Learn more about Screenplay Systems, Inc. Dramatica Home Page

storysupportrave reviewsproductssitemap
 
What is Dramatica?
Dramatica Theory Book
Dramatica Dictionary
Tip of the Month
12 Essential Questions
Theory FAQs 
Additional Materials 
Contact Us

 

Dramatica Tip of the Month
April 2009

What is a Character's Dramatic Function?

Q:  I have a basic question: What is meant by a 'character's dramatic function?'


A: A character's dramatic function describes the structural reason your character is in a story. 

In Dramatica, the storyform contains the underlying structural and dynamic components of a story's dramatics.  Part of those dramatics are the character elements (e.g. pursue, avoid, temptation, etc.).  Assigning character elements to a character in the Overall Story throughline gives that character a dramatic function, meaning that character needs to be in the story because it fulfills a structural requirement. 

Dropping such a character from the story without reassigning its function(s) would cause holes in the story's dramatic argument.

 

 

Copyright © 1994-2009 Write Brothers, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Based on theories and materials developed by Melanie Anne Phillips and Chris Huntley
Dramatica is a registered trademark of Screenplay Systems Incorporated. Patent #5,734,916; #6,105,046