1. Tragedy:
- Explores serious and somber themes, often involving downfall or profound suffering of the protagonist.
- Examples: Shakespeare's "Hamlet," "King Lear," "Macbeth."
2. Comedy:
- Presents amusing or humorous situations, often leading to a happy resolution.
- Examples: Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Twelfth Night," "Much Ado About Nothing."
3. History Play:
- Dramatizes real or fictional historical events, especially from English or Roman history.
- Examples: Shakespeare's "Henry IV, Part I" and "Part II," "Henry V," "Julius Caesar."
4. Tragicomedy (or Dark Comedy):
- Blends elements of both tragedy and comedy, creating complex narratives with both serious and humorous moments.
- Example: Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice."
5. Mystery Play:
- Medieval religious drama presenting biblical stories and teachings.
- Example: The York Cycle, The Towneley Cycle.
6. Morality Play:
- Allegorical drama illustrating moral lessons through personified characters representing virtues and vices.
- Example: "Everyman."
7. Farce:
- Characterized by exaggerated, comical situations and slapstick humor.
- Examples: Many farcical plays by Restoration playwrights like William Congreve and John Vanbrugh.
8. Satire:
- Uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to criticize societal flaws, follies, or specific individuals.
- Examples: Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels," Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest."
9. Realism:
- A drama that seeks to depict everyday life accurately and realistically, often exploring social issues.
- Examples: Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House," George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion."
10. Naturalism:
- A more extreme form of realism, employing scientific and clinical approaches to depict the harsh realities of life.
- Example: Émile Zola's "Thérèse Raquin."
11. Symbolism:
- Uses symbolic elements, imagery, and language to convey deeper meanings and emotions.
- Example: Maurice Maeterlinck's "The Blue Bird."
12. Absurdism:
- Presents seemingly illogical, irrational, and absurd situations to highlight the futility and meaninglessness of existence.
- Examples: Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot," Eugène Ionesco's "The Bald Soprano."
13. Experimental Drama:
- Breaks traditional dramatic conventions and explores innovative forms and techniques.
- Examples: Bertolt Brecht's "The Threepenny Opera," Luigi Pirandello's "Six Characters in Search of an Author."
14. Musical Theatre:
- Combines music, lyrics, and spoken dialogue to tell a story or convey a message.
- Examples: Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera," Lin-Manuel Miranda's "Hamilton."
15. Contemporary Drama:
- Encompasses a wide range of modern plays that reflect contemporary social, cultural, and political issues.
- Examples: Tony Kushner's "Angels in America," Sarah Kane's "4.48 Psychosis."
These classifications are by no means exhaustive, and many plays defy easy categorization. Drama continues to evolve, incorporating new forms, styles, and themes, making the classification of dramatic works a dynamic and ever-changing field.