Melodrama Worksheet

Melodrama Worksheet

1. In which century did melodrama develop?

Melodrama developed in the 19th century. 

2. Why is it called Melodrama?

It is called Melodrama because the plays always had music in the background, thus the name 'melo' whilst the drama part is pretty straightforward as drama is related to acting. 

3. Why was Melodrama so popular?

Melodrama became popular because they used spectacular settings, music, exaggerated acting and interacted with their audience during the performance to promote its popularity.

4. List the three segments of a standard Melodrama plot. What action does each segment involve?

- Provaction: It's the cause for setting action into motion. Emotions during this segment are jealousy and greed to encourage the villain to plan an offense or 'evil plan'.

- Pangs: This part includes the suffering of characters that are kind innocents who get caught in the evil plan.

- Penalty: Justice is granted as the villain is defeated and handed a punishment.

5. What are conflicting themes a Melodrama would usually explore? 

Themes a melodrama play would usually have is using polar opposites to engage the audience. Examples are justice vs revenge, honesty vs dishonesty, innocence vs dishonesty, etc. These plays also had small scenes of actions and violence, along with a mixture of romance and sentimentality. 

6. Are the characters in Melodrama life-like or stereotyped? 

The characters in melodrama are stereotyped, as in every play, there's always the same set of the characters. The villain, the damsel in distress, the hero, etc. They also always have the same type of personality, the villain is evil, the damsel in distress is innocent and requires saving and the hero is always handsome and brave, ready to save the day. Their personalities are very easy to identify and they are referred to as 'stock characters'.

7. List 3 Stock Characters and describe each of their personal qualities. 

- The Hero: The character is handsome, strong and brave. He is usually middle class or higher.

- The Damsel in Distress: She is beautiful, innocent and vulnerable. Usually middle class or higher.

- The Villain: Cunning, cruel and evil. Usually middle class or higher. 

8. What is the difference between a faithful servant and a maid servant?

The differences between them are that the faithful servant is usually the one to find out the villain's evil plans whilst the maid servant is the one that simply flirts with the faithful servant. 

9. What is an 'aside'?

An aside is when the character speaks directly to the audience, explaining their plans and revealing their thoughts. 

Train Track Terror

Train Track Terror Reflection

Above is the video of my performance in Train Track Terror along with the other members in my group; Ammal, Arthur, Akshansh and Omar. It started with me, as the damsel in distress, exclaiming for help which was responded by the angry shouts of the villain (Ammal), asking the henchman (Arthur) to tie the damsel up who refused as the train was heading their way. As the damsel pleaded for help, the hero (Omar) finally appeared, ready to save the day. The sidekick (Akshansh) followed behind him and the hero tied the villain up, releasing me as we made our escape and the sidekick fell to the ground.

The good things I found out about my performance was the way I let out my words with a voice that sounded like it needed saving, although I could have been a bit more high pitched. I feel I could have done adjustments to my performance. Firstly, I mostly only showed movement in my legs when it should have been my body which just made me look like I was kicking aimlessly in my legs, not bothering to use my arms. Well, the damsel has always been a tad bit ditzy... To enhance my performance with costumes, I could have dressed in the classic innocent damsel in distress look, which usually is just a simple dress, with my hair let down and a wide doe-eyed look, showcasing innocence.

I felt that the rest of my group did quite well, although Ammal had stumbled over her lines once or twice. I liked how my group created space instead of just using a confined space, using the free places to jump around and incorporate a small fighting scene. We also added a sidekick, which was not originally in the script and was used for a bit of comedy. The villain could have used a costume of a black cloak and suit. The prop being a rope to use to tie the maiden to the train tracks. The henchmen could have worn very ragged, old looking clothes as they are usually turned away by society due to them being 'weird and ugly'. The sidekick could have worn pretty much anything as they don't really have a specific costume unless let's say the hero was Batman and the sidekick was Robin. The classic costume for Robin would be a cape and tight clothing like Batman. 

Melodrama Stock Characters

Melodrama Stock Characters

The task was to pick three different melodrama stock characters and the most important ones to the melodramatic stories, the villain, the hero and the damsel in distress. The following are the images that I took of me dressing up as my three chosen characters.They are in black and white filter due to these type of films being made without color.

The Damsel in Distress

In the above picture, this is the damsel in distress. The damsel in distress's personality is usually one of innocence, she is also demure and lady like which I have done in the picture. She looks innocent with her wide-eyed look. For the pose, I have put one hand on my hip and put my other arm on my forehead to show that the damsel in distress is in need of help due to the villain's cunning plans. I am wearing a dress and let my hair down to show that the damsel is lady like. 

The Villain

In this picture, I use a villain's signature cloaks to shield a bit of my face. A villain's personality is evil and they are often portrayed as people that are sly and manipulative. In most melodrama scenes, the villain has a moustache which is shown in the above picture. They also usually have top hats which I have worn. For my pose, I bend down and use my cloak to signify that the villain is cunning and manipulative. 

The Hero

This is the hero, their personality is one of bravery, courageousness, and strength. They are most commonly dashingly handsome and romantic which is why the damsel in distress always falls in love with them. The pose that I have struck is one that resembles strength and sense of pride, as to show he will always be there to save the day. There is not a very specific costume for the hero but one of the main ones used in old movies is one in a sleek suit. One leg is in front of the other and my arms are behind me to puff out my chest to show how courageous and brave the hero is. 

Year 8 Drama

Year 8 Drama

MYP : Melodrama

Key Concept : Relationships 

Related Concept: Audience, Expression, Presentation

Global Context: Fairness & Development 

Statement of Inquiry: A hero saves the day in Melodrama to ensure that justice and peace will overrule the destroying plans of evildoers. 

Inquiry Question: Will the hero always destroy the evil plans of the villain to save the day? Will Melodrama always have a happy ending? Must all stories have a happy ending? Will good always win against evil? How can the world become a better and more peaceful environment for all?