Jane Eyre Flashcards
Name of actor your essay will focus on
Age, height. facial features, costume
Climax
The point of greatest intensity in a series or progression of events in a play, often
forming the turning point of the plot and leading to some kind of resolution. See also exposition and dénouement
Composite set
A set that contains more than one location.
Conflict
The internal or external struggle where it contrasts between ideas or interests that would create dramatic tension
Comic relief
a break in tension f the place due to a comic character, line or episode
Contrast
dynamic use of opposites or significant differences to create dramatic effects
Examples of ‘opposites’ might include movement/stillness, sound/silence, and
light/darkness. ‘Significant differences’ might include distinct styles or colour of
costumes, or styles of dialogue.
Dénouement
The moment in a play when the essential plot point is unravelled or explained,
and the tensions that have driven the drama are resolved. See also climax,
exposition and resolution.
Design elements
A general term to refer to props, costume, set, lighting and sound.
Dialogue
Spoken conversation used by two or more characters to express thoughts,
feelings and attitudes.
Downstage
downstage A position nearer the audience or at the front of the stage. See also upstage.
Dynamics
Variations in levels of energy, physical movement, pace or emotional intensity in a
scene. Also used in technical theatre to describe the difference between levels of
sound.
Ensemble
An approach to theatre-making that focuses on the combined output of all the
members of a group of performers working together, rather than emphasising
individual performances.
Gesture
Any movement of the actor’s body that is used to convey meaning, attitude or
feeling.
Inflection
Change in pitch of the voice, specifically the way the voice rises and falls. A rising
Intensity
The measurable amount, levels or strength of a given property (for example sound,
light, emotion),
Irony
An implied discrepancy between what is said and what is meant. There are several
forms of irony.
Verbal irony is when a writer or speaker says one thing and means something else
(often the opposite of what is said).
Dramatic irony occurs when the audience know more than the characters on
stage.
Situational irony can be described as a discrepancy between what is expected and
what actually happens.
Levels
The height or the positioning of a character compared to others. Levels can also
refer to parts of the set that have been elevated or lowered to vary the height of the
playing space
Marking the
moment
A dramatic technique used to highlight a key moment in a scene or improvisation.
This can be done in a number of different ways, for example through slow-motion,
tableau, narration, thought-tracking, lighting or music.
Moment
A very brief period of time in which there is a significant change in the drama.
Mood
The atmosphere or feeling of a performance, often created by the music, setting or
lighting.
Motif
Any element of the drama that is used repeatedly to convey symbolic meaning.
Examples might be a gesture, a spoken phrase, a snatch of music or a technical
effect
Multi-roling
when an actor plays more than one role in a play
Non-verbal
expression
Communicating feelings, responses or attitudes through gesture, physical
movement, facial expression or sounds such as sighs or groans
Pace
Rate of movement or speed of action, or the vocal delivery of the text. See tempo
Pause
A short period of silence or stillness in a performance when the drama is
communicated non-verbally
Physicality
The way in which an actor uses body language to convey character and intention
Pitch
The particular level (high or low) of a voice, instrument or tune.
Posture
Physical alignment of a performer’s body, or a physical stance taken by a
performer, which conveys information about the character being played.
Proscenium
A frame or arch separating the stage from the auditorium. The proscenium
opening was of particular importance to the Realistic playwrights of the nineteenth
century, such as Ibsen and Shaw, for whom it was a picture frame or an imaginary
fourth wall through which the audience experienced the illusion of spying on the
characters.
Protagonist
The main character or hero in a play or other literary work
Proxemics
Contemporary term for ‘spatial relationships’, referring to the physical distances
between actors on a stage that communicates the relationship between different
characters. Proxemics is also applied to the distance between a performer
and elements of the set, which conveys information about character and
circumstances.
Status
The power dynamic between two characters. A high status character would
behave in a dominant fashion, a low status character would behave submissively.
Style
The distinctive way in which a play is performed, for example in a naturalistic way
with setting and costume in keeping with the actual period of the play. Alternatively,
a play may be presented in a style deliberately at variance with its original setting or
performance, for example a naturalistic play performed in a minimalist or symbolic
way.
Subtext
What a character is really thinking or feeling when they say particular words.
Subtext is linked to motivation
Subtext
What a character is really thinking or feeling when they say particular words.
Subtext is linked to motivation
Suspense
A feeling of uncertainty as to the outcome, used to build interest and excitement
on the part of the audience
Symbolism
The use of symbolic language, imagery, set design or colour to evoke emotions or
communicate ideas
Tableaux
A technique in creative drama in which actors create a frozen picture, as if the
action were paused; plural is tableaux.
Tempo
The speed at which the action on stage proceeds. Tempo will vary depending
upon the nature of the action and the circumstances in which it takes place. Often
combined with rhythm in dramatic contexts such as in ‘tempo rhythm’. It has a
very similar meaning to pace
Tension
The atmosphere created by unresolved, disquieting or inharmonious situations that
human beings feel compelled to address. In the theatre, tension may be caused
by a threat to a character or confrontation between characters, creating a sense
of anxiety in the audience. Alternatively, tension may be created by the tasks or
different objectives characters set themselves, such as: Will they succeed? Who
will win?
Transition
Movement, passage or change from one act, scene, section, position, state,
concept, etc., to another
Turning point
The climax or high point of a story, when events can go either way
