ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with a brief but precise and systematic definition of a literary text and its main genres: narrative discourse (novel, short story, etc.), poetry, essay, and theater. It then presents the two main dimensions of theater: the text and the performance. The text is approached with regard to its two components: lines (spoken by actors) and stage directions. Finally, the chapter addresses the 16 main semiotic codes or languages present in theater: verbal language (speech), phonic verbal language, textual language, graphic textual language, facial expression, gesture, movement, make-up, masks, hairstyle, costume, props, stage design, lighting, music, and sound effects.
