Final answer:
The six elements of drama originate from Ancient Greece around the 5th century BCE, with Aristotle's work 'The Poetics' in 350 BCE being pivotal in defining them. Such elements have significantly influenced Western drama, including the works of William Shakespeare.
Step-by-step explanation:
The six elements of drama, as discussed historically, date back to Ancient Greece around the 5th century BCE. These elements can be traced back to the Greeks who began with singers in a festival celebrating the god Dionysus and evolved their performances into plays with actors and storytelling. One pivotal figure in the documentation of drama's elements was Aristotle, who in 350 BCE wrote The Poetics and defined essential components of theatrical arts such as Plot, Character, Diction, Thought, Spectacle, and Song. These elements became fundamental to understanding Western drama, influencing numerous playwrights including William Shakespeare and many poets in the Western world.