Question 1

Definition: 
Major unit of a play
Uses/Purpose: 
Functions like chapters

Accepted Answer

Act

Question 2

Definition: 
Smaller unit representing a change in scene, character, situation, etc.
Uses/Purpose: 
Allows the playwright to shift time, location, character, stage set up,  etc. within an act

Accepted Answer

Scene

Question 3

Definition: 
Imaginary barrier between actor and audience
Uses/Purpose: 
Allows the actor to speak in front of the audience without speaking to the audience

Accepted Answer

Fourth Wall

Question 4

Definition: 
An extended speech delivered by a character
Uses/Purpose: 
Allows playwright to establish themes and major revelations through character speech

Accepted Answer

Monologue

Question 5

Definition: 
An actor speaking their thoughts aloud on stage, usually in the absence of any other characters
Uses/Purpose: 
Allows playwright to provide insight into a character’s private thoughts in the absence of the narration that prose fiction has

Accepted Answer

Soliloquy

Question 6

Definition: 
Description of character movements, setting details, props, lighting, sound effects, etc.
Uses/Purpose: 
Allows playwright to provide instructions to actors, directors, producers, etc.

Accepted Answer

Stage Directions

Question 7

Definition: 
Lines spoken by characters in a play
Uses/Purpose: 
Tells the actors what to say

Accepted Answer

Dialogue

Question 8

Definition: 
A type of stage direction that provides a description of the setting at the start of an act/scene
Uses/Purpose: 
Allows the playwright to provide background info and instructions to actors, directors, producers, etc. before an act begins

Accepted Answer

At Rise Descriptions

Question 9

Definition: 
A type of stage direction that instructs an actor on how to deliver a line
Uses/Purpose: 
Allows the playwright to provide emotional direction to actors to help them deliver lines appropriately

Accepted Answer

Parentheticals “wrylies”

Question 10

Definition: 
A type of theater that focuses on the suffering and downfall of characters
Uses/Purpose: 
Allows the playwright to examine the inherent flaws in humanity

Accepted Answer

Tragedy

Question 11

Definition: 
A type of theater that utilizes humor, especially satire and parody
Uses/Purpose: 
Allows the playwright to criticize or examine society/humanity in an entertaining way that is palatable to a wide audience

Accepted Answer

Comedy

Question 12

Definition: 
A type of theater that blends tragedy and comedy
Uses/Purpose: 
Allows the playwright to explore both the tragedy and humor in life at once

Accepted Answer

Tragicomedy

Question 13

Definition: 
Groups of actors delivering lines in unison, sometimes musically
Uses/Purpose: 
Often functions as a single character and represents a community or society as a whole

Accepted Answer

Chorus

Question 14

Definition: 
A release of emotion
Uses/Purpose: 
Allows the audience to experience relief as a contrast to the immense tension

Accepted Answer

Catharsis

Question 15

Definition: 
A revelation of information to a character
Uses/Purpose: 
Usually resolves a moment of dramatic irony, revealing something crucial to a character. This usually relates to established themes.

Accepted Answer

Anagnorisis

Question 16

Definition: 
A discrepancy between what is expected and what is happening (verbal, situational, dramatic)
Uses/Purpose: 
This discrepancy usually provides commentary on or a firmer establishment of the theme

Accepted Answer

Irony

Question 17

Definition: 
A type of theater that focuses on the meaninglessness of human existence (mid-20th century movement)
Uses/Purpose: 
Allows the playwright to explore ideas without needing to play by the normal rules and conventions of society or drama.

Accepted Answer

Absurdism

english quiz

drama conventions/the visit background quiz

Term	Definition
Definition: Major unit of a play Uses/Purpose: Functions like chapters	Act
Definition: Smaller unit representing a change in scene, character, situation, etc. Uses/Purpose: Allows the playwright to shift time, location, character, stage set up, etc. within an act	Scene
Definition: Imaginary barrier between actor and audience Uses/Purpose: Allows the actor to speak in front of the audience without speaking to the audience	Fourth Wall
Definition: An extended speech delivered by a character Uses/Purpose: Allows playwright to establish themes and major revelations through character speech	Monologue
Definition: An actor speaking their thoughts aloud on stage, usually in the absence of any other characters Uses/Purpose: Allows playwright to provide insight into a character’s private thoughts in the absence of the narration that prose fiction has	Soliloquy
Definition: Description of character movements, setting details, props, lighting, sound effects, etc. Uses/Purpose: Allows playwright to provide instructions to actors, directors, producers, etc.	Stage Directions
Definition: Lines spoken by characters in a play Uses/Purpose: Tells the actors what to say	Dialogue
Definition: A type of stage direction that provides a description of the setting at the start of an act/scene Uses/Purpose: Allows the playwright to provide background info and instructions to actors, directors, producers, etc. before an act begins	At Rise Descriptions
Definition: A type of stage direction that instructs an actor on how to deliver a line Uses/Purpose: Allows the playwright to provide emotional direction to actors to help them deliver lines appropriately	Parentheticals “wrylies”
Definition: A type of theater that focuses on the suffering and downfall of characters Uses/Purpose: Allows the playwright to examine the inherent flaws in humanity	Tragedy
Definition: A type of theater that utilizes humor, especially satire and parody Uses/Purpose: Allows the playwright to criticize or examine society/humanity in an entertaining way that is palatable to a wide audience	Comedy
Definition: A type of theater that blends tragedy and comedy Uses/Purpose: Allows the playwright to explore both the tragedy and humor in life at once	Tragicomedy
Definition: Groups of actors delivering lines in unison, sometimes musically Uses/Purpose: Often functions as a single character and represents a community or society as a whole	Chorus
Definition: A release of emotion Uses/Purpose: Allows the audience to experience relief as a contrast to the immense tension	Catharsis
Definition: A revelation of information to a character Uses/Purpose: Usually resolves a moment of dramatic irony, revealing something crucial to a character. This usually relates to established themes.	Anagnorisis
Definition: A discrepancy between what is expected and what is happening (verbal, situational, dramatic) Uses/Purpose: This discrepancy usually provides commentary on or a firmer establishment of the theme	Irony
Definition: A type of theater that focuses on the meaninglessness of human existence (mid-20th century movement) Uses/Purpose: Allows the playwright to explore ideas without needing to play by the normal rules and conventions of society or drama.	Absurdism

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