Final answer:
The overall framework or organization of a play is referred to as its structure. This dramatic structure encompasses the entire format of the play, including acts and scenes, and is crucial for showcasing the plot and character development. Exposition is a component of structure, used to set up the play and provide needed background information.
Step-by-step explanation:
The overall framework or organization of a play is called its structure. This dramatic structure is integral in determining how the scenes within the play are organized, how the conflict is presented, the timing of character introductions, and the sequence of events, including the climax and resolution. Comparable to an architect's blueprint for a house, a playwright crafts the play's structure to accommodate the needs of the plot and to achieve the desired emotional and intellectual response from the audience. The dramatic structure may include literary devices such as flashbacks or dream sequences to enhance the storytelling.
Structure in drama typically consists of acts, scenes, and lines, whether the play is a tragedy, comedy, history, or romance. It outlines the beginning, middle, and end, and supports character development throughout the play. The plot, which is considered the most important element of a play, consists of the events and their order.
The exposition serves as a narrative tool for playwrights to present necessary background information and set the foundation for ensuing events. Different from the story itself, the plot is shaped by the sequence of events that the playwright selects to include in the drama. It is through dialogue that much of the past events and backstory is revealed to the audience.