Act
subdivision of a play
Aside
Lines whispered to the audience or to another character on stage (not meant to be heard by all the characters on stage)
Catharsis
the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.
Climax
Represents the turning point of a play.
Comic Relief
A bit of humor injected into a serious play to relieve the heavy tension of tragic events
Dialogue
Conversation between characters in a play
Falling action
All the events that occur after the climax until the hero's death
Foil
When two characters experience are placed in similar circumstances, but react to it in opposing manners
Hubris
A Greek word that means excessive pride
Introduction
Describes the mood and conditions existing at the beginning of hate play. The time and place are identified as well as the main characters circumstances and relationships with one another. Introduction is part of the rising action
Poetic Justice
The operation of justice in a play with fair distribution of rewards for good deeds and punishment for wrong doing
Resolution (restoration of order)
Comes at the end of the play. In Shakespeare's tragedies, the resolution includes restoration of order or a restoration of the great chain of being.
Rising action
The series of events that lead to the climax of the play comprise the rising action. These events provide a progressive intensity of interest for the reader/audience
Scene
A subdivision of an act in a play
Soliloquy
A speech in which a character is alone on stage thinking out loud. it is a way of letting the audience know what's happening in the actors mind.
Tragedy
a play dealing with tragic events and having an unhappy ending, especially one concerning the downfall of the main character.
Tragic Flaw
The essential human weakness that will ultimately cause the destruction of the tragic hero
Tragic Hero
The central or main character in a tragedy who will eventually be destroyed by his/her fatal flaw