ENGLISH 2
SEMESTER EXAM REVIEW
LITERARY/DRAMA TERMS
ANTAGONIST: Creates a conflict for the main character.
THEME: A statement or opinion the author is trying to make about life or society.
SUBJECT: The topic dealt with in the story.
SCENE: A minor division of the action which shows a change in setting and/or time.
EX: Act I
Act II
Scene I
Scene I
Scene II
Scene II
Scene III
ACT: A major division of the action in a drama; shows setting and time progression.
ASIDE: Words spoken by a character in a play that the other actors on stage are not supposed to hear.
SYMBOLISM: The use of an object to represent an idea or person.
DIALOGUE: Conversation between two or more people in a drama; character interactions.
SOLILOQUY: A speech given by a character that is alone on stage that informs the audience of what is
going through the character’s mind.
STAGE DIRECTIONS: Comments that provide readers and actors information about the dialogue, setting
and action in a play (Usually written in italics).
STRUCTURE: When an author tells a story, he/she may choose to tell it in the form of a diary, letters,
and a journal, in flashback or chronological order.
RISING ACTION: Develops the plot and characters, and then leads to an exciting climax, which resolves
the conflict (more than 1).
Ex. First Wish pg. 88
Second Wish pg. 92
FALLING ACTION: Action following the climax of the drama (Play) that moves it towards the resolution.
Ex. The door slowly swings open on a rural scene bathed in the moonlight. Pg. 94
FORESHADOWING: Providing hints or clues about what might happen later or in a story.