Drama and Poetry (additional terms) Flashcards
An aside is a short comment or speech that a character delivers directly to the audience, or to himself, while other actors on the stage appear not to hear. Only the audience knows that the character has said something to them.
Aside
A phrase or a figure of speech that might have multiple senses, interpretations, or two different meanings, or which might be understood in two different ways. The first meaning in double entendre is usually straightforward, while the second meaning is ironic, risqué, or inappropriate.
Double Entendre
The linguistic choices made by a writer to convey an idea or point of view, or tell a story, in an effective way. The author’s selection of words or vocabulary and the artistic arrangements of these words is what constitutes the style and establishes the voice of a literary work.
Diction
A literary device that writers utilize as a means to indicate or hint to readers something that is to follow or appear later in a story.
Foreshadowing
An object or idea that repeats itself throughout a literary work. It is a recurrent image, idea, or symbol that develops or explains a theme, while a theme is a central idea or message.
Motif
A figure of speech in which an idea or thing is given human attributes and/or feelings or is spoken of as if it were human. It can be an interesting, creative, and effective way for a writer to illustrate a concept or make a point.
Pesonification
This style device involves words with similar or identical sounds but with different meanings. Their play on words also relies on a word or phrase having more than one meaning. Puns are generally intended to be humorous, but they often have a serious purpose as well in literary works.
Pun
A literary device that reflects the writer’s attitude toward the subject matter or audience of a literary work. It may reflect the author’s personal attitude or opinion, or it may also strictly apply to convey the attitudes and feelings of a certain character or narrator.
Tone
Within a dramatic play, an insightful monologue that conveys a character’s inner feelings, viewpoints and thoughts. Regarded as an essential dramatic device, it is delivered by a character who is alone on the stage.
Soliloquy
Something that stands for or suggests something else; it represents something beyond literal meaning. It can be a word, object, action, character, or concept that embodies and evokes a range of additional meanings and significance.
Symbol
A set of rules in a language. It dictates how words from different parts of speech are put together in order to convey a complete thought. In combination with diction, it helps writers develop tone, mood, and atmosphere in a text, along with evoking readers’ interest.
Syntax
