4. Who were the three great Greek writers of tragedies

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AH 13 Drama Terms

Question	Answer
1. Name the famous theater where Shakespeare performed and where many of his plays were first performed	Globe (Theater)
2. A play in which the audience completely surrounds the stage is called a theater in the what	Round
3. A person who writes plays is called a what	Playwright
4. Who were the three great Greek writers of tragedies	Euripides, Aeschylus, Sophocles
5. To wish an actor good luck, what are you supposed to say	Break a leg
6. An afternoon performance of a play is a	Matinee
7. What name is given to a play having a serious mood and ending in death or disaster	Tragedy
8. Name the movable stage upon which a medieval mystery play was presented. Today, it a name for an outdoor performance	Pageant
9. What two-word phrase refers to an occurrence in which virtue is rewarded, or evil is punished, in an unusual or unexpected way, such as in 'Oliver Twist' when the villainous Sikes accidentally hangs himself when trying to escape	Poetic justice
10. What term refers to a person or force in conflict with the main character of a story or play	Antagonist
11. What term refers to the main character of a story or play	Protagonist
12. A struggle or fight within a story or play is referred to by what literary term	Conflict
13. What literary term refers to a scene that breaks into the story or play to show an earlier part of the action	Flashback
14. What are clues called that hint at what will happen later in the story or play	Foreshadowing
15. What term beginning with “I” refers to an instance when the opposite of what is expected occurs	Irony
16. What term refers to the strong feeling that is created within a literary work or play	Mood or Atmosphere
17. A work's main idea is referred to by what term	Theme
18. What term is applied to a writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter	Tone
19. What eight-letter word beginning with S refers to a feeling of tension or anticipation created in a literary work or play	Suspense
20. What names were given to plays that stressed illogical or irrational aspects of experience Samuel Beckett and Eugene Ionesco have written such plays	Theater of the Absurd
21. What term coined by Aristotle refers to the release or purging of emotions while watching a tragedy	Catharsis
22. Name the Greek who is usually considered the first actor	Thespis
23. Name the classic medieval morality play	Everyman
24. Identify the Greek term that denotes excessive pride leading to the downfall of the hero in a tragic drama	Hubris
25. What term refers to the area of the stage in front of the curtain	Proscenium
26. Literally, "viewing-place”, what part of the Greek theater was where the audience sat	Theatron
27. What term refers to dialogue spoken by an actor while other actors are on stage but which is understood to be heard only by the audience	Aside
the quality of a room in respect to transmission of sound	acoustics
a major unit or division of a play	act
use of face, body, and voice to portray character	acting
the movement or development of the plot or story in a play; the sense of forward movement created by the sense of time and/or the physical and psychological motivations of characters	action
a performer who assumes the role of a character in a play, film, or television show; a female actor may also be called an actress	actor
to improvise lines that are not part of the written script; also refers to the improvised line	ad-lib
a dramatic work in which there is a one-to-one correspondence between the literal meaning and the underlying, or allegorical, meaning of the work	allegory
a type of stage with an oval or round structure with no roof and with tiers of seating rising from the center	amphitheater
the opponent or adversary of the hero or main character of a drama; one who opposes and actively competes with another character in a play, most often with the protagonist	Antagonist
a protagonist who does not have the heroic qualities of the traditional protagonist	antihero
the area between the front curtain and the edge of the stage	apron
Great Greek Comedy Writer	Aristophanes
dialogue spoken by an actor while other actors are on stage but which is understood to be heard only by the audience	Aside
the people who watch the performance; those for whom the performance is intended	audience
a tryout for a part in a drama; also, the act of trying out	audition
the part of the theater in which the audience sits; also called the house	auditorium
a flat surface the width of the stage, hung upstage of the acting area, upon which scenery is usually painted	backdrop
flats or drops behind scenery openings, such as doors and windows of the set, to mask the backstage area	Backing
the area behind or beyond the stage that includes dressing rooms and wings	backstage
a person who composed and recited heroic or epic poems; William Shakespeare is referred to as this	Bard
a long piece of wood or pipe from which scenery, lights, and curtains are suspended	batten
a one-room theater, without a proscenium arch; interior is painted black, including walls, floor, and ceiling, and any drapes are also black	black box
a lighting cue where all stage lights go off simultaneously	blackout
the path formed by the actor’s movement on stage, usually determined by the director with assistance from the actor and often written down in a script using commonly accepted theatrical symbols	blocking
an enclosed area, usually found in or adjoining the lobby of a theater, where tickets are sold; how well or poorly a production performs “at the box office” indicates a monetary measure of the success of ticket sales	box office
a set with three walls and a ceiling, leaving the fourth wall to be imagined by the actors The box set represents a real room with doors and windows that work	box set
