Comedy Terms and Dramatic Elements

Dark humor/Black humor

a kind of drama in which disturbing or sinister subjects like death, disease, or warfare are treated with bitter amusement - usually to offend

Deadpan

a form of comic delivery in which humor is presented without change in emotion or body language

Innuendo

an allusive or oblique remark or hint typically a suggestive or disparaging one

Dramatic Irony

a contrast between what the audience knows and what the characters on stage know. The audience (or reader) knows something the characters do not.

Situational Irony

the outcome is the opposite of what was expected

Verbal Irony

a person says or writes one thing and means another, or uses words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of the literal meaning

Malapropism

the unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one of the similar sounds especially when creating a ridiculous effect; habit of misusing words

Pun

figure of speech, humorous use of a word or phrase so as to emphasize or suggest its different meaning; a play on words

Riddle

a question or statement phrased so as to require ingenuity in ascertaining its answer to a meaning - particularly as a game

Satire

the use of humor, irony, exaggeration or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices (especially in politics)

Slapstick

comedy based on deliberately clumsy actions and humorously embarrassed events

Wit

mental sharpness and inventiveness; keen intelligence

Foil

a character who serves as a contrast to another character; this creates a contrast that can help depict their differences

Antagonist

a character who stands directly opposed to the protagonist

Protagonist

the main character in a work of literature

Climax

the turning point in the action; the place where the rising action reverses and becomes the falling action

Tragedy

a drama revealing an important series of events in the life of a person of significance, culminating in an unhappy catastrophe

Farce

a type of comedy, often includes jokes or gags or characters in ridiculous situations; the story line is less important that providing humor

Aside

something said on stage meant to be inaudible to someone; the actor makes a comment that the audience hears, but the other characters on stage do not

Soliloquy

a speech, usually lengthy, in which a character, alone on stage, expresses his or her thoughts aloud; the character/actor shares his or her inner most thoughts and feelings with the audience

Epilogue

a concluding statement; often the final remarks of an actor addressed to the audience at the close of the play