Drama Terms – Glossary

Atmosphere – The overall feeling and/or effect of a place.

Connotations – An idea or meaning suggested by or associated with a word/thing.
Conventions – Features specific to the text type.
Context – Social/historical/biographical background to a text.
Convey – To give an impression of/ to show.
Deduction – A conclusion based on logic/ factual evidence.
Dramatic irony – When the audience/ reader know more than the character.
Epilogue – A section/speech at the end of a play that comments or concludes what
has happened.
Figurative language – Using words/ expressions that are not meant literally.
Inference – A conclusion drawn based on reasoning and reading between the lines.
Lexical choice – Word choice.
Monologue – A speech given by one person to another who doesn’t respond.
Morals – A lesson that can be learnt from a story/experience. Standards of behaviour.
Onomatopoeia – A word created based on a sound.
Pathetic fallacy – Where the weather/ objects reflect the events/ character’s
personality.
Perception – To become aware of something and how it can be
understood/interpreted.
Perspective – A point of view.
Prejudice – A biased opinion that is not based on reason or experience.
Prologue – The introduction to a play.
Pun – A joke that focuses on the same word/homophones that sound the same and
have two different meanings.
Rhetorical question – A question that is not meant to be answered but thought
about.
Soliloquy – A speech given out loud by one character which expresses their
thoughts/feelings.
Traits – A quality/characteristic usually belonging to a person.