Drama terms

Mrs. Wright drama terms test flashcards

Foil

A character who contrasts with another character, typically the protagonist, highlighting particular qualities of the main character.

Conflict

The central struggle between opposing forces in a story, which can be internal or external.

Foreshadowing

A literary device that provides hints or clues about future events in the story.

Satire

A genre that uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize social, political, or cultural institutions.

Archetype

A typical character or situation that recurs across literature, representing universal patterns.

Tragic Flaw

A weakness in the protagonist's character that leads to their downfall in a tragedy.

Tragic Hero

A noble protagonist in a tragedy whose downfall is brought about by their tragic flaw.

Suspension of Disbelief

The willingness of an audience to accept fantastical elements of a story for emotional engagement.

Chorus

A group of actors in ancient Greek drama who comment on the action or themes.

Strophe/Antistrophe

Parts of a choral ode in ancient Greek drama, with strophe indicating the movement one way and antistrophe the opposite.

Catharsis

The emotional release or purging experienced by an audience after watching a tragedy.

Hubris

Excessive pride or arrogance that often leads to a character’s downfall.

Dramatic Irony

When the audience knows something that the characters do not, creating tension.

Verbal Irony

When a character says something but means the opposite, similar to sarcasm.

Situational Irony

A discrepancy between what is expected to happen and what actually occurs.

Deus ex Machina

A plot device where a seemingly unsolvable problem is resolved suddenly and unexpectedly.

In Media Res

A narrative technique where the story begins in the middle of the action.

Peripeteia

A sudden reversal of fortune for the protagonist, often from happiness to misery.

Repertory

A system where a group of actors perform various plays, rotating performances.

(Breaking the) Fourth Wall

When a character addresses the audience, breaking the invisible barrier between stage and viewers.

Act

A major division of a play, often consisting of multiple scenes.

Scene

A subdivision of an act in a play, focused on a specific moment or series of events.

Climax

The turning point of a narrative, where the central conflict reaches its most intense point.

Exposition

The introduction of background information in a story, such as setting and initial conflict.

Denouement

The final part of a narrative, where the plot is resolved and closure is provided.

Prologue

An introductory section of a play or story that sets the stage for the events to follow.

Stage Direction

Instructions in a script that guide actors' movements, positions, or tones.

Plot

The sequence of events that compose a story.

Antagonist

The character or force that opposes the protagonist and creates conflict.

Protagonist

The main character of a story, usually facing challenges that lead to change.

Comedy

A genre that entails humorous situations, often concluding with a happy ending.

Tragedy

A genre that deals with serious themes and often ends in catastrophe.

Monologue

A long speech by a single character, revealing their thoughts or feelings.

Aside

A brief remark made by a character intended for the audience, not heard by other characters.

Soliloquy

A type of monologue where a character reveals their inner thoughts to the audience.

Dialogue

A conversation between characters that advances the plot and reveals relationships.

Static Character

A character who does not undergo significant change throughout the story.

Dynamic Character

A character who experiences significant growth or transformation during the story.

Flat Character

A one-dimensional character defined by a single characteristic or role.

Round Character

A multi-dimensional character who experiences development and is more realistic.