How is the more direct performative aspect of drama and/or poetry reflected in these forms? (Consider for example, each genre’s uses of literary structure, language, technique, and style.) How do these literary elements affect your reading experience?

In your post, identify key qualities of drama and poetry which emphasize their performative qualities. Discuss how these characteristics shape your reading response. Support your views with at least one example of a dramatic text and one example of a poem.

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To understand how the more direct performative aspect of drama and poetry is reflected in these forms, we need to examine the key qualities that emphasize their performative qualities. These qualities include literary structure, language, technique, and style. By analyzing these elements, we can gain insight into how they affect the reading experience.

In drama, the performative aspect is evident in the structural elements of the play. The presence of dialogues, stage directions, and acts/scenes format all contribute to the sense of a live performance. The use of language in drama is often conversational, reflecting the way people speak in real life. Techniques such as dialogue, monologue, soliloquy, and asides allow characters to express thoughts, emotions, and conflicts directly to the audience. In terms of style, the dramatic use of stagecraft, lighting, sound effects, and costumes also enhances the performative aspect.

For example, let's consider William Shakespeare's play Macbeth. The structure of acts and scenes, the use of dialogues, and stage directions create a theatrical atmosphere. The language is vibrant and powerful, filled with memorable lines such as "Is this a dagger which I see before me?" Techniques like soliloquies, where Macbeth reveals his inner thoughts to the audience, directly engage them in the performance. The style of the play allows for the physicality of actors, their gestures, and expressions to shape the reading experience.

In poetry, the performative aspect lies in the unique use of language, rhythm, sound, and visual imagery to evoke emotions, create vivid imagery, and convey meaning. Poetic structure, such as line breaks and stanza formations, helps shape the reading experience. Techniques like metaphor, simile, alliteration, and personification enhance the expressiveness of the language, making it more performative.

For instance, let's consider Maya Angelou's poem "Still I Rise." The poem's structure with its repetitive refrain creates a rhythmic and musical quality. The use of metaphor and vivid imagery paints a vivid picture of resilience and strength. The language is powerful and empowering, inviting the reader to engage emotionally. By reading the poem aloud, the performative quality of the language can be experienced more directly, allowing the reader to connect with the poem on an emotional level.

In both drama and poetry, the performative qualities influence the reading experience by engaging the reader in a more direct and visceral manner. The use of dialogues, monologues, soliloquies, and poetic techniques like rhyme, rhythm, and vivid imagery create a sense of immediacy, allowing the reader to feel the emotions, conflicts, and ideas being expressed. The performative elements make the reading experience more dynamic, interactive, and emotionally impactful.