Drama: Vocab

Question 0

Inciting moment/exciting force

Answer 0

Event that sets the story into motion, leads to the rising action

Question 1

Acts

Answer 1

The main divisions in a play, broken further down into scenes

Question 2

Exposition

Answer 2

Introduction to the story, sets the tone, introduces characters, gives necessary background

Question 3

Complication

Answer 3

Rising action, “protasis”, set in motion by exciting force

Question 4

Climax

Answer 4

The turning point, “epitasis”, where the rising action turns to the falling action. Related to the crisis

Question 5

Falling Action

Answer 5

“Catatasis,” emphasis on forces working against the hero, possible suspense, leading to disaster to come

Question 6

Catastrophe

Answer 6

Conclusion of the play, wraps up falling action, ends conflict, plays out results of the climax. In tragedies, it is the death of the protagonist.

Question 7

Prologue and Epilogue

Answer 7

Remarks made directly to the audience by a character in a play at the beginning to introduce the play, or at the end to conclude it.

Question 8

Adversarius

Answer 8

In a formal satire, is addressed by the persona. Role is to shape the persona’s remarks.

Question 9

Antagonist

Answer 9

The protagonist’s enemy or rival

Question 10

Antihero

Answer 10

A protagonist who is not a traditional hero type of character , usually lacking charm, intelligence, competence or even strong morals

Question 11

Buffoon

Answer 11

Comic character who is ignorant, crass, and often arrogant. Clowns, fools and jesters.

Question 12

Clown

Answer 12

Comic character

Question 13

Foil

Answer 13

Acts as a contrast to another character for the purpose of showing that other characters attributes

Question 14

Protagonist

Answer 14

The hero or central character of a play

Question 15

Apron stage

Answer 15

Part that sticks out in front of the proscenium arch

Question 16

Arena stage

Answer 16

Stage surrounded all the way around by the audience, so the actors enter and exit via the aisles

Question 17

Backstage

Answer 17

Area behind the stage where actors prepare etc.

Question 18

Curtain call

Answer 18

Time after a play when audience keeps clapping so cast will come back out for another bow

Question 19

Curtain line

Answer 19

The last line of a play before the curtain falls

Question 20

Double part

Answer 20

A strategy that enables an actor to play at least two parts

Question 21

Stage direction

Answer 21

In the script, where the playwright indicates how the play should be acted, set up etc.

Question 22

Understudy

Answer 22

A back-up actor for a major part

Question 23

Aside

Answer 23

When an actor talks to the audience, but the other characters can not hear it

Question 24

Monologue

Answer 24

Speech given by a single speaker in a situation where there are listeners

Question 25

Soliloquy

Answer 25

Speech given by a speaker that isn’t meant to be heard by any of the other characters

Question 26

Catharsis

Answer 26

“Breakthrough” for a character

Question 27

Flashback and flash forward

Answer 27

Presents memories/events that happened prior vs shows something from the future