Shakespeare stage terms

Soliloquy

A monologue that is delivered when the character is alone

Aside

Words an actor speaks to the audience that other actors on the stage cannot hear

Hamartia

A tragic flaw or error in judgment (e.g., Hamlet's indecision, Macbeth's ambition) leading to disaster.

Anagnorisis

The moment of critical discovery or recognition by the tragic hero, often leading to their ruin.

Peripeteia

A sudden reversal of fortune or change from good to bad for the protagonist.

Hubris

Extreme pride or arrogance, often a specific type of hamartia, causing the hero to defy gods or fate.

Catharsis

The purging of pity and fear experienced by the audience at the play's end. 

Foil

A character whose contrasting traits highlight the qualities of the protagonist (e.g. Banquo for Macbeth)

Tragic hero

A noble protagonist (e.g., Hamlet, Macbeth) whose admirable qualities are overshadowed by a fatal flaw (hamartia), causing their ruin.