Theatrical Vocabulary Words to know before the curtain rises…

Activity Goal Goal 1: Create a meaningful four quadrant vocabulary sheet for a theatrical vocabulary word. Goal 2: Share your vocabulary findings with the class. Goal 3: Write down the gist of everyone else’s vocabulary words. Bonus: Create a word wall poster for your word.

Theatrical Vocab. Step 1 Instructions Choose one of the words or phrases. Write it down – spelled correctly – in your journal. Write what you think you already know about it. Words Scenes Acts Character List Stage directions Monologue Elements of Plot Play Dialogue

Theatrical Vocab. Step 2 Directions Set up four quadrants on a blank sheet of paper with room to write your word in large letters in the middle. Label the quadrants with the section titles. (If you see one with a / choose either.) Sections Definition Examples Illustrations Connections/Questions

Theatrical Vocab. Example Word: Prologue Definition: introduction; speech or poem addressed to the audience at the beginning of a play Examples: In Romeo & Juliet a poem describes how their families hate each other Connection: Prologues help establish the SETTING and CONFLICT Question: Level 4: Why do you think the playwright used a prologue to set the scene?

Theatrical Vocab. Step 4 Create your vocabulary sheet. Make sure you are thorough in each quadrant. Make the letters as big and legible as possible. Make your definition and example clear for a person who is not already familiar with the word. Find your examples in the literature book.

Theatrical Vocab. Examples Here are examples of examples for each word: Acts – Traditional tragedies have 5 Acts (matching the plot mountain) such as in Hamlet Scenes – Amount varyfrom play to play in Wicked Act 1 Scene 1 seems to show the death of the main character, but in scene two it goes back to her being in school Character List – In the play A Christmas Carol the cast list includes Scrooge, Marley, and Mrs. Cratchit Stage directions – In the play Rhinoceros a famous stage direction is “He becomes a rhinoceros, and the actor puts on a rhino mask.” Monologue – In the play A Streetcar Named Desire Blanche has famous monologues about her life Elements of Plot – In the resolution of Romeo and Juliet the main characters die. Play Dialogue – “I bite my thumb, sir,” is some of the early dialogue in Romeo and Juliet.

Theatrical Vocab. Step 5 Prepare to share with the class. If you are working with a partner or group, decide who is going to present what to the class. Finally, write down everyone else’s words and their basic meanings.