1.  Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. ◦ (DRAMA IS FICTIONAL ACTING)  The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action"

2.  There are two main types of Drama ◦ Comedy ◦ Tragedy  Drama is often combined with music and dance: ◦ The drama in opera is sung throughout ◦ Musicals include spoken dialogue and songs ◦ Some forms of drama have regular musical accompaniment

3.  Act - A unit or division of a play, made up of one or more scenes. Plays may be divided into one, two, three or five acts.  Scene - a division of an act: the setting and time stays the same

4.  Protagonist – The main character, usually the ‘good guy’  Antagonist – The anti-protagonist, the one who causes the problems for the main characters  Foil – a character who has qualities that are in sharp contrast to another character, thus emphasizing the traits of each

5.  Dialogue - Passages of speech between characters in a play.  Fourth Wall - The imaginary fourth wall that is removed from box set to enable the audience to see the action on stage.  Stage Direction - Indications in a script for entrances and exits, and for movement in relation to the set within a particular scene (Stage Right, Stage Left)

7.  Aside - Sometimes referred to as breaking the fourth wall, it refers to a speech or comment made by an actor directly to the audience about the action of the play or another character. The other characters are unaware of this action.  Cue - The words or actions at which an actor is expected to deliver a line or a crew member is expected to perform some task.

8.  Soliloquy ◦ A longer speech that reveals the innermost thoughts and feelings of the character who speaks it – like they are talking to themselves ◦ Usually alone on stage ◦ Or other characters do not hear the character’s speech

9.  Monologue ◦ A long speech given by a character to himself, another character, or to the audience  Usually important to note main idea or theme because the playwright included for some reason!  AUTHOR’S PURPOSE SHOULD ALWAYS BE ON YOUR MIND!

11.  Round, Flat, Static, Dynamic  Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution  Theme, Plot  Setting, Characters  Foreshadowing  Conflict