Dramatic Terms

a comparison of two unlike things over the course of a paragraph, stanza, or entire selection

a character who provides strong contrast to another

figure of speech in which opposite ideas are combined

typically a person of dignified or heroic stature who has a great downfall

the outcome is the opposite of what is expected

a play in which the main character suffers a downfall usually ending in death

a conversation that takes place between characters in literary work

a 14 line poem with a strict pattern of rhythm and rhyme scheme

hints or clues the author uses to prepare the reader/viewer for future events

a long speech or written expression of thoughts by a character in a literary work

a device which a character, alone on stage, reveals his or her thoughts and feelings aloud

a comment that a character makes directly to the audience which characters on stage do not hear

the character says one thing and means another

a joke that makes a play on words

fiction written to be performed by actors in front of an audience

an introductory section of a play, speech, or literary work

the audience knows something that the actors on stage do not

a character who functions as the narrator offering commentary on a play's plot and themes

instructions that describe the appearance and actions of characters, describe sets, props, etc.

poetic meter in which each line has ten syllables; unstressed syllable followed by a stressed