Drama Term Tuesday #9

Tension

Dramatic Tension

Conflict

Sense of strain, excitement, anticipation or suspense used to animate and sustain interest and forward movement in drama.

Obstacle for a character to overcome.

A sense of ‘what’s at stake’ in a particular dramatic situation. Tension and dramatic tension are sometimes used interchangeably with conflict but the concept is more than simple arguments or differences of opinion.

Excerpt from Drama Key Terms and Concepts