Literary Terms used in Plays DRAMA TERMS Literary Terms used in Plays
The Main Division of a Play. ACT The Main Division of a Play.
Alliteration: Repetition of the same initial sounds in words Ba-Ba Black Sheep Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers
Allusion Refering to a well known person or place: Usually from the Bible, Mythology or History.
Historical Inaccuracy Anachronism Historical Inaccuracy
Aside Words spoken to the audience but not intended to be heard by others on the stage
Atmosphere: Tone or Mood Established Creepy Dreary Happy Hopeful
Poetry with rhythm but no rhyme. Blank Verse Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel,-- Will they not hear? What, ho! you men, you beasts, That quench the fire of your pernicious rage Poetry with rhythm but no rhyme.
Drama that begins with mix-ups but ends with problems all solved for the best. Comedy
Conversation between two or more characters. Dialog Conversation between two or more characters.
A story that is written to be acted out for an audience. Drama A story that is written to be acted out for an audience.
Foil A character who is used to contrast another character Mr. Chunk and Mr. Slick are so bad that they make Little Tree look even more innocent and pure of heart. Foil A character who is used to contrast another character
A hint of bad things to come Foreshadowing A hint of bad things to come
Poetry with no rhythm and no rhyme Free Verse: Poetry with no rhythm and no rhyme
Hyperbole Extreme Exaggeration
Poetic Pattern that flows Weak Strong Iambic: I will not eat green eggs and Ham I will not will not sam I am. I will not eat them in a box I will not eat them with a fox I will not eat them Here Nor There I will not eat them anywhere.
Words that appeal to the five senses Imagery Words that appeal to the five senses
When audience knows something the character does not Dramatic Irony When audience knows something the character does not
When what is expected does not happen Situational Irony When what is expected does not happen
When the speaker says the opposite of what he really means. Verbal Irony When the speaker says the opposite of what he really means.
Comparison of two unlike things Metaphor Comparison of two unlike things
The rhythm or beat of a line of poetry Meter The rhythm or beat of a line of poetry
Rather long speech in which a character thinks outloud Monologue Rather long speech in which a character thinks outloud
Statement that seems to be a contradiction but actually reveals the truth Oxymoron
Pentameter: Literally Translated: 5 Meters or Sets Rhythm with 5 Stressed Syllables per line
When a non-human thing is described as if it were human. Personification When a non-human thing is described as if it were human.
Rhetoric Art of Persuasion –Used to draw out an intended emotion from the audience.
Pun: “Watch out that you don’t loose track of time” Play on the meanings of words or on two words that sound alike but have different meanings. Pun: “Watch out that you don’t loose track of time”
Small unit of a play with the same locale or time Scene Small unit of a play with the same locale or time
Simile A direct comparison of two unlike things always using the words “like” or “as”
Soliloquy A long speech by a character that other characters can hear but the speaker does not expect a reply.
Tragedy A play or other narrative that depicts serious events that come to an unhappy end.