The Art of Dramatic Writing

Its Basis in the Creative Interpretation of Human Motives

By: Lajos Egri

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Paperback | 6 September 2003 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Paperback
320 Pages

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2.2 x 21.4 x 14

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Learn the basic techniques every successful playwright knows.

Among the many "how-to" playwriting books that have appeared over the years, there have been few that attempt to analyse the mysteries of play construction. Lajos Egri's classic, The Art of Dramatic Writing, does just that, with instruction that can be applied equally well to a short story, novel, or screenplay.

Examining a play from the inside out, Egri starts with the heart of any drama: its characters. All good dramatic writing hinges on people and their relationships, which serve to move the story forward and give it life, as well as an understanding of human motives -- why people act the way that they do. Using examples from everything from William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" to Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House, " Egri shows how it is essential for the author to have a basic premise -- a thesis, demonstrated in terms of human behaviour -- and to develop the dramatic conflict on the basis of that behaviour.

Using Egri's ABCs of premise, character, and conflict, The Art of Dramatic Writing is a direct, jargon-free approach to the problem of achieving truth in writing.

Industry Reviews

Moss Hart I found Lajos Egri's book enormously interesting -- one of the best I have ever read.

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Language & Linguistics Reference, Dictionaries & Guides Creative Writing & Creative Writing Guides Arts & Entertainment Acting & Theatre Studies Technical & Background Skills in Theatre Reference, Information & Interdisciplinary Subjects Encyclopaedias & Reference Works Reference Works Literature, Poetry & Plays History & Criticism of Literature

Literary Studies of Plays & Playwrights Writing & Editing Guides

Other Editions and Formats

Hardcover

Published: 19th May 2009

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Published: 1st January 2000

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Contents
Introduction
Foreword
Preface
Premise
Character
The Bone Structure
Environment
The Dialectical Approach
Character Growth
Strength of Will in a Character
Plot or Character -- Which?
Characters Plotting Their Own Play
Pivotal Character
The Antagonist
Orchestration
Unity of Opposites
Conflict
Origin of Action
Cause and Effect
Static
Jumping
Rising
Movement
Foreshadowing Conflict
Point of Attack
Transition
Crisis, Climax, Resolution
General
Obligatory Scene
Exposition
Dialogue
Experimentation
The Timeliness of a Play
Entrances and Exits
Why Are Some Bad Plays Successful?
Melodrama
On Genius
What Is Art? -- A Dialogue
When You Write a Play
How to Get Ideas
Writing for Television
Conclusion
Plays Analyzed
How to Market Your Play
Long Runs on Broadway
Index
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

The Art of Dramatic Writing

Its Basis in the Creative Interpretation of Human Motives

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

Other Editions and Formats

Hardcover

ePUB

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