Drama and Short Story Mini-Exam Key Terms

rhythm

the recurring pattern of sounds or movements, characterized by the regular succession of strong and weak elements over time

meter

the rhythmic structure of a line, defined by the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.

stressed syllable

the parts of a word that are emphasized with a louder, longer, and higher-pitched sound.

unstressed syllable

the parts of a word in poetry pronounced with less emphasis than stressed syllables

feet

a basic unit of rhythm made of a specific pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.

iambic pentameter

a rhythmic pattern in poetry with ten syllables per line, arranged as five pairs of unstressed followed by stressed syllables.

drama

a genre of literature that is written in the form of a script to be performed by actors for an audience. 

short story

a brief work of prose fiction that typically focuses on single event, a limited number of characters, and a single theme, concise enough to be read in one sitting. 

intertextuality

the relationship between texts, especially literary ones.

magic realism

a literary genre where supernatural or mythical elements are presented as ordinary within a realistic narrative

tragedy

a literary genre that depicts a serious story with a disastrous outcome for the protagonist, often involving a downfall from a high position.

adaptation

the process of transforming a pre-existing story into a new form or medium