Glossary terms Flashcards
Act
a main division of a drama. Shakespeares plays consist of five acts with each act subdivided into scenes.
Allusion
A reference to a literary or historical person or event to explain a present situation. Allusion from mythology; Approach the chamber and destroy your sight/with a new Gorgon.
Aside
a brief remark made by a character and intended to be heard by the audience but not by other character.
Atmosphere
The tone or mood established by events, places or situations. Example: The foreboding atmosphere of the words. Fair is foul and foul is fair.
Chorus
In ancient greek drama the singing and dancing group whose words formed was often taken by one actor who recited a prologue or by several actors who offered commentary on a situation.
Comic relief
A humorous scene or speech in a serious drama which is meant to provide relief from emotional intensity and by contrast to heighten the seriousness of the story.
Foreshadowing
a hint of what is to come in the story. This is often used to keep the audience in a state of expectancy.
Imagery
the term used to describe words or phrases that appeal to the five senes. Figurative language may create images but not all images are figures of speech.
Irony
A contrast between what is and what appears to be. One type of irony is verbal in which a character says one thing and means another. Another is dramatic iron in which the audience knows what the characters do not.
Metaphor
a figure of speech that implies or says a comparison between two unlike things which are similar in some way. Unlike similes metaphors do not use like or as.
Paradox
A statement which seems to be contradictory but is at the same time profoundly logical. It may be used to emphasize a particular theme or idea.
Scene
A small unit of a play in which there is no shift of locale or time.
Simile
A figure of speech that states a comparison between two essentially unlike things which are similar in one aspect. Similes are introduced by like or as.
Soliloquy
A speech given by a character alone on stage. The purpose of it is to let the audience know what the character is thinking and feeling.
Tragedy
A type of drama of human conflict which ends in defeat and suffering. Often the main character has a tragic flaw which leads to his or her destruction. Sometimes the conflict is with forces beyond the control of the character - fate, evil in the world.
