drama literary devices

The "lightbulb moment" where a protagonist realizes their true nature or the truth of a situation.

Anagnorisis

A character who "reflects" the protagonist by being their opposite, making the hero's traits stand out.

Foil

1. The sequence of events in the drama.

2. The most intense or dramatic turning point.

3. A significant event that advances the conflict or themes.

1. Plot

2. Climax

3. Key moment

The specific error or character defect (like pride or indecision) that leads to a hero's downfall.

Hamartia

A long speech delivered alone on stage to reveal a character's internal conflict.

Soliloquy

The "purging" of emotions. If a play leaves you feeling "wrung out" but relieved, that's catharsis.

Catharsis

How the physical space/distance between actors tells a story about their power or intimacy.

Proxemics

A sudden reversal of fortune; the moment the "plot thickens" and things go from good to bad (or vice versa).

Peripeteia

When a play draws attention to the fact that it is a play (e.g., a play-within-a-play).

Meta-theatre:

fast-paced, alternating single lines (or half-lines) of verse between two characters, often creating a "ping-pong" effect

Stichomythia

Non-spoken text that dictates the mise-en-scène (lighting, sound, movement)

Stage Directions

Suspense created through conflict, uncertainty, or anticipation.

Dramatic tension

When the audience knows something the characters do not.

Dramatic irony

The central action, character, or idea that draws audience attention.

Focus

The methods used to develop and portray a character

Characterisation

1.Protagonist

2.Antagonist

1. The central character driving the action.

2. A character who opposes the protagonist.

A character's social or emotional power relative to others.

Status

The underlying meaning beneath what is spoken.

Subtext

How characters interact and influence each other.

Character relationships

1. Conversation between characters.

2. A speech delivered alone on stage revealing inner thoughts.

3. A deliberate silence that creates tension or emphasis.

4. The emotional quality of speech. 5. A longer speech delivered by one character. 6. The level of formality or style of speech.

1. Dialogue

2. Soliloquy

3. Pause

4. Tone 5. Monologue 6. Register

1. How high or low the voice is.

2. The speed of speech.

3. How loud or quiet speech is.

4. Stress placed on specific words or phrases.

5. The rise and fall of voice.

6. The clarity of pronunciation.

1. Pitch

2. Pace

3. Volume

4. Emphasis

5. Intonation

6. Articulation

1. Messages communicated through posture and movement.

2. Emotion conveyed through the face.

3. Movement of hands or arms to express meaning.

4. How the body is positioned.

5.The physical distance between characters on stage.

6. How characters move around the stage

1. Body language

2. Facial expression

3. Gesture

4. Posture

5. Proxemics

6. Use of space

1. The movement and positioning of actors on stage.

2. The location where the action takes place.

3. The emotional feeling created in a scene.

4. The emotional tone of a specific moment.

5. Visual elements that communicate ideas or themes.

6. Differences in height that convey power or focus

1. Blocking

2. Setting

3. Atmosphere

4. Mood

5. Stage imagery

6. Use of levels

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