Literary Elements The Crucible

Dialogue Conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or movie

Stage Directions An instruction in the text of a play, esp. one indicating the movement, position, or tone of an actor, or the sound effects and lighting

Dramatic Exposition Essential background information conferred through dialogue prior to rise of action in a play or film

A warning or indication of (a future event) foreshadowing A warning or indication of (a future event)

setting The place or type of surroundings where something is positioned or where an event takes place

allusion An expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference

monologue A long speech by one actor in a play or movie, or as part of a theatrical or broadcast program

soliloquy An act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, esp. by a character in a play

aside A remark or passage by a character in a play that is intended to be heard by the audience but unheard by the other characters in the play

plot The main events of a play, novel, movie, or similar work, devised and presented by the writer as an interrelated sequence

Dramatic irony Irony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play

Verbal irony Irony in which 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

A fallacy in logical argumentation Logical fallacy A fallacy in logical argumentation

The events of a dramatic or narrative plot preceding the climax Rising action The events of a dramatic or narrative plot preceding the climax

climax The most intense, exciting, or important point of something; a culmination or apex

Falling action The events of a drama after the climax (or crisis) but before the denouement (or resolution)

The action of solving a problem, dispute, or contentious matter resolution The action of solving a problem, dispute, or contentious matter

A person in a novel, play, or movie character A person in a novel, play, or movie

characterization Representation of a character or characters on the stage or in writing, especially by imitating or describing actions, gestures, or speeches Indirect- the process by which the personality of a fictitious character is revealed through the character's speech, actions, appearance, etc. Direct- the process by which the personality of a fictitious character is revealed by the use of descriptive adjectives, phrases, or epithets. Flat- an easily recognized character type in fiction who may not be fully delineated but is useful in carrying out some narrative purpose of the author. Round- a character in fiction whose personality, background, motives, and other features are fully delineated by the author. Dynamic- A character who undergoes change in the story Static- A character who goes through little or no chance in the story

foil Where the author creates a character whose primary purpose is to create a contrast to another character by laying emphasis or drawing attention to the latter’s traits and characteristics through the former’s obviously contradictory ones

A serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one conflict A serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one Internal- A struggle/ conflict within the mind of a character External- A struggle between a character and an outside force like nature or another character

theme The main subject that is being discussed or described in a piece of writing

Extended metaphor A comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph or lines in a poem

protagonist The leading character or one of the major characters in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text

Antagonist A person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary

comedy Professional entertainment consisting of jokes and satirical sketches, intended to make an audience laugh

tragedy An event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, such as a serious accident, crime, or natural catastrophe

Dominant impression or emotional atmosphere evoked by the text mood Dominant impression or emotional atmosphere evoked by the text

An attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience tone An attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience EX: Pokes fun at the fact that they think they are doing the right thing