Melodrama
Dramatic form emphasising exaggerated emotion, moral simplicity (good vs. evil), sensational plots, and heightened sentiment.
Real World
Victorian penny-dreadful serials like 'Sweeney Todd' packed theatres with audiences cheering virtuous heroines and hissing at black-caped villains — the emotional extremes were the entire point.
Exam Focus
When analysing melodrama, identify specific techniques (hyperbole, exclamation) that create exaggerated emotion rather than just stating 'it is dramatic'.
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