Shakespearean Drama Vocabulary and Terms

Shakespeare’s Plays 3 categories Tragedy: a play that traces the main character’s downfall Ex: Comedy: a play that ends happily and usually contains many humorous elements History: a play that chronicles the life of an English monarch

Tragedy and the Tragic Hero Shakespeare’s tragedies are often called his “greatest plays.” Every tragedy contains a “tragic hero” Tragic hero: a main character who goes through a series of events that lead to his/her downfall

Qualities of a Tragic Hero Possesses importance or high rank Exhibits extraordinary talents Displays a tragic flaw—an error in judgment or defect in character—that leads to downfall Faces downfall with courage and dignity

Soliloquy and Aside Shakespeare uses soliloquies and asides even though these are not things that are used in real life. Soliloquy: a long speech given by a character while alone on stage to reveal his or her private thoughts or intentions. (monologue) Aside: a character’s quiet remark to the audience or another character that no one else on stage is supposed to hear. A stage direction (often in brackets) indicates an aside

Aside Example Trebonius: Caesar, I will. [Aside] And so near will I be That your best friends shall wish I had been further. The audience is meant to hear the aside, but not Caesar. What does the aside suggest?

Dramatic Irony Irony: the contrast between appearance and reality Dramatic Irony: when the reader or audience knows something that one or more of the characters do not know. EX: In Romeo and Juliet when we know Juliet is married to Romeo, but her parents do not. Other examples in R and J?

Verbal Irony Verbal irony = when you say one thing and mean another (sarcasm is a type of verbal irony generally associated with a tone of voice) Example = When Ms. Blea says she’s happy to see your enthusiasm when you are yawning

Situational Irony Situational irony = When the unexpected happens Example – A fire station catches on fire Last slide