Literary Devices and Drama: Key Terms for Play Analysis

Pun

a play on words to create humor

Paradox

a statement that seems self-contradictory on the surface, but it makes sense when considered carefully

Oxymoron

two words that seem opposite but make sense when considered carefully.

Allusion

a reference to another literary work, piece of art, or famous person

Dramatic irony

when the audience knows more than the characters in the story

Soliloquy

a long speech by one character who is alone on stage; it is meant to give the audience some inside information

Monologue

a long speech by one character that everyone hears

Irony

a broad term used to talk about the difference between appearance and reality

Hypocrisy

when a person says one thing but means another

Stage directions

instructions for staging a play and description of characters, setting, and actions; usually in italics

Aside

a character's comment that is heard by the audience but not by the other characters

Unexpected twist

when a situation turns out differently than expected

Scenes

small divisions of a play that are grouped together to form an act

Act

a major unit of action in a play; like a chapter in a book

Drama

literature that is meant to be performed

Play

a piece of literature made up of one or more acts.

Playwright

the author of a play

Characters

animals or people who are involved in the action of a literary work

Setting

the time and place of the events

Plot

the sequence of events in a literary work

Subplot

a second plot

Central insight

the main idea of a literary work

Conflict

a problem in the literary work that builds suspense

Script

the written form of the play

Actors

these people perform on stage

Interactive

conversation

Stage decorations

decorations on stage to help show the setting

Props

objects the actors need while performing