Key Dramatic Terms

Study Notes

Key Dramatic Terms

Act: A major division of a play.
Action: A play consists of a series of actions.
Allegory: A story with a hidden meaning beneath the literal one.
Anagnorisis: A character's recognition or discovery, often in a tragedy. For example, a hero realizing the reason for their downfall.
Catharsis: Aristotle's term for the release of emotions like pity and fear experienced during a tragedy.
Chorus: A group of singers, dancers, or actors who comment on the events in a play.
Climax: The peak point of conflict in a play, often the moment of greatest tension in the plot.
Comedy: A type of drama that aims to entertain and ends with a happy resolution.
Conflict: A struggle between a character and an obstacle or between internal forces, such as conflicting desires.
Crisis: A crucial moment of heightened conflict that leads to the turning point in the plot.
Dénouement: The resolution or outcome of the plot, often referred to as the "unknotting."
Event: Anything that happens in a play. When one event triggers another, they together form an action.
Exposition: Introductory material that introduces the characters, setting, and situation.
Gesture: A physical movement, especially in a play, used to emphasize character feelings or intentions.
Hamartia: A flaw in the tragic hero, or an error made by them that contributes to their downfall.
Logic: The science of reasoning.
Melodrama: A play with a sensational plot that uses exaggerated emotions to draw the audience in.
Mime: Using body movement and facial expressions to communicate meaning without words.
Motivation: The driving force behind a character's actions, what they desire or want to achieve.
Obstacle: A hindrance that prevents a character from achieving their goals.
Personification: Using a human character to represent an abstract idea or concept.
Plot: The sequence of events in a narrative or dramatic work.
Protagonist: The main character in any literary work, often referred to as the hero or heroine.