drama terms test Flashcards
tragedy
A serious play having an unhappy ending
farce
when comedy involved ridiculous or hilarious complications without regard for human values, it becomes farce
masques
were slight plays involving much singing and dancing and costuming. usually allegorical
foreshadow
Lines that give a hint or clue to future events. It doesn’t tell the future but hint at it.
comedy of manners
comedy which wittily portrays fashionable life
chronicle plays
dealt directly with historical scenes and characters
soliloquy
A single character on stage thinking out loud (a way of letting the audience know what is in the characters mind)
aside
lines whispered to the audience or to another character on stage ( not meant to be heart by all characters )
comedy
a light play with a happy ending
personification
giving the quality-of-life to inanimate things
problem play
drama of social criticism discusses social economic or political problems by means of a play
crisis or climax
The turning point in the plot this occurs when events develop either for or against the main character and a crucial decision must be made
comedy
lighter drama in which the leading characters overcome the difficulties which temporarily beset them
poetic justice
The operation of justice and play with they are distribution of rewards for good deeds and punishment for wrongdoing
catastrophe
the final event in a drama ( a death in a tragedy or a marriage in a comedy )
irony
A method of expression which in the ordinary meaning of the word is opposite to the thought in the speakers mind
events contrary to what would naturally be expected
metonymy
A figure speech where by the name of the thing is substituted for the attribute which it suggests
example: the pin (power of literature or the written word) is mightier than the sword
simile
unexpressed comparison between two different things using like or as
metaphor
and implied comparison between two different things; I going to find a person or object as the thing to which it is being compared. Example: it is east and Juliet is the sun
nemesis
agent of retribution (The person who punishes)
tragedy
the ruin of the leading characters
fantasy
a sometimes play in comic spirit in which the author gives free reign to his fantasy allowing things to happen without regard to reality
melodrama
like farce, melodrama pay almost no attention to human values, but it’s object is to give a thrill instead of a laugh. often good entertainment never any literary value.
medieval mystery plays
dealt with bible stories and allegorical mysteries
comic relief
A bit of humor injected into a serious play to relieve the heavy tension or tragic events
dramatic irony
occurs when the audience knows something that the character on stage is not aware
tragic flaw
A character trait that leads one to his/her own downfall or distraction
allusion
an indirect reference by casually mentioning something that is generally familiar (many can be found through mythology bible and history)
prologue
sets the scene for the play as a whole
dialogue
conversation between or among characters
props
movable objects used by actors on stage
