Ruochen Wu

English
Ms. Franz
2/25/13
Poetic Terms
act- a major division within a play, similar to a chapter in a book. Each act may be further divided into smaller
sections, called scenes. Plays can have as many as five acts.
allusion- an indirect reference to a famous person, place, event, or literary work.
aside- A short speech in drama directed to the audience, or another character, that is not heard by the other
characters on stage.
cast of characters- a list of all the characters in the play, usually in order of appearance. It may include a brief
description of each character
characterization- the way a writer creates and develops characters personalities
chorus- Comments on the actions of the characters in a drama or taken by a single actor who serves as a
narrator and speaks the lines in the prologue (and sometimes in the epilogue.) The chorus serves to foreshadow
or summarize events
climax-the point of maximum interest or tension in a plot
comic relief- consists of humorous scenes, incidences, or speeches that are included in a serious drama to
provide a reduction in emotional intensity
couplet- a rhymed pair of lines
dialogue- written conversation between two or more characters. Its used to bring characters to life and to give
readers insights into the characters qualities, traits, and reactions to other characters
drama- literature in which plots and characters are developed through dialogue and action; in other words, it is
literature in play form.
dramatic irony- where the reader or viewer knows something that a character does not know
dramatic monologue- a lyric poem in which a speaker addresses a silent or absent listener in a moment of high
intensity or deep emotion, as if engaged in private conversation.
epilogue- the conclusion of a piece that wraps up the rest of the story
exposition- the first stage of a typical story plot which provides important background information and
introduces the setting and the important characters
falling action- follows the climax and shows the results of the important decision or action that happened at the
climax
farce- a type of exaggerated comedy that features an absurd plot, ridiculous situations. and humorous dialogue.
figurative language- language that communicates meanings beyond the literal meaning of the words
foil- a character who provides a striking contrast to another character.
foreshadowing-the writers use of hints or clues ot suggest events that will occur later in a story
historical fiction-a short story or novel where the settings and details of the plot include real places and events
of historical importance
hyperbole- a figure of speech in which the truth is exaggerated for emphasis or humorous effect
iambic pentameter- a metrical pattern of five feet, or unities, each of which is made up of two syllables, the
first unstressed and the second stressed.
idiom- a common figure of speech whose meaning is different from the literal meaning of its words.
imagery- consists of descriptive words and phrases that recreate sensory experiences for the reader
irony- a special kind of contrast between appearance and reality-usually one in which reality is the opposite of
what it seems
-situational irony- a contrast between what a reader or character expects and what actually exists or happens
-verbal irony-when someone knowingly exaggerates or says one thing and means another
metaphor- a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two things that are basically unlike but have
something in common
mise en scne- a French term that refers to the various physical aspects of a dramatic presentation, such as
lighting, costumes, scenery, makeup, and props
mood- the feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader

paradox- a seemingly contradictory or absurd statement that may nonetheless suggest an important truth
parallelism-the use of similar grammatical constructions to express ideas that are related or equal in portance
personification- a figure of speech in which human qualities are given to an object, animal, or idea
plot-the sequence of events in a story that focuses on a central conflict faced by the main character
prologue- an introductory scene in a drama.
prop- any physical object that is used in a drama
protagonist- the main character in a work of literature, who is involved in the central conflict of the story
antagonist- a principal character or force in opposition to the protagonist
pun- a play on words
repetition-a technique in which a sound, word, phrase, or line is repeated for emphasis or unity
scene- division of acts in a drama.
scenery- a painted backdrop or other structures used the create the setting for a play
screenplay- a play written for film
script- the text of a play, film, or broadcast
setting-the time and place of the action of a short story, drama, novel, narrative poem, or narrative nonfiction
work
simile- a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unalike things using the words like or as
soliloquy- a speech in which a character speaks his or her thoughts aloud.
monologue- a speech of one character towards an audience or reader without the knowledge of other characters
stage directions- instructions included in a play which are usually printed in italic type.
stereotype- a simplified or stock character who conforms to a fixed pattern or is defined by a single trait.
suspense- the excitement or tension that readers feel as they wait to find out how a story ends or how a conflict
is resolved
theme- underlying message about life or human nature that a writer wants the reader to understand
tone- the attitude a writer takes toward a subject. Unlike mood, which is intended to shape the readers
emotional response, tone reflects the feeling of the writer. Its created through the choices of words and details.
tragedy- a dramatic work that presents downfall of a dignified character or characters who are involved in
historically or socially significant events.
diction-a writers or speakers choice of words and way of arranging the words in sentences
narrator-the character or voice that relates the storys events to the reader
rhyme scheme- a pattern of end rhymes in a poem
rising action-the stage of a plot in which the conflict develops and the story events build toward a climax
oxymoron- a special kind of concise paradox that brings together two contradictory terms
tragic hero-central character in a drama who is dignified or noble who possesses a defect, or tragic flaw, that
brings about or contributes to his or her downfall
blank verse- unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter
sonnet- a lyric poem of 14 lines, commonly written in iambic pentameter
epistrophe- ending a series of lines, phrases, clauses, or sentences with the same word or words