DRAMA Literary Terms

Character types round: many different traits (faults & virtues) flat: only one trait static: does not change dynamic: develops and grows during story foil: character who provides contrast for another character

Characterization Creating and developing a character direct: author directly states character’s traits indirect: author tells what a character: -looks like, does, and says, and -how other characters react to him reader must draw conclusions about character based on indirect info

Classical allusion: reference to well-known Greek or Roman person, place, event, literary work, or work of art

Conflict Struggle between opposing forces Characters in conflict: basis of stories, novels, plays External: main character struggles against outside force, e.g. family prejudices that R&J struggle against (they are in conflict with society) Internal: character in conflict with self

Couplet Pair of rhyming lines OR a two-line stanza Usually of same length and meter For thy sweet love remember’d such wealth brings That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

Diction Word choice Vocab used, appropriateness of words, vividness of language May be formal OR informal and conversational

Drama Story written to be performed by actors Script is made up of dialogue AND stage directions

Dialogue Conversation between characters Words the actors say Reveals character and advances action Drama depends entirely on dialogue & actions Quotation marks not used in scripts Dialogue follows name of speaker

Monologue: Speech by one character in a play Prince of Verona commands Capulets and Montagues to cease feuding Soliloquy: long speech expressing thoughts of character alone on stage Romeo gives one after servant flees and Paris dies

Aside Short speech delivered by actor in a play Traditionally directed to audience Presumed to be inaudible to other actors

Stage Directions Notes in a drama that describe how a work is to be performed or staged Printed in italics and not spoken aloud Describe sets, lighting, sound effects Describe appearance, personalities, & movements of characters

Dramatic structure Dramas are divided into large units called acts Acts are divided into smaller units called scenes Long play may include many sets that change with scenes OR may indicate scene change with lighting

Figurative language Writing or speech not to be interpreted literally Creates vivid impressions by comparing dissimilar things Metaphors, similes, personifications

Imagery Descriptive or figurative language Creates word pictures for reader Pictures, or images, created by details of senses Sight, sound, taste, touch, smell, & movement

Irony Literary techniques that portray differences between: appearance and reality expectation and result Verbal: words suggest opposite of what is meant Situational: event contradicts expectations of characters, reader, or audience

Dramatic irony Dramatic: contradiction between what character thinks and what reader/audience knows to be true Short definition: Audience knows, character doesn’t.

Meter Rhythmical pattern of a poem Determined by number & types of stresses (beats) in each line Scan lines to describe meter of a poem (mark stressed & unstressed syllables) Stressed & unstressed syllables are divided into groups called feet

Iambs and Iambic Iamb: a foot (group) with one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable e.g. again = a gain’ Iambic or iambic verse: most common metrical verse in English line of poetry containing iamb-type feet (groups)

Iambic Pentameter most important form of iambic verse verse written in five-foot lines (10 syllables) each of five groups contains one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable

Iambic pentameter Rhymed e.g.: For thy’ / sweet love’ / remem’ / bered such’ / wealth brings’ That then’ / I scorn’ / to change’ / my state’ / with kings’. Unrhymed e.g.: (blank verse, widely used by Shakespeare) I wan’ / dered lone’ / ly as’ / a cloud’ That floats’ / on high’ / over vales’ / and hills’.

Mood Atmosphere, feeling created in reader Suggested by descriptive details Described in single word e.g. lighthearted, frightening, despairing

Tone Writer’s attitude toward audience & subject Described by single adjective e.g. formal or informal serious or playful bitter or ironic

Plot Sequence of events in literary work Involves both characters & central conflict Exposition: introduces characters, setting, & basic situation Inciting incident: introduces central conflict Rising action: all events leading up to climax

Plot, cont. Development: conflict increases Climax: high point of interest or suspense Falling action: follows climax Denouement: resolution, general insight or change occurs

Pun Play on words with identical sounds (homonyms) or similar sounds Mercutio, bleeding to death: “Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man.”

Shakespearean comedy Play that has happy ending Often ordinary characters in conflict with society Conflicts resolved through misunderstandings, deceptions, & concealed identities Results: correction of moral faults or social wrongs

Shakespearean tragedy Play that results in catastrophe for main character Protagonist meets unfortunate end, e.g. Romeo and Juliet

Tragedy Tragic flaw: weakness in main character, e.g. Romeo & Juliet’s impulsiveness Tragic hero: main character of a tragedy in ancient Greek drama: significant person (king or hero) in modern drama: may be ordinary person

Symbol Anything that stands for/ represents something else Object that serves as symbol a) has its own meaning b) also represents abstract idea Conventional: everyone recognizes the symbol Personal: writer creates symbol through emphasis or repetition

Theme Central message or insight into life revealed through literary work May be a) stated directly b) implied (reader must think about what work suggests)

Universal theme Message about life understood by most cultures Folk tales and classic literature e.g. importance of courage effects of honesty danger of greed