Story Structure and Theatre Terms

Vocabulary flashcards covering key theatrical terms and concepts of story structure from the lecture.

Major Dramatic Question (MDQ)

The central question that drives the plot of a play, usually tied directly to the protagonist's main goal, which the climax directly answers with a "yes," "no," or "yes, but…"

Onstage Manifestation

The physical embodying of an abstract concept, internal state, or text-based idea into a tangible theatrical reality.

Inciting Incident

The specific event near the beginning of the story that disrupts the protagonist's normal world and sets the main conflict into motion.

Climax

The turning point and emotional peak of the play where the protagonist faces the ultimate obstacle, directly answering the Major Dramatic Question.

Subtext

The unspoken thoughts, feelings, and underlying meanings beneath the literal words spoken in the dialogue ("what is felt rather than what is said").

Objective

What a character wants or is actively trying to achieve in a specific scene.

Obstacle

The person, force, or internal struggle standing in the way of a character achieving their objective.

Tactics

The specific strategies or actions a character uses to overcome an obstacle and get what they want (e.g., to flatter, to threaten, to beg).

Given Circumstances

The foundational facts established by the playwright—who, what, where, when, and why—that define the world of the scene.

Beat

The smallest unit of dramatic action, marking a shift in thought, tactic, or topic within a scene.