ELA

act

The major units in which plays are divided

aside

 A short speech delivered by a character that is meant to be heard by only the audience and not other actors to express true feelings

comic relief

A technique that is used to interrupt a serious part of a literary work by introducing a humorous character or situation

couplet

pair of rhyming lines written in verse

dialogue

A conversation between characters

drama

A story written to be performed by actors.  The script of it is made up of dialogue and stage directions

dramatic irony

A contradiction between what a character thinks and what the audience knows to be true

epilogue

A closing section added to a novel providing further information

character foil

A character who provides contrast to another character

foreshadowing

The use of clues that suggest events that have yet to occur to create suspense

iambic pentameter

Blank verse containing five iambs with alternating stressed syllables

malapropism

A humorous confusion of words that are similar in sound