Quiz Date: ________________
1.
Tragic Hero — The protagonist, or central character; usually fails or dies because of a character flaw or a cruel twist of fate; often has a high rank or status; shows strength while facing his or her destiny. Example: Romeo and Juliet are both tragic heroes. They are protagonists, die due to twists
of fate, are from respected families, and persevere until the end.
2.
Foil — A character whose personality and attitude contrast sharply with those of another character. The function of the foil is to highlight both characters’ traits — for example, a timid character can make a talkative one seem even chattier. Foils may be friends or enemies and are not necessarily antagonists. Example: Mercutio is Romeo’s close friend and foil.
3.
Soliloquy — A speech given by a character alone on stage. It lets the audience know what the character is thinking or feeling. Example: When Romeo sneaks up to Juliet’s balcony, he says a famous soliloquy that starts, “ But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun….”
4.
Aside — A character’s remark, either to the audience or to another character, that others on stage do not hear. It reveals the character’s private thoughts. Example: Sampson threatens to make an insulting gesture at Abram, but he gets nervous when Abram calls him out:
Abram. “Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?”
Sampson [aside to Gregory]. Is the law of our side if I say ay?
Gregory [aside to Sampson]. No.
Sampson. No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir; but I bite my thumb, sir.
5.
Dramatic Irony — When the audience knows more than the characters. It helps build suspense in the audience. Example: The audience is aware of Romeo and Juliet’s tragic demise long before
the characters themselves face it.
6.
Comic Relief — A humorous scene or speech intended to lighten the mood and serves to heighten the seriousness of the main action by contrast. Example: The Nurse teases Juliet by stalling and going off topic before telling Juliet of Romeo’s decision regarding marriage. The audience has fun
watching Juliet get wound up because of the suspense.
9.
Image — A verbal approximation of a sensory impression, concept or emotion, usually as a result of using sensory description or figurative language. Example: The corpse flower smells like bloated,
fly-plagued, maggot-ridden road kill found lying by the side of the road.
10.
Motivation — A character's incentive or reason for behaving in a certain manner; that which impels a character to act. Example: Romeo was motivated by a desire for vengeance when he
attacked Tybalt after Tybalt’s murder of Mercutio.

11.
Tragedy — A work in which the protagonist, a person of high regard, is engaged in a significant struggle and which ends in that person’s ruin or destruction. Example: Shakespeare’s Romeo and
Juliet.
12.
Scene — A real or fictional episode; a division of an act in a play. Example: Scene 1 of Romeo and
Juliet portrays a brawl between members of the rival Capulet and Montague families.
13.
Comedy – A work of light and humorous character in which the central motif is triumph over adverse circumstances, usually resulting in a happy or cheerful ending. Example: Shakespeare’s A
Midsummer Night’s Dream.
14.
Foreshadowing – Clues given to the audience about upcoming events in the play. Example: One
example of foreshadowing in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is when the Soothsayer warns Caesar to
beware the Ides of March.
15.
Dialogue – The words spoken by characters. The name immediately before a dialogue lets you know who is speaking. Helps develop the plot and reveals the nature of the characters.
Example: A conversation between Juliet’s father and nurse –
Nurse: May God in heaven bless her! My lord, you’re so wrong to berate the child like that.
Capulet: And why is that, Lady Wisdom? Close your mouth, you old woman. Go chatter with your gossiping friends.
Nurse: I’ve said nothing that’s not true.
16.
Stage directions – Describe the setting and tell actors what to do. They tell actors how to speak their lines and when to enter and exit the stage. When reading a play, the stage direction will be in italics.
Example:
RHONDA: (angrily) I don’t care what you think. I’m wearing this dress to the party. (She
turns and storms out of the room, slamming the door behind her.)
17.
Prop – An article or object that appears on the stage during a play Example: Props in Romeo and
Juliet include the swords used in the fight scenes.
18.
Act – A major division of the play; three- and five-act plays are the most common. Example: Act 1
of Romeo and Juliet ends with Romeo learning that Juliet is a Capulet, and Juliet learning that
Romeo is a Montague.
19.
Monologue – a long speech delivered by one character, usually to another
A military leader might deliver a speech to rally his troops. Or a mother might tell her son a story about her past. Example: Romeo’s monologue in the balcony scene is one of the most beautiful and famous sequences of poetry throughout the entire play.
20.
Theme – What the play means, as opposed to what happens. The main idea or message within the play. Example: One major theme in Romeo and Juliet is the idea of forbidden love.