DRAMA TERMINOLOGIES for Macbeth

Sudeep Ghosh

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Across
interruption of a play's chronology (timeline) to
refer to the past
act of speaking alone or to oneself in a play
a secondary character whose situation often
parallels that of the main character while his
behavior or response or character contrasts with that
of the main character
"feeling-into"--is a projection of oneself into
another character
characters or persons in a play
heros action elicits 2 emotions
error of judgement which causes a reversal of
fortune (tragic flaw)
conversation of characters in a literary work
events and complications begin to resolve
themselves and tension is released
main commentators on characters/events; they
expressed traditional moral, religious, and social
attitudes, and were a kind of voice for the audience
on stage; individual characters in Shakespeare fulfil
this role
minor character presented though particular and
limited traits; hence become stereotypes
intensification of the conflict in a play
first stage of a dramatic plot where necessary
background information is provided
clash between actor and audience in expectation
and reality
the action at the end of a tragedy that initiates the
denouement or falling action
release of emotional tension; audience is purged of
pity and fear (purgation)
excessive pride leading a tragic hero to ignore
warnings or better judgement

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Down
gives the spectator a moment of relief with a
light-hearted scene after tragic moments
sequence of events that make up a story
to accept something as real or representing the real
when it obviously is not real
turning point of the action in the plot
sudden/unexpected change of events or reversal of
circumstances
warning/indication of a future action
traditional plot sequence in which the incidents
progress chronologically
thought(s) or desire(s) driving a character to actively
pursue a want or need
final outcome(resolution) of the main complication in
a play
Words spoken by an actor directly to the audience, but
not "heard" by the other characters on stage
manner in which words are used, it can (1) reveal
character, (2) imply attitudes, (3) convey action, (4)
identify themes, and (5) suggest values
recognition / discovery by the protagonist of his own
predicament which leads to the resolution/denouement
an event, conflict /crisis leading up to the climax
physical representation of a play's setting (location &
time) emphasizing the aesthetic concept or
atmosphere
"feeling-with"--is a fellow-feeling for the other
a character or force against which another character
struggles
a subsidiary/subordinate/parallel plot that coexists
with the main plot.
play of opposing forces :external (between characters)
or internal (within a character)
--"depth"--is often unintended by the author; straining
for an elevated effect produces ridiculous effects