For a free trial of World Book Online, click here . Drama is an art form that tells a story through the speech and actions of the characters in the story.
Most drama is performed by actors who impersonate the characters before an audience in a theater.
Although drama is a form of literature, it differs from other literary forms in the way it is presented. For example, a novel also tells a story involving characters. But a novel tells its story through a combination of dialogue and narrative, and is complete on the printed page. Most drama achieves its greatest effect when it is performed. Some critics believe that a written script is not really a play until it has been acted before an audience.