English Drama #2 test

Anagnorisis

eureka

Hamartia

tragic flow

hubris

overconfidence and pride

nemesis

a character’s enemy or inevitable punishment for wrongdoing

peripeteia

reversal of fortune

mise en scene

the term for the actual staging or performance, including any scenery or properties as well as actors of actresses

round character

fully developed and life-like, appearance, background, personality, identity

flat character

character characterized by a role or minor action, to serve a specific purpose

mystery or miracle plays

• common in middle ages

• originally dramatized a saint’s life, later included more secular material

morality play

• also middle ages

• allegorical dramatization of the battle between good and evil

allegory

• extended metaphor, objects, persons, actions are equated with the meanings that lie outside the narrative itself

• two meanings, literal and symbolic

masque (or mask)

• renaissance play constructed for entertainment of the court performed by noblemen/women

• lavish, dignified productions

• usually allegorical or mythological

antimasque

• renaissance production

• grotesque dance of monsters or clowns performed by professionals

pastoral

• renaissance drama

• shepherds or rural life

• idealization of rural life

comedy of manners

• popular during restoration

• cynical in tone

• themes of love, marriage, romance in a silly way

• characters are selfish, pleasure-loving, and skeptical of tradition

Commedia dell’arte

• dramatic comedy featuring stock characters such as young lovers

• performed by italian acting troops who improvised

sentimental comedy and drama

• made at end of restoration

• men is shown as basically good

• some evil characters repent

melodrama

• popular in the 19th century

• characters who are clearly good or evil pitted against each other

• virtue triumphs

• suspenseful music

problem plays

• 20th century form of drama

• involves the audience in a social problem of some sort