Drama Vocabulary A Drama IS a Story Conceit

Drama Vocabulary

A Drama IS a Story

Conceit an extended metaphor with a complex logic that governs a poetic passage or entire poem. Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? by William Shakespeare Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate. Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer's lease hath all too short a date.

soliloquy a speech delivered by a character talking to him/herself used to disclose a character’s innermost feeling to provide information needed by the audience or reader.

allegory a figurative mode of representation conveying a meaning other than the literal. represents

foil a secondary character who contrasts with a major character Dark Average Honorable Light Sophisticated Dishonorable

aside a dramatic device in which a character speaks to the audience. secrets Hard to portray clarification

motive The character’s reason for doing something. Why do people steal? Why do people kill? Why do people get married?

flashback When an earlier event is inserted into the normal chronological order of a narrative.

Irony a method of expression in which the ordinary meaning of the word is opposite to the speaker's mind; events contrary to what would be naturally expected

PERSONIFICATION A nonhuman thing given human qualities.

Allusion comes from the verb “allude” which means “to refer to” An allusion is a reference to something famous. Little Johnny told his parents a cheesy story about why he was home so long after curfew. His mother finally stopped him and asked, “Are you crying wolf? ”

IMAGERY Language that appeals to the senses. Most images are visual, but they can also appeal to the senses of sound, touch, taste, or smell. The sweet taste of Ambrosia, the roses perfuming the air, never again would there be a time so fair.

Hyperbole Exaggeration often used for emphasis. "I nearly died laughing" "I was hopping mad“ "I tried a thousand times“

ALLITERATION Consonant sounds repeated at the beginnings of words If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, how many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?

SYMBOLISM When a person, place, thing, or event that has meaning in itself also represents, or stands for, something else. = Innocence = America = Peace

Dialogue A conversation

protagonist The good guy

antagonist The bad guy