Drama Literary Terms

An introduction to the play

• aside

• prologue

• soliloquy

• chorus

A short speech delivered by a character in a play, delivered to the audience and not heard by the other characters

• aside

• prologue

• soliloquy

• monologue

A lengthy speech addressed to the other characters in the play

• dramatic foil

• prologue

• soliloquy

• monologue

A long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage

• dramatic foil

• chorus

• soliloquy

• monologue

A character who highlights or brings out the personality traits of another character, usually by contrasting with the other character

• dramatic foil

• chorus

• soliloquy

• monologue

A person or group of people in a drama, who tell the setting of the story, read the prologue, epilogue, and comment on the action of the play.

• dramatic foil

• chorus

• aside

• pun

rhythmical pattern of a poem

• mood

• diction

• tone

• meter

word choice

• mood

• diction

• tone

• meter

contradiction what the character thinks and what the reader/audience knows to be true

• dramatic irony

• diction

• tone

• meter

writer's attitude between audience and subject

• dramatic irony

• diction

• tone

• theme