Drama Terms

Question 0

Antagonist

Answer 0

opposes the protagonist

Question 1

Act

Answer 1

division of a play

Question 2

aside

Answer 2

a remark by a character only heard by the audience

Question 3

catharsis

Answer 3

“purging of emotion”- any extreme change in emotion that results in renewal and restoration.

Question 4

Character (dynamic, flat, round, static, stock)

Answer 4

Roles
Dynamic: experiences an inner change
Flat: 2-dimensional, support character
Round- Complex personality
Static- stays constant over course of text, does not change
Stock– common literary character or stereotype

Question 5

climax

Answer 5

the peak of action in the book, usually a turning point

see plot diagram

Question 6

comic relief

Answer 6

inclusion of humorous character, scene, or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work (relieves tension)

Question 7

conflict

Answer 7

(see plot diagram)

Question 8

Denouement

Answer 8

the resolution

see plot diagram

Question 9

deus ex machina

Answer 9

“god from machine”- a contrived plot device

Question 10

epilogue

Answer 10

short poem or speech spoken directly to audience after the action of the play is finished

Question 11

exposition

Answer 11

(see plot diagram)

Question 12

falling action

Answer 12

(see plot diagram)

Question 13

foil

Answer 13

contrasting character used to highlight particular qualities of the other character (usually a main character)

Question 14

hero

Answer 14

main character, often with heroic qualities

Question 15

Verbal Irony

Answer 15

when a person says one thing but means the opposite

Question 16

Dramatic Irony

Answer 16

D- when the audience knows something that the characters do not

Question 17

Situational Irony

Answer 17

S- a situation in which the outcome is different than what is expected

Question 18

monologue

Answer 18

a speech given by an actor on stage, usually when alone

Question 19

prologue

Answer 19

a separate introductory section of a play

Question 20

protagonist

Answer 20

main character

Question 21

Rising action

Answer 21

(see plot diagram)

Question 22

scene

Answer 22

division of acts

Question 23

soliloquy

Answer 23

a speech given by an actor alone on stage– reveals character’s inner thoughts/feelings

Question 24

tragedy

Answer 24

When main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, often as a result of tragic flaw

Question 25

Tragic flaw/Hamartia

Answer 25

a flaw that brings main character to ruin (often pride)

Question 26

pun

Answer 26

a play on words– when words sound alike but have different meanings

Question 27

malapropism

Answer 27

mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often unintentionally amusing