Terms for Drama English I

act subdivision of a play Example: Act I Act II Act III Act IV Act V

scene further subdivision of an act (acts are made up of scenes) Example: scene i, scene ii, scene iii, scene iv Act I, scene i Act I, scene ii

dialogue conversation of the characters in the play

comedy a play that ends happily

tragedy a play that ends unhappily

protagonist the hero or leading character with whom the audience sympathizes

antagonist the character who opposes or competes with the protagonist

theme important central idea or message about life presented through the play The message = Theme

plot the chain of events that make up the play

soliloquy a character’s speech, alone on stage, that expresses his or her thoughts and feelings to the audience (SOLO – ALONE …thinking aloud)

monologue a long speech given by ONE character in a play, story or poem (directed to other characters)

aside a remark made by one character to another, or to the audience; unheard by other characters

dramatic foil a character whose personality traits contrast with and highlight those of another character in a play (opposite characters in a scene/play together)

dramatic irony a contradiction between what a character thinks or says and what the audience knows to be true.

character flaw a character’s personality trait that contributes to his or her downfall (weakness)

blank verse poetry written unrhymed iambic pentameter (one stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable)