drama terms

scene

the subdivision of an act in drama

act

major division of a play or drama

aside

a dramatic convention where a character onstage addresses the audience

soliloquy

when a character in a drama is alone onstage, speaking their innermost thoughts

anecdote

a brief story

tragedy

a serious drama that typically ends in disaster

monologue

an extended narrative delivered by a single speaker, though it may be heard/witnessed by other characters

eulogy

a formal statement of praise

pastoral

refers broadly to any text with a rural setting

parody

a humorous imitation of either the style of a particular genre or the imitation of a specific literary text

comedy

any amusing and entertaining text

carpe diem

latin for seize the day

melodrama

a form of narration that emphasizes plot or action at the expense of developing charater

drama

a literary form intended for performance before an audience

pastiche

a text that imitates the style of an earlier text, or any text that contains numerous elements from different sources as a means of mockery or satire

nostalgia

a desire for the past

crisis

part of the plot where the conflict has intensified to a point where the fortunes of the protagonist begin to change

realism

any text that attempts to accurately portray life

interior monologue

a stream-of-consciousness technique in which the subjective thoughts of a character are revealed to the reader

canon

the literary texts that are commonly considered central to the understanding and appreciation of the literary tradition