Drama Terms The Crucible

Drama Terms Soliloquy—a dramatic speech, revealing inner thoughts and feelings, spoken aloud by one character while alone on the stage. (Similar to dramatic monologue) Foil—a character whose traits are in direct contrast to those of the principal character. The foil, therefore, highlights the traits of the protagonist.

Drama Terms Stage Directions—A playwright’s written instructions provided in the text of a play about the setting or how the actors are to move and behave in a play. Aside—speech or comment made by an actor directly to the audience about the action of the play or another character. The comment is unnoticed by others in the play.

Plot Elements Climax The most intense or exciting event in the story because the character deals with the main conflict. It may also be the turning point of the story. Rising Action Includes details about what the character does to solve his or her problem. Smaller problems or obstacles may occur here. Falling Action Everything that occurs because of the climax. The characters respond to whatever happens in the climax. Leads to the conclusion of the story. Resolution Explains how the conflict is resolved and what happens to the characters. Exposition Tells the reader any important info before the action starts. Introduces characters, the setting, and the beginning of the plot. Denouement Ties up the loose ends of the story, explains what happens to the characters after the story, etc. Not all stories will have a denouement. Inciting Incident Introduces the basic conflict of the story.

Types of Irony--Situational Occurs when a reader or character expects one thing to happen, but something entirely different happens. Writers use situational irony to make their stories interesting or humorous and sometimes to force their readers to think about their own thoughts and values. Explain why a lawful police officer failing to catch a lawless thief would be situational irony. It is unexpected because good is supposed to conquer evil. The police officer should be able to catch the thief because he is smart and good whereas the thief is foolish and rotten.

Types of Irony--Dramatic The contrast between what a character thinks to be true and what the readers know to be true. It occurs when the meaning intended by a character’s words or actions is opposite of the true situation. The character cannot see or understand the contrast, but the reader/audience can. Othello continually calls his friend Honest Iago, even though the audience knows “Honest” Iago is lying straight to Othello’s face that his wife is cheating on him. What other examples can you come up with? Scary movies? You know the killer is in the room, but the damsel in distress thinks she’s safe in her own house! Yikes!

Types of Irony--Verbal When someone says one thing but means something different. Similar to sarcasm, something no teenager understands. If you ask your friend how the language test was, and she replies with an eye-roll, “Oh, it was so much fun!” you know her intended meaning is the exact opposite of what she said. The test was going to be a killer!

Types of Irony--Historical Irony throughout history. It is most easily identified when we compare the way historical figures saw the world and the way we see it today. During most of the 1920s, The New York Times criticized crossword puzzles as “utterly futile” and said they were a craze that was fading fast. Today, The New York Times’ crossword puzzle is one of its most popular features.