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.