Shakespearean Drama Vocabulary and Terms Shakespeares Plays 3

Shakespearean Drama Vocabulary and Terms

Shakespeare’s Plays Ø 3 categories l l l Tragedy: a play that traces the main character’s downfall Ex: Comedy: a play that ends happily and usually contains many humorous elements Ex: History: a play that chronicles the life of an English monarch Ex:

Tragedy and the Tragic Hero Ø Shakespeare’s tragedies are often called his “greatest plays. ” Ø Every tragedy contains a “tragic hero” l Tragic hero: a main character who goes through a series of events that lead to his/her downfall

Qualities of a Tragic Hero Ø Possesses importance or high rank Ø Exhibits extraordinary talents Ø Displays a tragic flaw—an error in judgment or defect in character—that leads to downfall Ø Faces downfall with courage and dignity

Soliloquy and Aside Ø Shakespeare uses soliloquies and asides even though these are not things that are used in real life. Ø Soliloquy: a long speech given by a character while alone on stage to reveal his or her private thoughts or intentions. (monologue) Ø Aside: a character’s quiet remark to the audience or another character that no one else on stage is supposed to hear. A stage direction (often in brackets) indicates an aside

Aside Example Trebonius: Caesar, I will. [Aside] And so near will I be That your best friends shall wish I had been further. The audience is meant to hear the aside, but not Caesar. What does the aside suggest?

Dramatic Irony Ø Irony: the contrast between appearance and reality Ø Dramatic Irony: when the reader or audience knows something that one or more of the characters do not know. Ø EX: In Romeo and Juliet when we know Juliet is married to Romeo, but her parents do not. Ø Other examples in R and J?

Verbal Irony Ø Verbal irony = when you say one thing and mean another (sarcasm is a type of verbal irony generally associated with a tone of voice) Ø Example = When Ms. Blea says she’s happy to see your enthusiasm when you are yawning

Situational Irony Ø Situational irony = When the unexpected happens Ø Example – A fire station catches on fire Last slide