Drama Literary Terms

a comparison between two unrelated things; does not use the words ‘like’ or ‘as’

the solution, clarification, and/or unraveling of the plot of a play

a figure of speech and type of metaphor that compares two different things using the words “like” or “as.”

a character who contrasts with another character; typically, a character who contrasts with the protagonist

a long speech made by one actor; a monologue may be delivered alone or in the presence of others.

a speech which introduces a play.

an indication beforehand of something that is about to happen.

a rhythm structure that combines unstressed syllables and stressed syllables in groups of five.

a major unit or division of a play.

when a character addresses the audience directly; other characters are not meant to hear this speech

the ordinary language people use in speaking or writing.

poetry written in unrhymed but metered lines, almost always iambic pentameter.

in Greek drama, the group of performers who sang/danced between episodes, narrated off-stage action, comments on events

a literary device that uses vivid description that appeals to readers' senses to create an image or idea in their head

The basic lesson or underlying meaning the reader should understand from reading a text

the defect in the tragic hero that leads to his or her fall.

the attribution of human qualities to inanimate objects or abstract concepts.

the final action that completes the unraveling of the plot in a play, especially in a tragedy.

When the audience knows something that a character does not know

in Greek theater, branch of drama that portrays terrible events encountered or caused by a heroic individual.

two lines of the same length that rhyme and complete one thought.

a small section or portion of a play.

A form of wordplay where a writer uses words with multiple meanings to make a joke.

a speech in which an actor, usually alone on stage, speaks the inner thoughts of his/her character aloud.