Shakespearean Dramatic Terms

Tragedy A serious drama typically describing a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force (destiny) and having a sorrowful or disastrous conclusion that exacts pity or fear.

has knowledge of or understands something that the characters do not. Dramatic Irony When the audience has knowledge of or understands something that the characters do not.

SOLILOQUY Speech delivered by a character alone on stage to allow people to know what is going on in his mind. C:\Documents and Settings\dempsey.brian.WHRSD.002\Desktop\To be or not to be.wmv

The long speech whose real purpose is to give information to the audience.

Aside A speech or remark addressed to the audience by one of the actors; presumably this remark is unheard by the others on stage.

Dramatic Foil a character that contrasts with another character, usually the protagonist and, in so doing, highlights various facets of the main character's personality

Prophecy Foretelling of the future

Pun A play on words

Paradox a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true Ex. When you increase your knowledge, you see how little you know. You see how much you still have to learn. When you really know a lot, you can say: "I know that I know nothing." This is a paradox.

Reversal The point at which the complication culminates in the plot; the protagonist’s fortune changes from good to bad (tragedy), or from bad to good (comedy).

The Great Chain of Being In theory, there are but two classes of people: Nobles and Commoners. In practice, there are a huge number or gradations of both classes. These gradations are thought of as parts of a Great Chain of Being, which extends from God down to the lowest forms of life, and even to the trees and stones of the earth. This Great Chain, first described by St. Thomas Aquinas, is what holds the world together. The Great Chain is as follows:

God Angels Kings/Queens Archbishops Dukes/Duchesses Bishops Earls/Countesses Barons/Baronesses Abbots/Deacons Knights/Local Officials Ladies-in-Waiting Priests/Monks Squires Merchants/Shopkeepers Household Servants Beggars Actors Thieves/Pirates Gypsies Animals Birds Worms Plants Rocks