Vocab Flashcards
Act
A division within a play, much like chapters of a novel
Aside
Lines that are spoken by a character directly to the audience
Cast of characters
A list of characters presented before the action begins
Comedy
A humorous work of drama
Dialogue
Conversation between two or more characters
Drama
A work of literature designed to be performed in front of an audience
Dramatic irony
When the audience or reader knows somewhat that the characters in the story do not know
Foil
A character who is nearly opposite of another character; the purpose of a foil (or character foil) is to stark contrast between two characters, often the protagonist and antagonist
Iambic pentameter
A line of poetry that contains 5 iambs of two syllables each
Monologue
A long speech spoken by a character to himself, another character, or to the audience
Scene
A division of an act into smaller parts
Soliloquy
Thoughts spoken aloud by a character when he/she is alone, or thinks he/she is alone
Stage directions
Italicized comments that identify parts of the setting or the use of props or costumes, give further information about a character, or provide background information
Tragedy
A serious work of drama in which the hero suffers catastrophe or serious misfortune, usually because if his own actions
Tragic hero
A protagonist with a fatal flaw which eventually lead to his demise
Pun
a play on words with similar sounds but more than one spelling or meaning
Foreshadowing
Refers to hints in the text about what will occur later in the plot
Simile
A comparison of two unlike things using like or as
Conflict
Is what creates tension and drama in literature
External conflict
A struggle between humans and an outside force such as nature or another individual
Internal conflict
Refers to a mental struggle within the individual
Characterization
Technique by which authors develop characters
Direct characterization
When the author or narrator tells the reader what the character is like
Indirect characterization
When the author gives information about a character and allows the reader to draw his or her own conclusions about that character
Motivation
Is what drives a character to do what they do
Rhetoric
Is the art of persuasive speech or writing
Logos
Appealing to an audience’s sense of reason or logic
Pathos
Appealing to the audiences emotions
Ethos
The overall appeal of the speaker or writer has to say; whether or not they are a likable person with good morals
Alliteration
Repetition of constant sounds at the beginning of words
Anaphora
Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or lines
Antithesis
Opposition or juxtaposition of ideas or words in a balanced or parallel construction
Aporia
Questioning oneself (or rhetorically asking the audience), often pretending to be in doubt
Metaphor
A comparison made between two unlike things
Simile
A comparison made between two unlike objects using like or as
Personification
Giving human qualities or characteristics to non-human objects
Imagery
Using words to appear to the senses: sight, touch, taste, hearing, or smell
Denotation
Dictionary definition of a word
Connotation
Feeling or emotional attachment to the word
Theme
The central idea in a work of literature
