Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance.◦ (DRAMA IS FICTIONAL ACTING)

The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action"

There are two main types of Drama◦ Comedy◦ Tragedy

Drama is often combined with music and dance: ◦ The drama in opera is sung throughout◦ Musicals include spoken dialogue and songs◦ Some forms of drama have regular musical

accompaniment

Act - A unit or division of a play, made up of one or more scenes. Plays may be divided into one, two, three or five acts.

Scene - a division of an act: the setting and time stays the same

Protagonist – The main character, usually the ‘good guy’

Antagonist – The anti-protagonist, the one who causes the problems for the main characters

Foil – a character who has qualities that are in sharp contrast to another character, thus emphasizing the traits of each

Dialogue - Passages of speech between characters in a play.

Fourth Wall - The imaginary fourth wall that is removed from box set to enable the audience to see the action on stage.

Stage Direction - Indications in a script for entrances and exits, and for movement in relation to the set within a particular scene (Stage Right, Stage Left)

Aside - Sometimes referred to as breaking the fourth wall, it refers to a speech or comment made by an actor directly to the audience about the action of the play or another character. The other characters are unaware of this action.

Cue - The words or actions at which an actor is expected to deliver a line or a crew member is expected to perform some task.

Soliloquy◦ A longer speech that reveals the innermost

thoughts and feelings of the character who speaks it – like they are talking to themselves

◦ Usually alone on stage◦ Or other characters do not hear the character’s

speech

Monologue◦ A long speech given by a character to himself,

another character, or to the audience Usually important to note main idea or theme

because the playwright included for some reason! AUTHOR’S PURPOSE SHOULD ALWAYS BE ON YOUR

MIND!

Round, Flat, Static, Dynamic Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling

Action, Resolution Theme, Plot Setting, Characters Foreshadowing Conflict