traditional Japanese puppet theater	Bunraku
a form of low comedy that mocks a broad topic	burlesque
a show produced in a small space with limited seating, such as a restaurant or nightclub	cabaret
a second audition	callback
the group of people selected to portray characters in a drama	cast
coined by Aristotle to reflect the purging and cleansing of emotions from watching a tragedy	Catharsis
a narrow bridge above the house and the grid, near the ceiling, that provides access to stage scenery, rigging, and lighting units	catwalk
the area in the center or middle of the stage	center stage
the movement of actors and dancers to music in a play	choreography
a group of performers who sing, dance, or recite in unison; in Greek drama, the chorus was the group of performers who sang and danced between episodes, narrated off-stage action, and commented on events	chorus
the point of greatest intensity in a series or progression of events in a play, often forming the turning point of the plot and leading to some kind of resolution	climax
an audition in which the actor is asked to read from the script without any preparation; intended to give the director a better sense of the actor’s potential and range	cold reading
a play that treats characters and situations in a humorous way	comedy
a break in the tension of a tragedy provided by a comic character, a comic episode, or even a comic line	comic relief
a type of theater that originated in northern Italy and France and relied on stock characters with which the audience was familiar	commedia dell’ arte
organizations of amateurs who produce and perform plays in a particular region or community	community theater
everyone associated with a production	company
the internal or external struggle between opposing forces, ideas, or interests that creates dramatic tension	conflict
the words or action at which an actor is expected to deliver a line or perform another action cue	Cue
the appearance of the cast at the end of a play to receive applause from the audience	curtain call
to stop action; delete	cut
a fabric drop hung from a curved or segmented batten, or a curved wall at the back of the stage, upon which light can be cast to create effects (cyc for short)	cyclorama
the solution, clarification, and/or unraveling of the plot of a play	dénouement
literally, “god from the machine”; refers to the character in classical Greek tragedy who entered the play from the heavens at the end of the drama to resolve or explain the conflict; in modern drama, refers to any arbitrary means of plot resolution	deus ex machina
spoken conversation used by two or more characters to express thoughts, feelings, and actions	dialogue
Greek god to whom most of the Greek plays were produced	Dionysus
the person who is responsible for the overall interpretation of a dramatic work, bringing all the elements together to create a unified production	director
the area of the stage closest to the audience	downstage
the art of composing, writing, acting, or producing plays; a literary composition intended to portray life or character or enact a story, usually involving conflicts and emotions exhibited through action and dialogue, designed for theatrical performance	drama
person who assists the director by researching the context of a play, including the historical periods and biographical information about the playwright; person who assists the playwright with clarifying and revising the script in progress	dramaturg
a rehearsal, usually the last one before performances begin, in which all lighting, costumes, makeup, set changes, props, sound effects, and special effects are used	dress rehearsal
a large cloth (often painted) used for creating a scene or picture background on stage	drop
The elements of drama, by which dramatic works can be analyzed and evaluated, can be categorized into three major areas: literary elements, technical elements, and performance elements	elements of drama
the capacity to relate to the feelings of another	empathy
the dynamic interaction and harmonious blending of the efforts of the many artists involved in the dramatic activity of theatrical production	ensemble
stage direction indicating the act of entering the play area during a performance	entrance
a summary speech delivered at the end of a play that explains or comments on the action	epilogue
stage direction; to leave the stage	exit
the part of a play that introduces the theme, chief characters, and current circumstances	exposition
composed or performed with little or no previous preparation; similar to impromptu	extemporaneous
the series of events following the climax	falling action
an extreme form of comedy that depends on quick tempo and flawless timing and is characterized by improbable events and farfetched coincidences; from the French meaning “to stuff	farce
in a nonlinear plot, to go back in time to a previous event; a flashforward would move the action into the future	flashback
a wooden frame, usually covered with painted cloth, used to create walls or separations on stage	flat
A floodlight: a lantern which gives a wide-spreading, unfocused beam of light	Flood
one who by strong contrast underscores the distinctive characteristics of another and, sometimes, prevents someone or something from being successful	foil
any story or tale passed on traditionally	folktale
an indication beforehand of something that is about to happen	foreshadowing
the invisible wall of a set through which the audience sees the action of the play	fourth wall
a triangular diagram that shows how a plot or story line progresses Divided into three parts: Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action	Freytag's Pyramid
A loosely-woven cloth on which a scene can be painted When lit from the front, it is opaque and only the painted scene is seen; when lit from behind, however, it becomes transparent	Gauze
