6th Grade

Drama Terms- Quiz

1. drama a story intended to be performed in front of an audience.

2. scenes divisions of acts that occur in different settings.

3. acts a major division within a play in which two or more scenes

are grouped together.

4. cast of charactersa list of all the characters in the play, usually in the order of

appearance.

5.stage direction instructions for the director, the actors, and the stage crew.

6. propsan abbreviation of the word “property”; any object that is used in a

play that helps to enhance the setting.

7. playwrightthe author of a play.

8. narrator a character who sets the scene for the play and comments on the action.

9. comedya dramatic work that is light and humorous in tone and usually

ends happily.

10. farcea type of exaggerated comedy that features an absurd plot and

ridiculous situations in order to keep an audience laughing.

11. tragedya dramatic work that presents the downfall of a character due to

bad judgment and that leads to a disastrous conclusion, usually

death.

12. chorusa group of performers who comment on the setting and scene letting the audience know important background information that is not disclosed in the characters dialogue.

13. dialoguethe words speeches or conversation spoken by characters to each other. Much of what you learn about the characters setting and events are revealed in this conversation.

14. monologuea long uninterrupted speech that is spoken by a single character which reveals his/her thoughts and feelings.

15. direct characterizationthe author specifically reveals traits (personality) about a character upfront that they want you to know. This helps the audience understand the character at the beginning and know their motivation and whether the audience should like or dislike the character.

16. indirect characterizationthe author use dialogue, setting, conversations and speeches to reveal traits about a character (personality). A person must read through the scenes and dialogue to get to know the characters motivation and whether to like or dislike the character.

17. scriptthe written form of a play.

18. protagonistthe central or main character a drama. They are a central part of the conflict in the plot and normally the hero.

19. antagonistare the main characters enemy or opposing force. They are a part of the conflict in the plot and usually the “bad guy”

20. prologuean introductory(beginning) section of a drama or play. This section gives background information the audience needs to know to in order understand the characters and setting.

21. epiloguea section or speech at the end of a play or drama that comments on the conclusion or information that happens after the play. This information helps the overall theme.

22. setconstruction on the stage that helps to show the time and place the events occur. Usually consist of backdrop scenery and props.

23. conflictinternal or external problems the characters face in play. The theme or moral centers around this and protagonist and antagonist play a huge role in its resolution.

24. theaterwhere the play takes place.

25. tragic comedya play with the sincerity and earnestness of tragedy but without its inevitability of impending disaster, attitude of comedy but without its underlying spirit of humor; uses tense situations and moments of extreme conflict, but the tragedy is averted and transcended.