Drama/ R&J Terms Flashcards
Aside
words spoke by a character to him/her self or to another character(s). This is not heard by all on stage
Oxymoron
a figure of speech that combines contradicting terms (e.g. Jumbo Shrimp)
Allusion
a reference to something or someone the audience is expected to be familiar with–i.e. history, mythology, a work of literature, etc.
Catharsis
purging/cleansing of emotions through literature
foil
a character who–by contrast–illuminates another character
Hyperbole
Exaggeration for effect
innuendo
comments that have derogatory implications, insinuations, often sexual in nature
Causality
A tight woven plot of tragedy. Events build logically. There are direct, foreseeable links between actions and reactions, cause and effects
Couplet (heroic couplet)
2 successive lines of rhyming iambic pentameter
Dramatic irony
The anxiety experience when reader/audience knows more than the characters– occurs when there is a contradiction between what the character believes and what the audience knows to be true
Imagery
Using words to capture sensory experiences–sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and sensations at touch
Metaphor
A direct comparison between unlike things in which one is said to be another
Personification
Giving human attributes or qualities to nonhuman things
prologue
a formal introduction to a work of literature
paradox
a seemingly contradictory statement that upon reflection proves true.
exposition
establishes setting, characters, and conflict
prose vs. Poetry/verse
prose is writing that is not poetry. poetry is writing that features one or more of the following: rhythm, compressed language, figurative language, appeals to emotion and or imagination ,etc.
pun
a play on words that have meanings or that sound alike
rising action
conflict becomes more complicated
meter
a general pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables
iambic pentameter
meter that features 5 ft (iambic units) per line; each iambic (foot) features an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable
blank verse
unrhymed iambic pentameter. “blank” means that there is no rhyme at the end of lines
turning point
character does something that seals his/her fate–an action from which there is no turning back
rising action
more complications leading to the climax
climax/resolution
highest point of conflict is reached; point at which the main conflict is settled–which quickly leads into the play’s conclusion
Simile
A direct comparison between unlike things in which one thing is said to be LIKE or AS another
Soliloquy
A speech in which a character voices thought aloud for benefit of the audience (other character cannot hear what is said)
Sonnet
See handout
tragedy
tragic plot typically include the following elements: a character (1) high or noble birth–who is essentially good–has (2) his or her position threatened via a (3) series of casually related events. The character, then, suffers a (4) tragic fall–is brought low–due in large part to his/her own actions, his/her (5) tragic flaw. This outcome (6) evokes pity and fear from the audience (a tragic character must cause his own all determine his destiny or the story wont be tragic)
Tragic flaw
The character trait (defect) and or action that causes a character to suffer a tragic fall
