Dramatic terminology

Question 1

Anagnorisis

Answer 1

the moment in the play or other work when a character makes a critical discovery

Question 2

Antagonist

Answer 2

one that contends with or opposes the protagonist

Question 3

Anticipation

Answer 3

expectation or prediction

Question 4

Aside

Answer 4

a remark or passage in a play that is intended to be heard by the audience but unheard by the other characters in the play

Question 5

Allegory

Answer 5

a story, poem or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one

Question 6

Atmosphere

Answer 6

the pervading tone or mood of a place, situation or creative work

Question 7

Blazon

Answer 7

catalogues the physical attributes of a subject, usually female

Question 8

Catharsis

Answer 8

the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from strong or repressed emotions

Question 9

Climax

Answer 9

the most intense, exciting, or important point of something

Question 10

Denoument

Answer 10

the final part of a play, film or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved

Question 11

Dramatic Irony

Answer 11

the expression of ones meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect

Question 12

Foil

Answer 12

a character who contrasts another character

Question 13

Hamartia

Answer 13

a fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine

Question 14

Malcontent

Answer 14

a person who is dissatisfied and rebellious

Question 15

Monologue

Answer 15

a long speech by one character, most often to express their thoughts, though sometimes also to directly address another character or the audience

Question 16

Peripetia

Answer 16

reversal of circumstances or turning point

Question 17

Perspective

Answer 17

the narrators outlook or view on the story’s events, characters and the world

Question 18

Protagonist

Answer 18

the leading character

Question 19

Retrospective

Answer 19

told from the point of view of a character looking back on past events

Question 20

Shifts

Answer 20

the tone or mood in a piece of writing is changed in order to define characters

Question 21

Situational Irony

Answer 21

the irony of something happening that is very different to what is expected

Question 22

Soliloquy

Answer 22

an act of speaking ones thoughts aloud when by oneself

Question 23

Tone

Answer 23

the attitude that a character or narrator or author takes towards a given subject

Question 24

Tragedy

Answer 24

a genre that focuses around a noble character who struggles against strong external challenges

Question 25

Tragic hero

Answer 25

protagonist of the tragedy, a person of noble birth with heroic or potentially heroic qualities, but ultimately meets with suffering and defeat

Question 26

Verisimilitude

Answer 26

the appearance of being true or real