Literary Terms

Elements of Drama

ACT-is a division in the action of a play often further divided into scenes. 

SCENE-is a subdivision of an act into a play: a small unit of action and time in the development of a play.

EXPOSITION- is the explanation, often necessary at the beginning of a narrative of events leading up to the start of the narrative.

CONFLICT-is the problem or struggle on which the story is based.

COMPLICATION-is the series of difficulties forming the central action in a narrative.

CLIMAX-is the highest point of the narrative, and all action builds towards it.

DENOUEMENT-is the solution or the unraveling of the plot in a play or story.

PERIPETEIA-is the sudden reversal of fortune in a story, play or any narrative in which there is an observable change in direction.

CHARACTERIZATION-is the process of depicting characters and personality in a narrative, so that the characters feel real.

PROTAGONIST -is the main character in which the events of the plot revolve.

 ANTAGONIST-is a character, group of characters or institution which opposes the protagonist.

MAIN PLOT-is a major event in a narrative/drama usually surrounding the protagonist and antagonist.

SUBPLOT-is a supporting side story in a drama/narrative that often concerns the supporting characters. There is connection to the Main Plot such as time, setting, or thematic significance.

FORMS OF DRAMA

COMEDY- is a type of drama in which the characters experience changes of fortune, usually for the better. 

HISTORY-is a play which is based on historical events.

TRAGEDY-is a series of unlucky events by which one or more of the characters in the story experience several misfortunes, which finally turns into a disaster of ‘epic proportions’.

ROMANCE

TRAGI-COMEDY- is  a mixture of the genres tragedy and comedy where there is a serious film, play or TV show written with a happy ending or with enough jokes throughout to lighten the mood.

THEATER OF THE ABSURD- is a form of drama which highlights the absurdity of the human existence through jumbled dialogues and plots that does not have logical developments.

SATIRE- is a form of comedy that relies on wit and irony to offer social review through imitation and ridicule of its subject.

FARCE-is a comedic film, play or TV show which aims to entertain audiences through astonishing situations.

MODERN DRAMA-is expressed lustily and clearly so that the parties multiply and can clear struggle and amends so that the modern society comprehends.

MELODRAMA-is a drama that exaggerates plot and characters to appeal to the emotion.

FEATURES OF DRAMA

MONOLOGUE- is a discussion or a lecture being done by a single character without another character's feedback.

DIALOGUE-is the conversation of characters in a literary work.

SOLILOQUY-is a lecture in a play in which the audience are the only ones who could hear it, and not the other characters on the stage.

ASIDE- this is words spoken by an actor directly to the audience, which are not "heard" by the other characters on stage during a play.

SET-is the design, decoration, and scenery of the stage during a play, usually meant to represent the location(s) in the drama.

STAGE DIRECTION-is a  playwright's descriptive or interpretive comments that provide readers and actors with information about the dialogue, setting, and action of a play.

STAGE CONVENTIONS-deals with the creating works tied to the story and how those ties affect the audience's response.

CHORUS-is a group of characters in Greek tragedy and in later forms of drama, who comment on the action of a play without taking part in it.

DRAMTIC UNITIES- are rules that were originated from Aristotle that require a dramatic work to be unified in terms of its time, place, and action.

DISGUISE-is to change the appearance of one’s self in which one's identity is hidden as by means of deception.

LITERARY DEVICES

IMAGERY-is the figurative language that present from words.

MOTIF-is any part, subject, idea or concept that is constantly present through the entire body of literature.

SYMBOLISM-is using an object or action that means something more than its literal meaning.

DRAMATIC IRONY-is when facts are not known to the characters in a work of literature but are known by the audience.

TRAGIC IRONY- is the use of dramatic irony in a tragedy, so that the audience knows that a character's words or actions will bring about a tragic or fatal result, while the character himself is not.

JUXTAPOSITION- is when the author places a person, concept, place, idea or theme parallel to another.

LITERARY CONTEXT

SOCIAL-is the culture that individuals was well-informed or lives in, and the people and institutions with whom the person interacts.

HISTORICAL-this shows the point in which something takes place or was created and how beneficial it is and how it is interpreted. 

POLITICAL-this displays the environment in which something is created produced indicating its purpose or agenda

RELIGIOUS-this shows one's belief and what a person believes in.

ETHNIC-this reflects the attributes of persons or a group, that has one common interest and distinctive culture, religion or language.

MORAL- this sets the quality of the principled or thoughtful tone of the story.

INTELLECTUAL-is the rational procedure, educational background and performance of an individual or individuals.

CULTURAL-is the dominant principles and morals of the main characters in the book/story.