What characterizes a heroic drama?

A heroic drama is primarily characterized by the portrayal of epic deeds and the struggles of heroes, often involving exceptional characters who confront significant challenges or moral quandaries. This genre frequently employs blank verse, a poetic form that is unrhymed and often used in serious and elevated storytelling, which adds to the grandeur and depth of the heroic narrative. The focus on great actions, noble themes, and larger-than-life characters is what primarily defines heroic drama.

The other options, while they may describe features of different theatrical styles or genres, do not embody the essence of heroic drama as thoroughly as the emphasis on epic deeds and elevated language does. Complex character relationships and moral dilemmas (while present in many forms of drama) are more aligned with psychological or tragic dramas. Similarly, the influence of social critique is central to many modern plays but is not a defining characteristic of heroic narratives. Highly comedic elements and witty dialogue would correspond to comedies rather than the serious themes typically explored in heroic dramas.