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Drama: Terms to Know
Study these drama terms for your Drama: Terms to Know Test.
34
English
10th Grade
01/19/2011

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Term
Suspension of Disbelief
Definition
willingness to suspend one's critical faculties and believe the unbelievable; sacrifice realism for the sake of the play
Term
Drama
Definition
story that is written to be acted for an audience
Term
Comedy
Definition
amusing and ends well (happy ending)
Term
Tragedy
Definition
the central character meets an unhappy or disastrous end
Term
History
Definition
uses historical events/characters to directly or indirectly deliver the message
Term
Problem Play
Definition
discusses social, economic, or political problems by means of a play
Term
Farce
Definition
when comedy involves ridiculous or hilarious complications without regard for human values
Term
Comedy of Manners
Definition
comedy which wittily portrays fashionable life
Term
Melodrama
Definition
extremely emotional play which often deals with unrealistic circumstances; its chief motive is to entertain
Term
character
Definition
a person, or anything presented as a person, in a literary work
Term
foil
Definition
a character in a play who sets off the main character or other characters by comparision
Term
tragic character (tragic hero)
Definition
central character of a tragedy, usually of high birth or position, who creates his own death or downfall
Term
tragic flaw
Definition
a character trait that causes a weakness or limitation for the character, resulting in the downfall of the tragic hero
Term
dialogue
Definition
a conversation between characters
Term
aside
Definition
lines whispered to the audience or to another character on stage (not meant to be heard by all the characters on stage)
Term
monologue
Definition
a long, uninterrupted speech by one character in the presence of other characters
Term
soliloquy
Definition
a single character on stage thinking out loud; a way of letting the audience know what is in the character's mind
Term
Major Elements of Drama
Definition
1. Exposition
2. Complications
3. Climax
4. Resolution (Denoument)
Term
Exposition
Definition
Presents main characters and their conflicts/Introduces the basic situation
Term
Complications
Definition
Situations that prevent or deter the main character from achieving his/her goal
Term
Climax
Definition
The moment of highest intensity; the turning point in the plot; when events develop either for or against the main character and a crucial decision must be made
Term
Climax
Definition
The moment of highest intensity; the turning point in the plot; when events develop either for or against the main character and a crucial decision must be made
Term
Climax
Definition
The moment of highest intensity; the turning point in the plot; when events develop either for or against the main character and a crucial decision must be made
Term
Resolution (Denoument)
Definition
The confict is resolved; the story is brought to a close
Term
stage directions
Definition
a playwright's descriptive or interpretive comments that provide readers (and actors) with information about the dialogue, setting, and action of the play
Term
set
Definition
scenery and staging of a dramatic production (background, lighting, props, etc.)
Term
act
Definition
one of the main divisions of a play
Term
scene
Definition
a division within an act; no change of locale or abrupt shift of time
Term
foreshadowing
Definition
a hint or clue of things to come in the plot; indicates danger; creates suspense
Term
conflicts
Definition
internal and external; dramatic conflicts are usually resolved through speech by the characters rather than sensationaled physical action
Term
situational irony
Definition
result of an action is the reverse of what the actor or audience expected
Term
dramatic irony
Definition
the audience knows something that the characters in the drama do not
Term
verbal irony
Definition
contrast between the literal meaning of what is said and what is meant
Term
The Process
Definition
Playwrights want audiences to care about the characters.
Playwrights show how an event develops (not just what happened).
Audience involvement is very important; suspension of disbelief is crucial to enjoyment and understanding.
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