1. Literary Terms used in Plays
DRAMA TERMS
Literary Terms used in Plays

2. The Main Division of a Play.
ACT
The Main Division of a Play.

3. Alliteration: Repetition of the same initial sounds in words
Ba-Ba Black Sheep
Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers

4. Allusion
Refering to a well known person or place: Usually from the Bible, Mythology or History.

5. Historical Inaccuracy
Anachronism
Historical Inaccuracy

6. Aside
Words spoken to the audience but not intended to be heard by others on the stage

7. Atmosphere: Tone or Mood Established
Creepy
Dreary
Happy
Hopeful

8. Poetry with rhythm but no rhyme.
Blank Verse Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel,-- Will they not hear? What, ho! you men, you beasts, That quench the fire of your pernicious rage
Poetry with rhythm but no rhyme.

9. Drama that begins with mix-ups but ends with problems all solved for the best.
Comedy

10. Conversation between two or more characters.
Dialog
Conversation between two or more characters.

11. A story that is written to be acted out for an audience.
Drama
A story that is written to be acted out for an audience.

12. Foil A character who is used to contrast another character
Mr. Chunk and Mr. Slick are so bad that they make Little Tree look even more innocent and pure of heart.
Foil A character who is used to contrast another character

13. A hint of bad things to come
Foreshadowing
A hint of bad things to come

14. Poetry with no rhythm and no rhyme
Free Verse:
Poetry with no rhythm and no rhyme

15. Hyperbole
Extreme Exaggeration

16. Poetic Pattern that flows Weak Strong
Iambic: I will not eat green eggs and Ham I will not will not sam I am. I will not eat them in a box I will not eat them with a fox I will not eat them Here Nor There I will not eat them anywhere.

17. Words that appeal to the five senses
Imagery
Words that appeal to the five senses

18. When audience knows something the character does not
Dramatic Irony
When audience knows something the character does not

19. When what is expected does not happen
Situational Irony
When what is expected does not happen

20. When the speaker says the opposite of what he really means.
Verbal Irony
When the speaker says the opposite of what he really means.

21. Comparison of two unlike things
Metaphor
Comparison of two unlike things

22. The rhythm or beat of a line of poetry
Meter
The rhythm or beat of a line of poetry

23. Rather long speech in which a character thinks outloud
Monologue
Rather long speech in which a character thinks outloud

24. Statement that seems to be a contradiction but actually reveals the truth
Oxymoron

25. Pentameter: Literally Translated: 5 Meters or Sets
Rhythm with 5 Stressed Syllables per line

26. When a non-human thing is described as if it were human.
Personification
When a non-human thing is described as if it were human.

27. Rhetoric
Art of Persuasion –Used to draw out an intended emotion from the audience.

28. Pun: “Watch out that you don’t loose track of time”
Play on the meanings of words or on two words that sound alike but have different meanings.
Pun: “Watch out that you don’t loose track of time”

29. Small unit of a play with the same locale or time
Scene
Small unit of a play with the same locale or time

30. Simile
A direct comparison of two unlike things always using the words “like” or “as”

31. Soliloquy
A long speech by a character that other characters can hear but the speaker does not expect a reply.

32. Tragedy
A play or other narrative that depicts serious events that come to an unhappy end.