Drama Terms
A brief commentary made directly to the audience, which the other characters cannot hear.
What is an aside?
This is usually a tragic hero's undoing: a characteristic that can be good in some circumstances, but brings the protagonist of a tragedy harm.
What is a tragic flaw?
"A little ____ clears us of this deed" (2.2.67)
"Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood/ clean from my hand?" (2.2.60-61)
This frequently-used symbol represents absolution (the washing away of) guilt.
What is water?
This character wishes to become more masculine so that she may have the strength to commit gruesome deeds.
Who is Lady Macbeth?
The central topic or topics of a work of literature; what the work is "really about".
What is a theme?
A lengthy speech made by a character to another character or to the audience.
What is a dramatic monologue?
Predetermined outcomes; development of events beyond a person's control.
What is fate/destiny?
This is used to symbolize guilt, life, death, and the line of succession.
Lady Macbeth: "Out, damned spot! Out, I say!" (5.1.31)
What is blood?
A thane not "of woman born."
Who is Macduff?
The first in a long line of kings, this character is the great (x8)-grandfather or King James I of England.
Who is Fleance?
A type of speech which allows the character to communicate their inner thoughts directly to the audience.
What is a soliloquy?
A character whose traits directly contrast those of the principal character's, in order to highlight the traits of the protagonist.
What is a character foil?
"Fair is foul/ and foul is fair"
"Looks like th'innocent flower/but be the serpent under't."
Macbeth's ability to be two things at once: seemingly loyal to the King, but also plotting to take the throne.
What is deception/ false appearances?
A person who rewards Macbeth with the title "Thane of Cawdor."
Who is King Duncan?
The number of people Lady Macbeth actually murders herself.
What is zero?
Usually appearing in brackets or italics, these indicate characters' entrances and exits, setting, offstage sounds, and other information not revealed through dialogue.
What are stage directions?
The protagonist of a tragedy, this person usually starts the play as a person of high stature, but suffers a downfall due to a tragic flaw they possess.
What is a tragic hero?
"By th'clock 'tis day,/ and yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp" (2.4.6-7)
"Good things of day do droop and drowse/ while night's black agents to their preys do rouse" (3.2.52-53)
Imagery of nighttime and darkness are used to signify this.
What is deception, evil, or wicked deeds?
Destined to father a line of kings, but never be king himself.
Who is Banquo?
A type of drama that centers on humans as victims of destiny, character flaw, moral weakness, or social pressures.
What is a tragedy?
In a play, this is the term for words exchanged between two or more characters.
What is dialogue?
An author will use this technique to "lighten the mood" after a series of intense moments.
What is comic relief?
When the audience knows something that a character/characters onstage do not; used to heighten tension.
What is dramatic irony?
Gatekeeper at Macbeth's castle who provides comic relief through his drunken antics.
Who is the Porter?
Large divisions and smaller subdivisions which make up the structure of the play (hint: Macbeth has FIVE large divisions)
What are acts and scenes?