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Elements of Drama
Drama is a form of literature designed to be performed in front of an audience.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Act | A division within a play, much like chapters of a novel |
| Aside | Lines that are spoken by a character directly to the audience |
| Cast of Characters | A list of characters presented before the action begins |
| Chorus | A person or group of people who act as a narrator, commentator, or general audience to the action of the play |
| Comedy | A humorous work drama |
| Diaologue | Conversation between two or more characters |
| Drama | A work of literature designed to be performed in front of an audience |
| Foil | A character who is nearly opposite of another character; the purpose of a foil is to reveal a stark contrast between the two characters, often the protagonist and antagonist |
| Monologue | a long speech spoken by a character to himself, another character, or to the audience |
| Scene | A division of an act into smaller parts |
| Soliloquy | Thoughts spoken aloud by a character when he/she is alone, or thinks he/she is alone |
| Stage Directions | Italicized comments that identify parts of the setting or the use of props or costumes, give further information about a character, or provide background information; in Shakespeare's plays, stage directions can also appear in brackets, etc. |
| Tragedy | A serious work of drama in which the hero suffers catastrophe or serious misfortune, usually because of his own actions |
| Tragic Hero | A protagonist with a fatal flaw which eventually leads to his hemise |