Shakespearean Drama Vocabulary and Terms

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

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 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