The Technique of the Drama; A Statement of the Principles Involved in the Value of Dramatic Material, in the Construction of Plays, and in Dramatic Criticism (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1908. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XII. THE LITERATURE OF DRAMATIC PRINCIPLE. A BIBLIOGRAPHY of the drama, including history and biography, would be impracticable here by reason of its length, and, indeed, would not concern the technical elements of a play. Some works of the kind thus excluded may be referred to as belonging to the department of criticism, and helpful as models and indirect exponents of a science, essential to the well-being of the drama, to which a chapter has been devoted. Much reading is not required for the pursuit of any art. Knowledge of principle is alone sufficient to sustain any endeavor. A good actor does not derive his faculties from beholding the performances of others, and by virtue of his constant occupation is thrown upon his own resources; but principles he must know or must learn. Now, the technical elements of the drama have been fought for, and the books that have been foremost in the conflict are worth knowing something about. If one does not care to accept the statements herein, he is frankly and freely assisted in reaching the list of authorities. This book will then be found not to be a compilation, in the sense of being manufactured in a book-making spirit. While its very first words are the words of Aristotle, and while Hedelin and Diderot and Lessing and Schlegel and Freytag and others may share in its lines, there is a mutual and inevitable kinship in common principles. There is the breath of conflict in the book, conflict that concerns the good and evil in the drama of the present day. So that, after all, what is old and what is new in it is not to the point at all; and if the author has added anything new to the common fund, the recognition of that fact would be as nothing to him compared to the useful result that the book should acco...