Shakespeare Drama Terms Flashcards
aside
a remark by a character in a play intended to be heard by the audience but not by the other characters
dramatic foil
a character who contrasts with another character in order to highlight particular qualities of the other character
dramatic irony
when some of the characters on stage do not know information that the audience knows
free verse
poetry that is free form; does not rhyme or have a regular meter
monologue
a long speech that is spoken by a single character on stage to the other actors
prologue
a summary that is directed to the audience as to what is taking place on stage
scene
the division of an act in a play
soliloquy
the thoughts of the character that are spoken aloud for only the audience to hear
typically long
barb
an aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile
an insult or cutting remark
comic relief
comic episodes in a dramatic or literary work that offset more serious sections
foreshadowing
a warning, hint or introduction (of a future event)
hyperbole
exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally
oxymoron
a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction
pun
a humorous way of using a word or phrase so that more than one meaning is suggested
tragic flaw
the trait that is the cause of the character’s problems
