| A | B |
|---|
| Play | A story acted out live, using dialogue and action. |
| tragedy | A play that presents serious and important actions that end unhappily for the main character. |
| tragic hero | an admirable figure who has a personal failing that leads to his or her downfall. |
| tragic flaw | a failing that leads a character to make choices that result in tragedy. |
| comedy | a play that ends happily in which the main character gets what he or she wants |
| character foil | a character who contrasts dramatically with another character. A "foil" serves to highlight the qualities of the characters he or she is contrasted with. |
| dialogue | conversations between characters in a play. |
| monologue | a long speech made by one character to one or more other characters onstage. |
| soliloquy | a speech made by a character who is alone onstage speaking to himself or herself or to the audience |
| aside | a short speech delivered to the audience or to another character, that others onstage are not supposed to hear. |
