Terminology for Drama
Antagonist: character or force opposed to the central character
as it moves toward its resolution
Climax: point of greatest tension. when a revelation is experienced
Denouement: resolution of the conflict in the plot
Dialogue: verbal exchanges between characters
Exposition: background information--what happened before the
play began and how did the characters arrive at their present
situation
Falling Action: continuing action of the plot, after the climax,
Plot: imitation of an action; what happens
Protagonist: central character
Rising Action: increasing tension in the conflict; suspense
Setting: time, place, scenery, physical elements that appear onstage
Soliloquy: a speech a character delivers to him or herself; thinking
out loud
Verisimilitude: illusion of reality; a true likeness
Terms from Greek Drama
Agon: conflict; dramatic confrontation
Anagnorisis: recognition
Ananke: necessity
Apatheia: complete liberation from emotions and affection
Aristotle's "unities": a unified day, place, action
Catharsis: purging of pity and fear
Demodidaskolos: public teacher of wisdom preaching “holy
truths”
Deus ex machina: "god from the machine"
Dikaiosyne: justice
Dionysus: Greek God who inspired orgiastic celebrations that
found
their way into early Greek drama; an agricultural and
resurrection deity, God of wine and life giving power
Hamartia: wrong act that leads people to a tragic end
Hubris: excessive ambition or pride
Mimesis: imitation
Moira: fate
Peripeteia: progress of the tragic characters leads to a reversal
Sophrosyne: the virtue of self-control
Tragedy: "goat song"