a category of literary or dramatic composition	Genre
any movement of the actor’s head, shoulder, arm, hand, leg, or foot to convey meaning	gesture
a single light left on in a theater during the night	Ghost Light
slang term for theatrical makeup; originally referred to greasy, oil-based makeup that replaced powder in the 1860s	greasepaint
a waiting area offstage to be used by actors	green room
a metal framework above the stage from which lighting instruments and flown scenery are hung	grid
the lights that illuminate the auditorium before and after a performance and during intermission	house lights
one of the stock characters that originated from commedia dell’ arte; originally a sharp-witted servant, the character became a simpleton or jester; best recognized by his suit of diamond-patterned fabric in contrasting colors	harlequin
a word coined by Aristotle to refer to excessive pride which was usually the downfall of the protagonist	Hubris
the spontaneous use of movement and speech to create a character or object in a particular situation; acting done without a script	improvisation
a brief break between acts, in which the house lights come on and the audience may leave their seats	intermission
an implied discrepancy between what is said and what is meant	irony
In this theater, actors use exaggerated and stylized makeup, costumes, gestures, speech, and special effects to portray traditional character roles and story lines	Kabuki
in music, a recurring musical theme that accompanies a character or situation; in drama, then, the repetition of a word or phrase or image (from the German meaning “leading motive”)	leitmotiv
the dialogue of a play; the words actors say in performance	lines
a style of play, which originated in the 19th century, relying heavily on sensationalism and sentimentality They tend to feature action more than motivation, stock characters, and a strict view of morality in which good triumphs over evil	melodrama
acting without words	mime
the practice of mimicking or imitating	mimicry
copying the movement and/or expression or look of someone else exactly	mirroring
a long speech made by one actor they may be delivered alone or in the presence of others	monologue
the tone or feeling of the play, often engendered by the music, setting, or lighting	mood
an allegorical drama, such as Everyman, in which vices and virtues are personified in the battle for the protagonist’s soul The genre developed in Medieval England	morality play
an English folk play, performed mostly in rhyme and often with songs or even dances, that depicts the death and resurrection of a folk hero	mummer’s play
a play in which the story is told through a combination of spoken dialogue and musical numbers	musical
Japanese drama that began as a religious ceremony in the 14th century; plays are highly stylized and depend upon music, lavish costumes, mime, and masks	Noh
Any hindrance that gets in the way of what a character wants	Obstacle
literally “dancing space” - area of the Greek stage where the chorus sang and danced	Orchestra
acting without words	pantomime
a mocking or satirical imitation of a literary or dramatic work	parody
a presentation of a drama	performance
a person who writes a play	playwright
the events of a play or arrangement of action, as opposed to the theme	plot
a dramatic device to let the antagonist be punished and the protagonist get his reward	Poetic Justice
the person who puts together a theatrical production, obtaining the financing, hiring the director and other stage personnel, supervising the budget, leasing rights and space, etc	producer
the staging of a dramatic work for presentation to an audience	production
how well the voice carries to the audience	projection
a speech which introduces a play	prologue
to give actors their lines as a reminder; the prompter is the one who assists actors in remembering their lines	prompt
short for properties; any article, except costume or scenery, used as part of a dramatic production; any moveable object that appears on stage during a performance, from a telephone to a train	props
a frame or arch separating the stage from the auditorium	proscenium
the main character or hero in a play or other literary work	protagonist
a practice session in which the director works with cast and crew	rehearsal
how the problem or conflict in a drama is solved or concluded	resolution
a critic’s analysis of a performance	review
language and effects used to impress or persuade the audience	rhetorical devices
a series of events following the initial incident and leading up to the dramatic climax	rising action
the character portrayed by an actor in a drama	role
monies paid for permission to stage a play	royalties
a play in which sarcasm, irony, and ridicule are used to expose or attack folly or pretension in society	satire
a small section or portion of a play	scene
the theatrical equipment, such as curtains, flats, backdrops, or platforms, used in a dramatic production to communicate environment	scenery
a drop made of fabric that seems almost opaque when lit from the front but semitransparent when lit from behind	scrim
the written dialogue, description, and directions provided by the playwright	script
the physical surroundings, visible to the audience, in which the action of the play takes place	set
when and where the action of a play takes place	setting
– literally “tent” – area directly behind the Greek stage that served as a building or temple	Skene
a speech in which an actor, usually alone on stage, speaks the inner thoughts of his/her character aloud	soliloquy
visual or sound effects used to enhance a theatrical performance	special effects
the scenery, costumes, and special, or visual, effects in a production	spectacle
A type of lantern whose beam is focused through a lens or series of lenses to make it more controllable	Spotlight
