelligence of the average audience. Humans have

limitations in absorbing and understanding what they heard for the first time.

If in reading a novel or poem he can just read many times, or ask others about

the meaning of a word that is completely new to him, or can also be done by

opening a dictionary or encyclopedia.

9. Drama has limited episodes and a limited number of grooves. This relates to

the nature of drama that emphasizes intensity and concentration.

10. Drama script is a work whose contents are through conversation. The

conversation is called wawancang or dialogue.

Drama is a literary work that is staged based on a script using conversation, gestures,

and supporting elements such as stage layout and witnessed by the audience. There are some

characteristic of drama, namely drama has 3 dimensions namely writing, movement and

speech, drama gives a stronger emotional influence than other literary works, the drama is

composed by limitations, player limitations are set based on the script, and drama has time,

episode and plot.