test Flashcards
a division within a play, much like chapters of a novel
act
lines that are spoken by a character directly to the audience
aside
a person or group of people who act as a narrator, commentator, or general audience to the action of the play
chorus
conversation between two or more characters
dialogue
a character who is nearly opposite of another character; the purpose of a foil (aka character foil) is to reveal a stark contrast between the two main characters, often the protagonist and antagonist
foil
a long speech spoken by a character to himself, another character or to the audience
monologue
thought spoken aloud by a character when he/she is alone, or thinks he/she is alone (revealing inner thoughts/feelings)
soliloquy
a serious work of drama in which the hero suffers catastrophe or serious misfortune, usually because of his own actions
tragedy
a protagonist with a fatal flaw that eventually leads to his demise
tragic hero
a literary reference to a well-known work of art, music, history or literature (I.e. “at lovers’ perjuries, they say Jove laughs.” (act II, sc 2), a reference to Jove [another name for Jupiter, roman king of the God])
allusion
when the audience or reader knows something that the characters in the story do not know
dramatic irony
a substitution of a more pleasant expression for one whose meaning may come across as rude or offensive (I.e. “he passed away,” rather than “he died.”)
euphemism
a 10-syllable line divided into 5 iambic feet (one unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable). This is basic rhythm of Shakespeare verse
iambic pentameter
a contradiction between what is expected and what actually is-or appearance versus reality; includes verbal irony, situational irony, and dramatic irony
irony
when two opposite terms are used together (I.e. “o heavy lightness!)
oxymoron
