Theater Basics
This is the Greek term for "missing the mark," describing the flaw or error that leads to a tragic hero's downfall.
What is Hamartia?
A term describing unexpected, miraculous resolutions to seemingly unsolvable problems in a play.
What is Deus ex machina?
This emotional release experienced by the audience is central to the tragedy genre.
What is Catharsis?
Medieval performances often relied on these because most audiences couldn’t read.
What are Visual Stimuli?
This style emphasizes emotional expression and imagination, originating in the 18th century.
What is Romanticism?
The term for background information about characters or events delivered through believable dialogue.
What is Exposition?
A 20th-century theatrical style portraying distorted and subjective perceptions of reality.
What is Expressionism?
The downfall of the tragic hero is often caused by this personal failing.
What is a Tragic Flaw?
These simple stages were commonly found in churches.
What are Mansions?
A "here and now" approach that reflects societal problems and potential solutions.
What is Realism?
A play that uses symbolic characters to convey truths or morals, often with a political or ethical message.
What is an Allegory?
A genre exploring the absurdity and meaninglessness of human existence.
What is Absurdist Theater?
his genre has a light tone, amusing incidents, and characters who triumph over adversity.
What is Comedy?
These stages used carts or wagons to transport the play.
What are Pageant Wagons?
This extreme form of realism emphasizes mundane, random events with lifelike acting.
What is Naturalism?
A character's private meditation spoken aloud for the audience to "overhear."
What is a Soliloquy?
A form of drama designed to provoke emotions and inspire political action.
What is Agitprop Theater?
The key emotional responses provoked by tragedy are these two feelings.
What are Pity and Fear?
Grotesque masks and costumes were used to frighten audiences and often depicted this type of character.
What are Devils?
This 20th-century style constructs dreamlike worlds with distorted scenic pictures and non realistic acting.
What is Expressionism?
A line or speech directed to the audience and unheard by other characters on stage.
What is an Aside?
Plays or moments that are self-referential and blur the line between the play and its performance.
What is Metatheatrical?
While tragedy engages emotionally with the protagonist, this genre asks us to judge the folly of characters.
What is Comedy?
This enormous medieval stage used multiple "mansions" to represent different locales.
What is a Simultaneous Stage?
A play with instantly recognizable stereotypes like the wise elder or the sassy servant uses these.
What are Stock Characters?