Drama Terms

Drama- any story in dialogue that is performed by actors for an audience any story in dialogue that is performed by actors for an audience has all the standard elements to a plot: Exposition has all the standard elements to a plot: Exposition Rising Action Rising Action Climax Climax Falling Action Falling Action Resolution Resolution

Drama also contains: Characters- major/minor Characters- major/minor antagonist/protagonist antagonist/protagonistDialogue- conversation between characters conversation between characters

Drama Continued Stage Directions- a set of important instructions or information to the reader or audience, often in italics and in parentheses a set of important instructions or information to the reader or audience, often in italics and in parentheses describes scenery or the setting describes scenery or the setting gives hints to the performers on how to look, speak & behave while on stage gives hints to the performers on how to look, speak & behave while on stage

The following literary terms also apply to drama… The following literary terms also apply to drama…

Allusion- Allusion- a reference in one work of literature to a person, place, or event in another work of literature or in history, art, or music Analogy- a comparison showing the similarities between two things Example- Juliet’s comparison of a rose and Romeo in her soliloquy

Aside- words spoken by a character in a play, usually in an undertone and not intended for any other character to hear Characterization- the personality a character displays; also, the means by which the author reveals the personality of the character

Climax- the point of greatest emotional intensity, interest, or suspense in a work of literature Conflict- a struggle between two opposing forces or characters Couplet- two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme

Dramatic Structure- Dramatic Structure- the structure of a play Example- Act 1, scene 1 Example- Act 1, scene 1Epithet- a descriptive adjective or phrase used to characterize someone or something Example- Alexander the Great

Figurative Language- language that is not intended to be interpreted in a literal sense Examples- Similes, Metaphors, Puns, Oxymorons Examples- Similes, Metaphors, Puns, Oxymorons Foil- a secondary character who is the opposite of the main character Example- in Harry Potter, Ron is the foil of Harry Batman, Robin is the foil of Batman

Foreshadowing- hints or clues that tell what action can be expected in the future Imagery- language that appeals to any of the five senses language that appeals to any of the five senses

Irony- literary technique that portrays differences between appearance and reality Three types: Dramatic Irony Situational Irony Verbal Irony

Dramatic Irony- Dramatic Irony- a contrast between what the audience perceives and what a character does not know Situational Irony- a contrast between what is expected and what really happens a feeling of surprise and unfairness due to the odd situation

Verbal Irony- a contrast between what is said and what is meant Motivation- a reason that explains or partially explains why a character thinks, feels, acts, or behaves in a certain way motivation results from a combination of the characters personality and the situation to be dealt with

Pun- the humorous use of a word or phrase to suggest two or more meanings at the same time (homonyms); although funny they most often convey a serious message Example- MERCUTIO- “You are a lover; borrow Cupid's wings, And soar with them above a common bound.” ROMEO- “I am too sore ….” (*play on the word soar/sore)

Monologue- a long, uninterrupted speech presented in front of other charactersOxymoron- a figure of speech that combines apparently contradictory terms Example- “sweet sorrow”; “loving hate”

Soliloquy- a speech in which a character is alone on stage and expresses thoughts out loud Symbol- any object, person, place, or action that has a meaning in itself and that also stands for something larger than itself—such as a quality, attitude, belief, or value

The End