dramatic tension / drama
Loading your saved state.
dramatic tension
The tense, stirring, or moving quality of an event or situation.
Die letzten Minuten des Spiels waren an Dramatik kaum zu überbieten.
The final minutes of the game could hardly have been surpassed in dramatic tension.
drama
The literary genre that includes texts written for performance on a stage; the art of writing plays.
Im Deutschunterricht analysierten wir die Entwicklung der deutschen Dramatik nach 1945.
In German class, we analyzed the development of German drama after 1945.
The word 'Dramatik' (dramatic tension / drama) is derived from 'das Drama' (drama). It refers either to the quality of being dramatic (m01) or to the literary genre of plays (m02).
Die Dramatik der Ereignisse wurde allen erst später bewusst.
The drama of the events only became clear to everyone later.
If it is about tension in a real event (e.g., sports, politics), the quality is meant (m01). If it is about literature, theater, or periods (e.g., Baroque, modernism), the literary genre is meant (m02).
Die Rettungsaktion war voller Dramatik.
The rescue operation was full of drama.
'Dramatik' (dramatic tension / drama) is an uncountable noun in both meanings and is therefore used without an article or in the singular with the definite article. It often appears with the preposition 'an', for example 'an Dramatik gewinnen' (to gain in dramatic tension).
Die Situation gewinnt stündlich an Dramatik.
The situation is becoming more dramatic by the hour.
When 'Dramatik' (drama) refers to the literary genre, it is often connected with a period or a nationality, for example 'die antike Dramatik' (ancient drama) or 'die englische Dramatik' (English drama).
Im Seminar haben wir die klassische deutsche Dramatik besprochen.
In the seminar, we discussed classical German drama.
tension / suspense / voltage
Spannung arises from uncertainty about how an event will turn out. Dramatik refers to its overall stirring or moving effect. Both can occur in a final: an undecided score creates Spannung, while an extraordinary turn of events intensifies the Dramatik.
Beim selben Endspiel wächst die Dramatik, als ein Team nach großem Rückstand noch aufholt.
The drama is intensifying during the same final as one team comes back after falling far behind.
Beim Endspiel steigt die Spannung, weil es kurz vor Schluss unentschieden steht.
The suspense is building during the final because the score is tied just before the end.
