A Streetcar Named Desire - Dramatic terminology

Idiolect

the personal speech style of a character, words, grammar, volume etc

Connotation

associated meanings of a word, e.g. girl = vulnerable, lady = privileged and gentle

Dramatic irony

when the audience know more than one or more character on stage.

Foreshadowing

clues concerning future events

Foiling

When two characters are deliberately compared and contrasted with each other

Music

used by Williams in an expressionistic manner to suggest information on theme, setting, character / sometimes the inner psychology of a character

Sound effects

often used symbolically or in an expressionistic manner to suggest information on theme, setting, character / sometimes the inner psychology of a character

Characterisation

the construction of a character through dramatic devices such as voice, dialogue, costume, props and action

Standard English

what is seen as a traditionally 'correct' way of speaking that follows the rules of grammar and is traditionally associated with Educated or high status speakers

Non-standard English

what is seen as a traditionally seen as an 'in-correct' way of speaking that breaks the rules of grammar and is traditionally associated with less Educated or lower status speakers

Euphemism

when difficult or taboo subjects are not referred to directly, e.g. He's gone to a better place.

Dysphemism

when difficult or taboo subjects are deliberately referred to in a direct, shocking, rebellious manner. E.g. I'm going for a ****!!!

Ellipsis

'...' or missing out words in a sentence

Elision

Missing out sounds in a word but retaining meaning e.g. gimme that

Slang / Taboo

highly informal, direct and sometimes shocking language.

Polysyllabic words

long words

Monosyllabic words

short, blunt words

Costume

the clothes a character wears - the colour of the style is usually deliberately chosen to create a sense of character

Questions

interrogatives

Imperative

Commands

Exclamative

Exclamations

Declarative

Statements

Split stage

When separate action occurs in two or more areas of the stage. Often a sense of irony or contrast is created by two contrasting 'worlds' or units of action

Sibilance

the repetition of 'S' or 'Shhhh' sounds often creating an atmosphere of intimacy, romance, softness or villainy

Props

often highly symbolic - Stella's White gloves, Blanche's valise, Stanley's Meat.

Symbolism

Using an object or action / thing to represent something deeper or a whole set of ideas

Motif

a recurring symbol, object or collection of words that represent a key theme or idea in a literary work

Allusion

when there is a reference to something else within a text, such as the bible or "Mr Edgar Allan Poe"

Juxtaposition

the contrast of scenes, settings, characters, colours, words etc

Repetition

when something is repeated to mark its importance

Protagonist

the central character in a literary work whose fate the audience most closely follows

Antagonist

opposes the protagonist by providing obstacles and complications, creating conflict and revealing the strengths and weaknesses of the main character