Drama Unit Terms

A major division of the action of drama; most modern plays have three of these. Classical plays of the Greeks, Romans, and those of Shakespeare have five of these.

• act

• aside

• monologue

• scene

When an actor speaks directly to the audience so other characters cannot hear.

• stage directions

• aside

• dialogue

• soliloquy

A reference to a classical story, religion, work of art, song, or poem.

• allusions

• foil

• irony

• dialogue

One of the three main genres in Western theatre, intended to make an audience laugh.

• comedy

• tragedy

• history

When two characters are speaking.

• dialogue

• monologue

• stage directions

• aside

When the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.

• dramatic irony

• situational irony

• verbal irony

• foil

Characters whose qualities are in contrasts to the main protagonist.

• foil

• protagonist

• tragic hero

• antagonist

One of the three main genres in Western theatre, set in the past.

• history

• tragedy

• comedy

Use of words to express something different from or often opposite to their literal meaning.

• irony

• soliloquy

• tragedy

• dialogue

Actor speaks thoughts to another "invisible" character that is not on stage.

• monologue

• dialogue

• scene

• foil