Studied by 21 people
freytag's pyramid
the overall structure of a story
flashback
when a character remembers a past experience that relates to their present situation
sophocles
a playwright of greek tragedy, famous for writing oedipus the king and antigone
foil
two characters of the same given circumstances but with two opposite outlooks and/or personalities
conflict
a problem the protagonist faces
exposition
sets the scene and informs the reader of the given circumstances
thespis
the first person to step out of the chorus and become the first actor
the chorus
the creepy group that recites backstory and builds and relieves tension in the plot through poetry, song, and dance
rising action
the lead up to the climax of the story
in medias res
when a story begins in the middle of conflict
archetype
a very typical, recurring example of a certain person or thing
dionysus
the god of wine, parties, and theater, often referenced in greek tragedy
choragos
a wealthy athenian citizen who watches greek theater
climax
the moment of highest tension
narrator
a character who recount the events of a story
tragic hero
an originally praised hero who later falls from grace
situational irony
when the something occurs that has the opposite outcome of what was expected
falling action
the following events of the climax
first-person narrator
when the protagonist tells the story
tragic flaw
a trait that leads to the downfall of the tragic hero
dramatic irony
when the audience knows more details than the characters
resolution
the ending of the story (does not have to be happy)
third-person narrator
narration from an outside perspective
hubris
excessive pride
skene
the dressing room/backstage
initiation story
a story thats overall plot is to put the protagonist through a certain type of experience
omniscient narrator
all-knowing narrator
hamartia
a fatal misstep
proscenium
the stage
archetypal plot
recognizable patterns and story plots that are repeatedly used throughout storytelling
setting
where the story takes place
joy before catastrophe
where the good in something leads to an eventual catastrophe
parodos
the side entrance to the stage and orchestra
protagonist
the main character of a story
theme
the overall message of a story
verisimilitude
the belief that all events of stage could be real
deus ex machina
a crane device used to lower a character portraying a god onto the stage
antagonist
the person out to ruin the protagonist's life
allegory
a story that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning
peripeteia
a sudden reversal in circumstance in a story
flat character
a one-dimensional character
figurative language
language used in stories that is not literal
mutability
liability or tendency to change
round character
deeply layered character
metaphor
a figure of speech in which a word/phrase is applied to an object/action in which it is not literally applicable
catharsis
the emotion produced by greek tragedy
static character
a character who does not change over the course of the story
simile
a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing to another
moment of recognition
the moment in which the protagonist makes a crucial discvery
dynamic character
a character who changes over the course of the story
symbol
a mark or character used as a representation of an object, function, or process
foreshadowing
a warning or indication of a future event
Note 
Flashcard (66)