Semester Exam English 9H

Foil

A character who contrasts sharply with another character to highlight specific traits

Tragic hero

High-status protagonist who suffers downfall due to personal flaw

Hamartia

Fatal flaw or error in judgment that leads to tragic hero’s ruin

Hubris(pride)

(Antigone) excessive pride or dangerous overconfidence-most common form of hamartia

monologue

Long speech delivered by one character to other characters on stage

soliloquy

A speech where a character speaks their inner thoughts aloud while alone

Aside

A brief remark made by a character directly to the audience, unheard by other characters

subtext

the unspoken meaning or “hidden agenda” beneath the literal words spoken

Catharsis

The emotional release or purging the audience feels at the end of a tragedy

Situational irony

When the outcome is the exact opposite of what was expected

Verbal Irony

When a character says one thing but means another

Media res

In the middle of things

Dramatic Irony

When the audience knows something the characters do NOT