Drama literary terms

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Brechtean Drama
A drama designed to confront its audience directly through devices, like the alienation effect, to put forward a political point of view
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Farce
A comedy featuring exaggerated situations and physical humour, usually based around the attempt to preserve respectability.
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Catharsis
An emotional release engendered by an intense experience.
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Hamartia
A fatal moral flaw in a protagonist of a tragedy.
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Hubris
Used to designate overweening pride in a protagonist of a tragedy
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Alienation effect (Verfremdungseffekt)
The use of devices that disrupt the illusion of realistic theatre, such as the cast speaking or singing directly to the audience
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Aside
A remark to the audience which other characters on stage do not hear. In effect a device used to make a character’s inner feelings evident.
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Soliloquy
A solo speech by a character, usually taking place when s/he is alone on stage. Like an aside, it is a way of allowing a character’s thoughts to be overheard.
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Antithesis
A figure of speech in which the writer brings two opposite or contrasting ideas up against each other
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Apostrophe
When a character suddenly speaks directly to someone or something, which may or may not be present.
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Dramatic Irony
A situation in a play when the audience knows something that one or more of the characters does not.
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Epilogue
A speech at the end of the play summing it up and commenting on it; also the character who delivers such a speech
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Irony
When someone says one thing and means another.
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Pun
A figure of speech in which the writer uses a word that has more than one meaning.
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Satire
The use of irony, sarcasm and ridicule in exposing folly.
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Reversal (peripeteia)
The sudden reversal of fortune in a story, play, or any narrative in which there is an observable change in direction.
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Paradox
A statement that seems contradictory or absurd but is actually valid or true.
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Epigram
Any witty, ingenious or pointed saying tersely expressed.
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Bathos (anticlimax)
A ludicrous descent from the exalted or lofty to the commonplace
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Melodrama
A dramatic work in which the plot, which is typically sensational and designed to appeal strongly to the emotions, takes precedence over detailed characterisation.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

A comedy featuring exaggerated situations and physical humour, usually based around the attempt to preserve respectability.

Back

Farce

Card 3

Front

An emotional release engendered by an intense experience.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

A fatal moral flaw in a protagonist of a tragedy.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Used to designate overweening pride in a protagonist of a tragedy

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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