Drama Quiz

Reversal

Reversal of faith. The events that occur due to the tragic hero's flaw. Ex. Antigone- Creon loses his son and wife.

Drama

Drama is a form of literature. Drama must have a fable or story/plot. Beginning, middle, end. Drama engages the audience. Heart of drama is argument or conflict. 2 sides of argument between protagonist (hero/heroine) and antagonist (villain). Dramatic structure.

Catharsis

In classic tragedy, the purging of pity and fear experienced by the audience at the end of the play. Ex. Antigone- Creon brings about the feeling of catharsis because the audience pitys him because he lost his son and wife

Comedy

A play, light in tone, designed to amuse and entertain, that usually ends happily, often with a marriage.

Tragedy

A serious drama that relates the events in the life of a protagonist or tragic hero, whose error in judgement, dictated by a tragic flaw, results in the hero's downfall and culminates in catastrophe. In less classical terms, any serious drama, novel, or short story that ends with the death of defeat of the main character may be called tragic.

Rising Action

The building of interest through complication of the conflict. In this stage, the protagonist and antagonist move steadily toward a confrontation. Ex. Antigone: Creon announces his new law, Soldier tells Creon that someone has buried Polynices, Creon commands soldier to find who did it, Creon says whoever did it will die, Antigone is found guilty, Creon also accuses Ismene, Creon argues with Haimon, Antigone is sentenced to die in a tomb, Creon is given the prophecy,

Denouement

The play's conclusion, the explanation or outcome of the action. The term literally means untying and may be applied to both comedy and tragedy but the Greeks used the words catastrophe for a tragic denouement, probably because it involved the death of the hero or heroine. Comedies, of course, end happily, often with a wedding. Ex. Antigone- Creon admits that he was wrong and that his pride was his undoing.

Climax

The play's high point, the decisive showdown between protagonist and antagonist. The climax- the play's turning point- can be a single moment or a series of events, but once reached, it becomes the point of no return. Ex. Antigone- Creon decides to free Antigone and goes to her. This is the climax/turning point because it is when the crown reverses the decree.

Recognition

The recognition by the tragic hero that it his fault the reversal occured. Ex. Antigone- Creon acknowledges that it was his pride and foolishness that caused the death of his wife and son. "Fate has brought all my pride to a thought of dust."

Exposition

The revelation of facts, circumstances, and past events. The essential facts about the characters and the conflict can be established in a number of ways, from having minor characters reveal information through conversation to plunging the audience right into the action. Ex. Antigone- The chorus tells the audience about the battle that has just taken place using their opening lines, the Parodos. They set the scene with the plot, and the setting. There has been a battle and we are in Thebes.

Point of Attack

The starting point from which the dramatic leads the audience into the plot. A playwright can begin the story's beginning and allow the audience to discover what is going on at the same time the characters do; or the writers can begin in the middle of things or even near the end and gradually reveal the events that have already taken place. Ex. The first conversation in Antigone between Ismene and Antigone. The audience is finding out what's going on at the same time as Isemene. Antigone is not only telling her sister what has happened, she's indirectly telling the audience as well.

Falling Action

The unraveling of the plot, where events fall into place and the conflict moves toward final resolution. Ex. Antigone: Creon discovers his son with Antigone, Creon's son dies, the queen is informed of the death, The queen kills herself