UniversitÃÂät Hannover Englisches Seminar Early 19th Century Melodrama Dr. H. Ilsemann SS 1998 Convention, Innovation and Variation in Melodrama Harald Mink HL Engl./Erdk.
Matr.nr. 1627314 9. Semester Content 1. Introduction 2 2. The Conventions of Melodrama 2 3. The Psychological Function of Melodramatic Plays 4 4. Art and Melodrama 5 4.1 General Considerations on the Artistic Value of a Work of Art 5 4.2 The Artistic Value and the Quality of Melodramas 5 4.3 Innovation in the Basic Structure of Melodramas 6 5. Conclusion 7 6. Bibliography 9 1. Introduction The melodramatic genre is considerably based on certain conventions, by which the melodramatic plays obtain a basic structure which is rather uncommonly rigid in literature. To give a basic idea of these conventions, an outline of this basic structure shall be presented in chapter two.
These conventions clearly fulfilled the expectations on the part of the audience. Thus, the interrelation between melodramatic plays and the audience shall be analysed in chapter three giving particular attention to the psychological function of melodramas.
melodrama
Melodramatic chocolate chip cookie.
Mrs Thatcher's distinct melodramatic and rhythmic ...Considering the fact that melodramatic plays were foremost produced to meet the expectations of the audience, it seems necessary to analyse the question whether there is still any artistic value inherent in melodramas and further, by which standards the quality of a play might be judged upon. This analysis shall be done in chapter four.
2. The Conventions of Melodrama Like other genres, the melodramatic genre is based on some general or conventional features which do prevail in the majority of all melodramas. These conventional features can be separated into three different groups: the characters, the plot and the choreography.
As for the characters, the following constellation is typical: the protagonist is a suffering hero, often a poor man, but nevertheless very virtuous, sincere and honest the antagonist is...