Drama terms

Act-Large portions of the play.

Antagonist-The character or force that opposes the protagonist. They create conflict and tension. Example: Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter

Aside-A short speech from a character that is spoken directly to the audience.

Catastrophe-The final action that completes the unraveling of the plot in a play. Example: the last act of Hamlet where everything goes bad.

Catharsis-The use of strong feelings to engage the audience in heavy emotions. Example: When Romea and Juliet commit suicide strong sadness is evoked in the audience.

Character Dynamic-How much a character changes throughout the story.

Character Flat-A one dimensional character that doesn’t have a backstory or a lot of depth. Example: Ginny Weasley in Harry Potter.

Character Round-A character that is lifelike or complex. Example: Jocasta in Oedipus Rex.

Character Static-A character that doesn’t change throughout the entire story.

Character Shock-When a character surprises the audience.

Climax-The most intense point within a story.

Comedy-Uses amusing characters for the sake of humor and there is a happy ending. Example: The Taming of the Shrew.

Comic relief-a releasing of emotional or other tension resulting from a comic episode interposed in the midst of serious or tragic elements in a drama.

Conflict-when a character faces an obstacle to their central want or need and is used as a tool in literature to move the story forward.Crisis- a critical moment of decision or action, often the turning point which defines the character's journey. 

Denouement-Another word for the ending.

Deus Ex Machina- a plot device whereby an unsolvable conflict or point of tension is suddenly resolved by the unexpected appearance of an implausible character, object, action, ability, or event.

Epilogue-The final speech.

Exposition-the introduction or beginning of a story that reveals important background information.

Falling Action-the period of time in a story that follows the climax and leads to the resolution.

Farce-A comedy in which everything is absolutely absurd

Foil- literary element that serves as a contrast to the main character, or the protagonist. 

Hero-The main character in literature.

Hubris-Excessive pride.

In media res-It opens in the middle of the plot rather that the beginning.

Monologue-a lengthy speech given by one character in theatrical work, movie, or literary work.

Prologue- a separate introductory section of a literary work that comes before the main narrative.

Rising action-the section of a story that leads toward its climax.

Scene- a section of your novel where a character or characters engage in action or dialogue.

Soliloquy-See aside

Tragedy-a genre that focuses around a noble character who struggles against strong external challenges.

Tragic flaw-a character trait that leads to or contributes to a character's tragic downfall.

Villain-an evil or immoral character intent on harming others.