Act
a major division in the action of the play, comprising one or more *scenes. A break between acts oftencoincides with a point at which the plot jumps ahead in time
Antagonist
the most prominent of the characters who oppose the *protagonist or hero(ine) in a dramatic ornarrative work. The antagonist is often a villain seeking to frustrate a heroine or hero; but in those works
Aside
a short speech or remark spoken by a character in a drama, directed either to the audience or to anothercharacter, which by *convention is supposed to be inaudible to the other characters on stage. See also soliloquy
Catastrophe
the final resolution or denouement of the plot in a tragedy, usually involving the death of the*protagonist
Catharsis
the effect of purgation or purification achieved by tragic drama
Character
any of the persons involved in a story (sense 1). (2) The distinguishing moral qualities andpersonal traits of a character (sense 2)
Flat character
a character (1) whose character (2) is summed up in one or two traits.
Round character
a character (1) whose character (2) is complex and many-sided
Stock character
A stereotyped character: one whose nature is familiar to us from prototypes in previousfiction.
Dynamic character
a character that is changed by the actions in which he or she is involved.
Static character
a character that remains unchanged or little changed throughout the course of the story.
Climax
the turning point or high point in a plot's action.
Comic Relief
the interruption of a serious work, especially a *tragedy, by a short humorous episode that relievesemotional tension.
Conflict
A clash of actions, desires, ideas, or goals in the plot of a story
Crisis
a decisive point in the plot of a play or story, upon which the outcome of the remaining action depends,and which ultimately precipitates the catastrophe or denouement.
Denouement
the portion of a plot that reveals the final outcome of its conflicts or the solution of its mysteries.
Deus ex machina
("god from the machine"). The resolution of a plot by use of a highly improbable chance,coincidence or artificial device that solves some difficult problem or crisis.
Epilogue
a concluding section of any written work during which the characters' subsequent fates are brieflyoutlined.
Exposition
the setting forth of a systematic explanation of or argument about any subject; or the openingpart of a play or story, in which we are introduced to the characters and their situation, often by referenceto preceding events
Falling Action
The segment of the plot that comes between the climax and the conclusion.
Foil
a character whose qualities or actions serve to emphasize those of the *protagonist (or of some othercharacter) by providing a strong contrast with them.
Hamartia
the Greek word for error or failure, used by Aristotle in his Poetics (4th century BC) to designatethe false step that leads the protagonist in a tragedy to his or her downfall. The term should not beconfused with 'tragic flaw' which is a defect in character. Hamartia is the action that the character takes.
Hero or Heroine
the main character in a narrative or dramatic work. The term protagonist is preferable sincethe leading character may not be morally or otherwise superior. When our expectations of heroic qualitiesare strikingly disappointed, the central character may be known as an anti-hero or anti-heroine.
Hubris
the Greek word for 'insolence' or 'affront', applied to the arrogance or pride of the *protagonist in a*tragedy in which he or she defies moral laws or the prohibitions of the gods. The protagonist's transgressionor *hamartia leads eventually to his or her downfall, which may be understood as divine retribution. Inproverbial terms, hubris is thus the pride that comes before a fall. Adjective:hubristic.
In medias res
in the middle of things"; the technique of beginning a story in the middle of the action.
Monologue
an extended speech uttered by one speaker, either to others or as if alone. See also soliloquy.
Narrator
the teller of a story. See also point of view.
Reliable narrator
trustworthy
Unreliable narrator
untrustworthy
Naïve narrator
is uncomprehending (child, simple-minded adult) who narrates the story without realizing its true implications.
Intrusive narrator
keeps interrupting the narrative to address the reader
Plot
The careful arrangement by an author of incidents in a narrative to achieve a desired effect.
Prologue
an introductory section of a literary work or an introductory speech in a play.
Protagonist
The central character in a story.
Rising Action
The part of a plot that leads through a series of events of increasing interest and power to theclimax or turning point. The rising action begins with an inciting moment, an action or event that sets aconflict of opposing forces into motion, and moves through complication(s), an entangling of the affairs ofthe characters in a conflict, toward the climax, the major crisis that brings about a change in the fortunes ofthe protagonist.
Scene
a subdivision of an act or of a play not divided into acts. A scene normally represents actions happeningin one place at one time, and is marked off from the next scene by a curtain, a black-out, or a brief emptyingof the stage.
Setting
a dramatic speech uttered by one character speaking aloud while alone on stage, or while under theimpression of being alone. The soliloquist thus reveals his or her inner thoughts and feelings to the audience,either in supposed self-communion or in a consciously direct address.
Stage directions
the information provided in addition to the dialogue to help a reader visualize the setting, characters, andaction. Usually in italics, are intended for the director, actors, etc.
Tragedy
a type of drama in which the protagonist, a person of unusual moral or intellectual stature or outstandingabilities, suffers a fall in fortune due to some error of judgment or flaw in his or her nature.
Tragic Flaw
the defect of character that brings about the protagonist's downfall in a *tragedy.
Turning Point
the point in the plot where the protagonist's situation changes for the better or the worse; after this theaction begins its movement toward a final resolution.
Villain
the principal evil character in a play or story. The villain is usually the antagonist opposed to theprotagonist, but in some cases may be the protagonist himself/herself.