Drama Terms & Literary Terms

Prologue

• a long speech by one character, expressing his/her inner thoughts/feelings while alone on stage; provided for the audience only
• the introduction to a play; provides audience with background information; delivered by the chorus
• giving human qualities to nonhuman/nonliving things
• a character that experiences change/growth

Act

• character traits clearly spelled out by the author/playwright
• contradicting or opposing words; a paradox [oxy = sharp; moron = dull]
• major division of a play; like a chapter in a novel
• a story/play's outcome

Scene

• Description that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)
• a small unit within a play; no shift in time or place; an act often has multiple scenes
• an under-developed character; one the reader knows little about
• character traits clearly spelled out by the author/playwright

Monologue

• A comparison of unlike things using "like" or "as"
• giving human qualities to nonhuman/nonliving things
• a long speech by one character while others on stage listen
• an under-developed character; one the reader knows little about

Soliloquy

• occurs when a situation is unexpected or ironic
• a character that stays the same; one that does not experience change/growth
• a long speech by one character, expressing his/her inner thoughts/feelings while alone on stage; provided for the audience only
• contradicting or opposing words; a paradox [oxy = sharp; moron = dull]

Aside

• a word that mimics the sound it represents
• character or force that creates an obstacle for the protagonist
• plot events wherein conflict develops
• words spoken by a character to audience or another character but not meant to be heard by all on stage (spoken under one's breath, like an inside joke)

Direct characterization

• a long speech by one character while others on stage listen
• a word that mimics the sound it represents
• character traits clearly spelled out by the author/playwright
• background information introducing character, setting, plot, etc.

Indirect characterization

• a reference to a well-known character, person, place, event, text, etc.
• a word that mimics the sound it represents
• giving human qualities to nonhuman/nonliving things
• character traits implied by what a character says, does, etc. but never directly stated

Protagonist

• main character that drives the action of the story
• a long speech by one character, expressing his/her inner thoughts/feelings while alone on stage; provided for the audience only
• a small unit within a play; no shift in time or place; an act often has multiple scenes
• a fully developed character that the reader knows a lot about

Antagonist

• a character that experiences change/growth
• Description that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)
• words spoken by a character to audience or another character but not meant to be heard by all on stage (spoken under one's breath, like an inside joke)
• character or force that creates an obstacle for the protagonist