Drama Terms

Drama A form of literature that is a written to be performed before an audience

Tragedy Unveils the downfall of a main character in a serious tone

Comedy A light an often humorous play

Plot The chain of events that make up the story

Acts Series and sequences that make up a play; where the plot is developed

Scenes Series and sequences that make up the acts of a play

Setting The established time and place of a play

Characters The individuals who participate in the action and bring the plot to life through words

Dialogue The conversation between characters

Protagonist The central character of the play that is deeply involved in the conflict and may change because of it

Antagonist A major character that opposes the central character

Foil A minor character that contrasts in personality with the central character

Conflict A struggle between opposing forces

Theme The central message that the writer wants to share with the audience

Cast of Characters A list of characters presented before the action starts

Stage Directions Italicized words that identify the setting, suggest the use of props, lighting, scenery, sound effects, describe how characters look, speak, move, and react

Exposition Provides essential background information and introduces the characters, setting, and conflict

Rising Action The conflict intensifies and complications arise that make the conflict more difficult for characters to resolve

Climax The turning point of the action, when a reader’s interest is at its highest point

Falling Action Reveals the final conclusion of the conflict

Resolution Ties up loose ends in the plot

Monologue A long speech that is spoken by a single character to himself or herself, or to the audience

Soliloquy A monologue in which a character speaks private thoughts aloud and appears to be unaware of the audience

Aside A short speech or comment a character delivers to the audience, but that seems unheard by the other characters who are on the stage