Dramatic Devices Flashcards
Basically the speaking of the actors throughout the play.
Dialogue
Usually italicized and put within brackets scattered throughout the text.
Stage Directions
A playwright will often describe the placement of furniture; the size, shape, and colour of the props even the style and colour of the costumes worn by the characters. (Basically the background and where the story takes place)
Setting
The use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly, etc. It is usually a mockery on trivial issues or people.
Satire
People must be able to interpret the mocking tone. It is a way for the author to make fun of characters and their faults. It is how the author sets the mood.
Satirical Tone
Refers to the way the play is put together-the sequencing and pacing of the action. The playwright is concerned first and foremost to hold the audience’s interest.
Dramatic Form
Must be placed so the members of the audience quickly develop interest in both characters in the play and the situation itself.
Action
The structure of a play usually follows a basic structure. One act plays usually have one main plot in comparison to longer plays which have a main plot and many subplots.
Plot
Is a secondary arrangement of incidents involving secondary characters who are involved in a situation that poses dramatic questions.
Subplot
It is the section that begins the play, introduces the characters, and provides the background information.
Exposition
The incident that provides the starting point for the main action of the play. Dilemma or problem is presented to see what needs to be solved quickly.
Dramatic Incitement
The question that must be answered such as in a murder mystery. ‘Will the murderer be discovered?”
Dramatic Question
Usually forms the main action of the play. The characters respond to the dramatic incitement and other developments that may stem from it. Can also be referred toas the ‘rising action
Complication
Usually occurs late in the play. The moment in the play when the dramatic question is answered.
Climax/Crisis
It is the final section of the play, in which things are worked out and the conclusion is reached. Can also be referred to as the denouement.
Resolution
Is a serious play that dramatizes disastrous downfall of the central characters
Tragedy
Tragedies must achieve a purification in the audience by presenting incidents that arouse both fear and pity.
Catharsis
The downfall of the protagonist is the result of his or her own tragic flaw, which takes the form of the hands of the gods or fate.
Hubris
A source of harm or run, and cannot be beaten or overcome.
Divine Retribution / Nemesis
Is a play chiefly to amuse and entertain the audience members by allowing them to feel a sense of superiority over the characters. Usually represents common human frailties.
Comedy
It is a play that combines the elements of tragedy and comedy. The play provides a happy ending to a potentially tragic story or it may contain serious and light moods.
Tragicomedy
It is a form of sensational drama that first became popular in the 1800s and that we now often see in television and movies. Provide the audience with larger-than-life, one-dimensional characters of pure innocence or great villainy, The conflict is emotionally exaggerated and often simplistic.
Melodrama
It has an enormous impact on the audience’s understanding of the character, as well as on the mood and pace of the play.
Language
When writing or speaking, we choose the words which seem most suitable to the purpose and audience. In academic writing, we avoid the use of slang and colloquial language.
Formal Language
It may make use of slang and colloquialisms, employing the conventions of spoken language. A casual figure of speech.
Informal Language
The variety of a language that is distinguished from other varieties of the same language by features of phonology, grammar, and vocabulary. By its use by a group of speakers who are set off from others geographically or socially.
Dialect
The ordinary form of spoken or written language, without metrical structure, as distinguished from poetry or verse. Most common choice for a playwright.
Prose
A succession of metrical feet written, printed, or orally composed as one line; one of the lines of a poem. Can be used to create a dramatic effect.
Verse
Short, brisk dialogue moves the play quickly and builds audience anticipation. The flow of the overall play. Can create tension for the climax. Longer passages can also face significance in comparison to shorter ones.
Pace
The emotion given when the dialogue is spoken.
Tone
It is a kind of stage whisper, or behind the hand comment. It may be directed to another character or the audience. Tends to be short single sentences, and often aimed to create laughter.
Aside
It is used to provide the audience greater thoughts and insight on the inner thoughts and feelings by a character alone on stage. Can express feelings, plans, or motives.
Soliloquy
Allows the audience to know more about the characters situation then does the character. The audience can foresee an outcome that differs then one from the perceived character.
Dramatic Irony
Unity of action, place, and time. A good play said by Aristotle must consider these three main factors.
The Unities
The audience reads meaning into what is not directly stated.
Inference
Words that are pronounced the same but spelt differently.
Homonym
When the subject and verb are separated in the sentence by a few words, it is easy to trace the subjects number (singular or plural)
Subject-Verb-Agreement
The verb may be either single or plural, depending on the context. Ex. - group or team.
Collective Noun
Can be either singular or plural based on the context/pronoun.
Indefinite Pronoun
This requires professional memorization, and all resources or most.
Full Production
How characters plan to move on stage.
Blocking
