Drama, Humor, Irony, Tragedy

Drama/Play

genre of literature, acted out and tells a story through actions/speech

Playwright

The author of a play

Dialogue

A character’s spoken words

Repartee

Rapid-fire exchange of witty remarks

Monologue

Speech made by one character

Soliloquy

Monologue when a character is alone/thinks they’re alone - reveals inner feelings

Epiphany

Sudden, overwhelming insight or revelation

Aside

A brief speech heard only by the audience and not by other characters

Humor

literary tool used to induce amusement or laughter from the audience

Pun

Play on words that sound the same but have different meanings

Sarcasm

Verbal irony & mocking or negative tone

Parody

Mocking imitation of a work, author, or genre to ridicule it

Satire

When a writer uses humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose/criticize an individual or society

Comedy

Light and humorous story with a happy ending

High Comedy

comedy depending primarily on verbal wit and appeals of the tastes of a cultivated audience (The Office)

Low Comedy

Comedy depending on ridiculous caricatures, physical humor, and crass verbal humor

Irony

When a literary work represents a deliberate contrast between two levels of meaning

Verbal irony

A meaning different/opposite from what is explicitly said - uses sarcasm

Situational Irony

Irony when there is a difference between the expectation and reality of what happens (firehouse on fire)

Dramatic irony

When audience knows something the characters don’t

Tragedy

Drama with a serious somber tone, with the effect of involving and moving the audience - outcome disastrous from protagonist and usually everyone around them

Tragic Hero

Protagonist with a fatal flaw leading to their demise

Hubris

Excessive pride or self-confidence

Catharsis

Arousal of pity or fear culminating in an uplifting, salutary emotional release or cleansing (crying in movies)