What Is a play?

Question 1

Theatre

Answer 1

Comes from Greek word “to see”

Question 2

Conflict

Answer 2

First concern of action in Drama

Question 3

Play

Answer 3

It’s a story based on a plot devised to be presented by actors on a stage before an audience.

Question 4

Plot

Answer 4

Divided into slices of life or episodes.

Question 5

Episode

Answer 5

Starts anytime a new character arrives or leaves the stage

They are played out with dialogue between characters on stage sometimes the audience

Question 6

Scene

Answer 6

Many episodes make up a scene which are used to show when time and place has changed and many scenes make up an Act

Question 7

How long should a play last?

Answer 7

No longer than 2-3 hours therefore there is no time to waste and it’s performed as quickly and clearly as possible

Question 8

Playwrights

Answer 8

People who write plays
Author of plays are Playmakers
A Playwright must be aware of how a play sounds rather than how it’s read
Must also be aware of the audience

Question 9

Theatre Layouts(3)

Answer 9

The Greek Theatre
The Elizabeth Theatre
The Modern Stage

Question 10

Act

Answer 10

Division in a play
Can contain one or more scenes
Modern drama has 2-3 Acts
19th Century drama has 5 Acts

Question 11

Climax

Answer 11

Highest point of interest-Complication ceases and resolution begins

Question 12

Complication

Answer 12

Element that causes conflict (new situation…)

Question 13

Dialogue

Answer 13

Convo between characters (reveals plot and much about characters speaking)

Question 14

Dramatic personae

Answer 14

The cast-List of characters

Question 15

Foil

Answer 15

A character due to his contrast brings out the qualities of another character in the play

Question 16

Tragedy

Answer 16

A form of Drama where the protagonist is overcomes by the obstacles(loses)

Question 17

Comedy

Answer 17

A form of Drama where the protagonist is triumphant

Question 18

Motive

Answer 18

Reason why a character acts the way they do

Question 19

Protagonist

Answer 19

Lead in a play

Question 20

Suspense

Answer 20

Uncertainty of the reader on the outcome of the conflict

Question 21

Style

Answer 21

The way a playwright wrights (casual or formal)

Question 22

Stock Character

Answer 22

Stereotypical character

Question 23

Foreshadowing

Answer 23

Giving the audience hints of things to come

Question 24

External Time

Answer 24

The time required for a play to be performed on stage

Question 25

Internal play

Answer 25

Time in the actual plot of the play

Question 26

Iambic Pentameter

Answer 26

Stressed (short) syllable followed by an unstressed (long) syllable which are five in a row
Ex: Two households both alike in dignity

da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM

Question 27

Drama

Answer 27

Comes from Greek word “to do”. Drama is both the Play and Performance.