Drama Terminology for Hamlet

when a character is alone on stage and tells us how they feel or what they are thinking

• aside

• soliloquy

• tragedy

• allusion

a reference to another piece of literature or a current or historical event

• allusion

• aside

• dramatic irony

• simile

the villain or bad guy

• protagonist

• tragic hero

• antagonist

when a character is not alone on stage, but the others can't hear what is being said. Usually the character is making a remark about another character

• verbal irony

• aside

• dramatic irony

• soliloquy

characters who are opposite in actions and thoughts from one another

• antagonist

• situational irony

• protagonist

• foil

saying one thing but meaning another

• verbal irony

• dramatic irony

• tragic irony

• situational irony

main character and good guy

• tragic hero/antagonist

• foil

• tragic hero/protagonist

when an author uses a humorous scene to prepare you for something bad that's coming, or to help you overcome something bad that has just happened

• dramatic irony

• allusion

• comic relief

when the audience knows something the characters don't know

• situational irony

• dramatic irony

• verbal irony

the protagonist in a tragedy

• tragic hero

• antagonist

• comic relief

• allusion