when facing the audience, the area of the stage on the actor’s left (the audience’s right)	stage left
person in charge of everything that happens backstage	stage manager
the level of comfort, commitment, and energy an actor appears to have on stage	stage presence
when facing the audience, the area of the stage on the actor’s right (the audience’s left)	stage right
characters who represent particular personality types or characteristics of human behavior	stock characters
the removal of all stage equipment, including scenery, props, lights, and costumes, from the stage area	strike
a feeling of uncertainty as to the outcome, used to build interest and excitement on the part of the audience	suspense
an object or event used in literature to represent something else; often this representation alludes to a deeper meaning	Symbol
a technique in creative drama in which actors create a frozen picture, as if the action were paused; plural is tableaux	tableau
a horizontal drape at the top of the proscenium arch	teaser
the pace of a scene or a play	tempo
the atmosphere created by unresolved, disquieting, or inharmonious situations that human beings feel compelled to address; the state of anxiety the audience feels because of a threat to a character in a play	tension
an acting area or stage that may be viewed from all sides simultaneously	theater-in-the-round
literally, "viewing-place” – part of the Greek theater where the audience sat	Theatron
the basic idea of a play; the idea, point of view, or perception that binds together a work of art	theme
the Greek recognized as the first actor	Thespis
Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides	Three Great Greek Tragedians
a stage that extends into the audience area, with seats on three sides of a peninsula-shaped acting space	thrust
includes setting cues for effects and lighting, synchronizing two or more things that must happen simultaneously, and establishing the pace at which lines will be delivered or the play performed	timing
side pieces such as flats or drapes placed just upstage of the proscenium to adjust the width of the opening	tormentors
from the Greek meaning ‘goat song’; A type of drama that recounts the events of an individual’s life that results in an unhappy catastrophe	Tragedy
the defect in the tragic hero that leads to his or her fall	tragic flaw
the central figure in a tragedy; typically, a tragic hero is a person of basically good character who passes from happiness to misery because of a character flaw or error in judgment	tragic hero
an opening in the stage floor	trap
the climax or high point of a story, when events can go either way	turning point
actors who are able to play major roles in the event the originally cast actors cannot0	understudies
(noun) the area on stage farthest from the audience, toward the backstage wall	upstage
a form of stage entertainment that includes a variety of acts; was extremely popular in the early 20th century; the term comes from the Valley of Vire in France, known for its music and entertainment in the 15th century	vaudeville
offstage areas to the right and left of the acting/onstage area	wings
The element of drama deals with the individuals in a drama	Character
The sequence of events or incidents of which the story is composed	Plot
The element of drama involving objects or actions that represent something else	Symbols
The controlling or main idea	Theme
The element of drama that involves the use of words to mean something very different from what they appear on the surface to mean	Irony
perspective from which a story is told	Point of View
a story told by the author, using the third person; her/his knowledge, control, and prerogatives are unlimited; authorial subjectivity	Third Person Omniscient
a story in which the author associates with a major or minor character; this character serves as the author's spokesperson or mouthpiece	Third Person Limited
The point of view in which the narrator does participate in the action of the story as one of the characters; the story is told using the first person "I"	First Person
the point of view in which the writer tells what happens without stating more than can be inferred from the story's action and dialogue	Objective or Dramatic
The sequence of events or incidents of which the story is composed	Plot
The part of the plot that provides background information about a story	Exposition
the part of the plot that build toward the climax	Rising Action
the high point of action and often the turning point of the story	Climax
the part of the plot that leads to the end	Falling Action
literally “untying the knot” The part of the plot that ties up all the loose ends in the story	Denouement
How many elements of drama does Aristotle have?	six
What happens in a play; the order of events,the story as opposed to the theme;what happens rather than what it means	Plot
What the play means as opposed to what happens(plot); a role played by an actor in a play	Theme
The personality or the part an actor represents in a play; A role played by an actor in a play.	Character
The word choices made by the playwright and the enunciation of the actors delivering the lines	Diction/Language/Dialouge
The sound rhythm and melody of the speeches	Music/Rhythum
The visual elements of the production of a play; the scenery,costumes,and special effects in a production.	Spectacle
This is the most common stage found in the West. In this stage type the audience is located in one side of the stage with the remaining sides hidden and used by the performers and technicians	Proscenium
They may be similar to a proscenium stages but with a platform or performance area that extends into the audience space so that the sudience is located on three sides	Thrust Stages
The audience is located on all four sides of the stage	Theatre in the round

Created by: rcms

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