Elements of drama in Mother Courage and Her Children include plot, character, thought, diction, spectacle, and song. Let's look at each of these.

The plot of the play is “what” happens, the action. In this play, the plot centers around the Thirty Years' War and the struggles of Mother Courage and her children. The sons eventually enter the military, despite their mother's protests, and Mother Courage and Yvette continue to run the canteen. In the end, Mother Courage's children all die, and she is left to struggle on alone.

Characterization, “who,” is strong in this play. Mother Courage herself is a well-developed character, as are her children and Yvette.

Thought refers to the “why” of the play, the motives of the characters for engaging in conflicts. Mother Courage, for instance, needs to make a living. Her sons desire the glory of war. Her daughter, in her quiet way, strives for loyalty. Yvette wants to be wealthy.

Diction is the “how” of the play's language. Notice how the characters speak. Mother Courage herself uses a dialect that reveals her character's past and present. The sergeant, too, speaks in a slangy dialect that shows his social status.

Spectacle refers to “where” the action takes place. In this case, the action revolves around military camps and war-torn areas.

Finally, song is central to the play, as the characters present lyrics that move the plot forward and show the audience something about their values. Yvette, for instance, sings “The Fraternization Song,” which is about how she became a prostitute.