In Medias Res A story which starts in

In Medias Res A story which starts in the middle and then a character tells the first part of the story or has flashbacks which show the earlier part of the story Example: Heart of Darkness Lost

Memory Play • Term coined by Tennessee Williams where the audience experiences the events as remembered by the narrator • Example: The Glass Menagerie

Theatre of the Absurd • Term used to describe plays in which the world doesn’t make sense. • Based on the philosophy of Albert Camus, who said that the human condition was meaningless. • Most of these plays were written in Europe in the 1950 s and 1960 s • Example: Waiting for Godot

Transcendentalism • Philosophy characterized by: • Belief that human nature is basically good • Nature reveals moral law • Humanity has a defining spirit Two main authors associated with transcendentalism: Ralph Waldo Emerson Henry David Thoreau

1 st Person Point of View • Point of view where a character in the story tells the story • Uses “I” and “me” rather than a character’s name • Example: My Dog Skip

Aside • A short comment made by a character in a play to the audience which the other characters do not hear. • Example from Romeo and Juliet: Balcony scene: ROMEO [Aside. ]: Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this? JULIET: 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy. Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.

Deus ex Machina • Literally means, “god from the machine. ” • Any extraordinary event that occurs in a story’s plot which ties up loose ends • Homer said that a playwright shouldn’t rely on a god from the machine • Considered an inferior devicea cheap trick to wrap things up neatly • Example: War of the Worlds, where invading Martians are wiped out by bacteria

Sage • Seeker after truth • Teacher or mentor • Example: Star Wars- Obi Wan Kenobi or Wilson on Home Improvement