Lecture 4 戏剧元素
Wors Tips
Realism n.现实主义 well-madeplay 佳构剧
formula n.公式，准则 exposition n.说明，阐述
incitingincidents 煽动事件 obligatory adj.必需的，强制的
denouement n.收场；（事情的）结果 subtle adj.微妙的；细微的
Listen to the following recording and answer questions 1-4.
1）A.the importance of creating believable characters in plays
B.the influence of the literature of“realism”on French theater
C.a successful standard formula for writing plays
D.a famous example of a well-made play
2）A.to give examples of typical characters in a well-made play
B.to show how background information might be revealed in a well-made play
C.to explain why Romeo and Juliet can be considered a well-made play
D.to explain how playwrights develop the obligatory scene of a well-made play
3）A.a logical conclusion
B.the introduction of new characters midway through the play
C.information known to the audience but not to the main characters
D.the movement of major characters from one setting to another
4）A.The difference between them might be unclear to some people.
B.Both are useful techniques for developing realistic characters.
C.The denouement usually occurs within the obligatory scene.
D.The obligatory scene is usually less exciting than the denouement.
听力原文
The 19th century was the time that thought what we called：Realism developing in European in theater.Um… to understand this though，we first need to look at the earlier form of drama known as the well-made play，which basically was a pattern for constructing plays.But the formula for well-made play required certain of these elements being included，in a particular order，and most importantly，that everything in the play be logically connected.
OK，so what are the necessary elements of a well-made play？ Well，the first is logical exposition.Exposition is whatever background information you have to reveal to the audience.So，they all understand what is going on.Before this time，exposition might come from the actors simply giving speeches.Someone might walk out the stage and say：“lyric quotation”.and until all about the feuding family of Romeo and Juliet.But for the well-made play，even the exposition had to be logical，believable.So，for example，you might have two servants gossiping as they are cleaning the house.And one says，“Oh，what a shame the master’s son is still not married”.And the other might mention a rumor about the mysterious gentleman who just moved into the town with his beautiful daughter.These comments are parts of the play’s logical exposition.
The next key element of the well-made play refer to as the inciting incident.After we have the background information，we need a key moment to get things moving.They really make the audience interested in what happens to the characters we just heard about it.
So，for example，after the two servants reveal all this background information，we meet the young man.Just as he first lays eyes on the beautiful young woman，and he immediately falls in love.This is the inciting incident.It sets off，the plot of the play.
Now，the plot of a well-made play is usually driven by secrets.Things that the audience knows，but the characters often don’t know.So，for example，the audience learns through a letter or through someone else’s conversation who this mysterious gentleman is and why he left the town many years before.But the young man doesn’t know about this.And the woman doesn’t understand the ancient connection between her family and his.
Next comes an element known as the：obligatory scene.It’s a scene，a moment in which all the secrets are revealed.And generally，things turn out well for the hero and others we care about，a happy ending of some sort.This became so popular that a playwright almost had to include it in every play，which is why it’s called：the obligatory scene.
And that’s followed by the final dramatic element — the denouement or the resolution，when all the loose ends have to be tied up in a logical way.Remember，the obligatory scene gives the audience emotional pleasure.But the denouement offers the audience a logical conclusion.That’s the subtle distinction we need to try very hard to keep in mind.
Questions：
1.What is the lecture mainly about？
2.Why does the professor mention a conversation between two servants？
3.According to the professor，what is the typical driving force to help move the plot forward？
4.What does the professor imply about the obligatory scene and the denouement？
参考译文
19世纪是我们所谓思想的时代：现实主义在欧洲剧院得以发展。为了理解这一思想，我们首先需要看一看早期被称作“佳构剧”的戏剧形式，它是一种构成戏剧的最基本形式。但是佳构剧的规则需要一些元素按特定顺序排列，并且最重要的是剧中的每一情节都要在逻辑上紧密相连。
好，佳构剧有哪些必备元素呢？首先是逻辑叙述。叙述是为了说明一切观众需要知道的背景信息。那么这样他们就会明白到底发生了什么。在这之前，叙述仅仅是以一名演员做演讲的形式进行的。一些人会走到舞台上说：“我们的故事发生在遥远的Verona”，一直到Romeo与Juliet两个宿敌的家庭出现。但是对于佳构剧来说，即便是叙述，也必须符合逻辑，令人信服。比如说你可能会看见两个佣人一边收拾房子一边八卦聊天，一人说道：“怎么主人的儿子还没结婚？”另外一人则会提到有关一个神秘的绅士和他的女儿刚刚搬进城。这些评论都是剧中逻辑叙述的一部分。
下一个关键元素叫作煽动事件。有了背景信息之后，我们需要一个关键点来使得整个剧情得以延续，它们必须使观众对我们刚刚听说的角色感兴趣。比如说，当两个佣人揭示了所有的背景信息之后，我们见到了这个年轻人。他第一眼看到这个美丽姑娘就爱上了她。这就是煽动事件，它引发了接下来的剧情。
现在，佳构剧的剧情通常都是由谜团驱使的。一些观众知道但是剧中角色不知道的事情。比如说，观众通过一封信或者某人的对话中得知这个神秘的男子是谁，为什么他多年前离开了家乡。但是这个年轻人并不知道这些，而这个女人也不知道他们两家之间这种遥远的联系。
接下来的元素叫作必要场景。它是一种所有谜团都会揭晓的场景。通常来说，那些主人公和我们关注的人物都会以好的结局收尾。这实在是太受欢迎了，因此剧作家不得不把它们纳入剧中，也就是我们为什么把它称为必要场景。
这之后就会最终出现最具戏剧性的元素结局，这个时候所有已经明朗的情节一个个按照逻辑紧密相连。记住，必要场景给观众的是情感愉悦而结局给观众的是逻辑结尾。这是我们必须要极力分辨的细微差别。
参考答案
1.C 2.D 3.C 4.A