Drama and Literary Terms Quiz

What is hubris?

• Kindness and humility.

• Excessive pride that leads to a character’s downfall.

• A moment of joy in a play.

• An unexpected twist.

What is the term for when the audience knows something the characters do not?

• Soliloquy.

• Dramatic irony.

• Catharsis.

• Pathos.

What does catharsis mean in drama?

• The introduction of a play.

• A humorous interlude.

• The purging of emotions in the audience.

• The downfall of the hero.

What is a coup de théâtre?

• A simple, predictable ending.

• A speech to the audience.

• A sudden, shocking turn of events.

• The hero’s tragic flaw.

What is expressionism in drama?

• A realistic depiction of everyday life.

• A style reflecting inner emotions through distorted reality.

• The use of historical settings.

• A focus on stage lighting.

What is pathos?

• A symbol of strength.

• A quality that evokes pity or sadness.

• A heroic act.

• A comic element.

What is a leitmotif?

• The moral of the story.

• A recurring theme or element.

• A musical finale.

• The main antagonist.

What is the purpose of an epigraph?

• To end a play.

• To hint at a work’s meaning using a quotation.

• To reveal a secret.

• To describe the setting.

What does melodrama typically feature?

• Subtle emotions and ambiguous morals.

• Sensational plots and clear heroes/villains.

• Experimental staging.

• Historical accuracy.

What does symbolism involve?

• Clear and literal storytelling.

• Random use of objects.

• Using objects or words to represent deeper meanings.

• Strict realism.