Drama and Literary Terms

conflict

• A problem or issue involving a character's struggle against another character.

• A peaceful resolution to a disagreement.

• A situation where a character finds harmony with their environment.

• A type of friendship between characters.

situational irony

• When the outcome is exactly as expected.

• When the outcome is the direct opposite to that which was built up and expected.

• When the outcome is surprising but not opposite to expectations.

• When the outcome is predictable based on the situation.

script

• The written text of a play, movie, or broadcast.

• A type of computer program.

• A handwritten document.

• A set of instructions for a game.

foreshadowing

• A literary device used to hint at events yet to come & to keep the readers guessing.

• A technique used to create suspense by revealing the ending at the beginning.

• A method of character development through dialogue and action.

• A narrative style that focuses on the inner thoughts of characters.

theme

• The main character's journey throughout the story.

• The author's message, often depicted by what the protagonist learns by the end of the story.

• The setting and time period in which the story takes place.

• The conflict between the protagonist and antagonist.

narrator

• Someone who tells the story and determines the POV in which the story is told.

• A character who only appears in the climax of the story.

• The main character who experiences the story's events.

• A person who reads the story aloud to an audience.

inference

• Using observation and background knowledge to draw a logical conclusion.

• Making a guess without any evidence.

• A type of logical fallacy in reasoning.

• A method of collecting data through surveys.

act

• A main part of a play/drama.

• A type of musical performance.

• A legal document.

• A scene in a movie.

scenes

• A segment/part of a drama or play (usually in the same setting or with a continuous set of actions).

• A type of character in a play that provides comic relief.

• A location where the actors perform their lines.

• A collection of dialogues between two characters.

Props

• Any moveable object used in a performance that isn't part of the set or worn by an actor.

• A type of costume worn by actors during a performance.

• A fixed structure that forms part of the stage design.

• A lighting effect used to enhance the performance.