Author’s Purpose
 A writer usually writes for one
or more purposes: to express
himself or herself, to inform or
explain, to persuade, and to
entertain.
Example:
Guy De Maupassant’s purpose
for writing the “The Necklace”
was to entertain.
Dialogue
 Written conversations between
two or more characters.
 Writers use dialogue to bring
characters to life and give
readers insight on the
characters’ qualities,
personality traits, and reactions
to other characters.
Example
“Do you like watching American
Idol?” asked Andrew.
“Of course,” replied Jermaine.
**Notice when a new speaker
Begins, a new line begins
Monologue
 A long important
speech by one person
directed toward
others.
 A part of a play in which
a single character
speaks alone or without
expecting a response
from others.
Soliloquy
 A long important
speech in which a
character speaks inner
thoughts aloud
 Generally, character is
on stage alone, not
speaking to other
characters or isn’t
aware of other
characters
Tragedy
 A dramatic work that
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

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presents the downfall of a
dignified character or
characters who are involved
in historically or socially
significant events
Kind of play in which events
turn out disastrously for the
main character or characters
Most often, the hero or
heroine dies
Events are set in motion by a
decision that is often an error
in judgment
Succeeding events are
linked in a cause-and-effect
relationship and lead
inevitably to a disastrous
conclusion, usually death
Tragic Hero
 Main Character of a
tragedy.
 Usually dies at the
end of the play.
 Always dies in a
Shakespearean play
 May have more than
one in a story
 Has a tragic flaw
Tragic Flaw
 Character flaw that
leads to the
character’s death or
total destruction
 Examples: greed,
pride, ambition,
rashness, ect
 Other than this flaw
the character is
rather successful
Aside
 Dramatic device in which a
character speaks his or her
thoughts aloud, in words
meant to be heard by the
audience or certain
character but not by the
other characters
 The word ‘Aside’ will be
written in the stage
directions of a play but can
be indicated in a play by
various techniques like
lighting, perceived whispers,
etc.
Dramatic Irony
 When the audience
knows something
the character(s)
doesn’t. (In a play
this can be created
with an aside so it is
important to read
the stage directions)
Pun
 A play on words. A
word that has more
than one meaning is
used in a way that
takes advantage of
multiple meanings
Malapropism
 When a person uses
the wrong word in a
situation or a made
up word instead of a
real word that was
what was intended.
 This is usually done
accidentally
 It shows a character
is less intelligent
Shakespeare uses these for comedic
affect. Often the servants speak with
malapropisms.
Comic Relief
 Comedy used to
lighten the mood of a
play often in the
middle of intense
scenes
 Shakespeare used
puns, malapropisms,
and the servants or
lower class as comic
relief
Foil
 Two characters who
are the opposite of
each other in
personality but can
be compared
because of
similarities in age,
gender, and social
status
 Used for emphasis
on their differences
Example: Max and Michael Holtzapfel
From The Book Thief
Confidante
 A person you tell
your secrets to
 Important in stories
because it can help
show the character’s
inner thoughts