Drama Knowledge Builder Flashcards
(12 cards)
Dialogue
Definition: The spoken exchange between characters on stage.
Example: In An Inspector Calls, the conversations between the Birlings and Inspector Goole are examples of dialogue driving the plot.
Stage Directions
Definition: Written instructions in the script indicating movement, positioning, or tone of voice for actors, as well as descriptions of setting and effects (lighting, sound, etc.).
Example: [Sheila enters from the drawing room, looking agitated.]
Dramatic Irony
Definition: When the audience knows something that one or more characters do not, creating tension or humor.
Mr. Birling’s confident claims that the Titanic is “unsinkable” and that there will be “no war” are ironic because the audience knows World War I and the Titanic disaster are imminent.
Line Breaks
Definition: Points where characters cut each other off or abruptly halt the flow of speech, heightening tension or urgency.
Example: The Inspector frequently interrupts Mr. Birling’s pompous speeches, signaling that the Inspector won’t be cowed by Birling’s social status.
Entrance and Exits
Definition: The moments when characters appear on stage or depart, influencing pace and building tension.
Example: The Inspector’s sudden entrance interrupts the Birling family’s celebration, immediately altering the atmosphere and initiating conflict.
Setting
Definition: The time, place, and environment in which the play’s action occurs.
Example: The entire play is set in the Birlings’ dining room in 1912, reflecting an upper-middle-class Edwardian household on the eve of major historical upheavals.
Props
Definition: Physical objects on stage used by the actors to support the action or reveal character.
Example: Mr. Birling’s decanter of port and the family’s champagne glasses emphasize their material wealth and complacency at the start of the play.
Monologue
Definition: An extended speech by a single character, often revealing their perspective or motivations.
Example: Mr. Birling’s lengthy lecture to Eric and Gerald about business and looking after oneself functions as a monologue conveying his capitalist worldview.
Cliffhanger
Definition: A suspenseful ending of a scene or act, leaving unresolved questions that entice the audience.
Example: The final telephone call announcing that a real police inspector is on his way creates a major cliffhanger, leaving the Birlings—and the audience—in shock.
Foreshadowing
Definition: Hints or clues that suggest future events in the narrative.
Example: Early mentions of scandal and responsibility foreshadow each Birling family member’s eventual link to Eva Smith’s downfall.
Lighting
Definition: The use of brightness, color, and shadow on stage to influence mood and focus attention.
Example: The transition from soft, rose-tinted lighting to a harsher, brighter light when the Inspector arrives symbolizes the shift from complacency to scrutiny.
Tension
Definition: The sense of suspense or strain in the audience and among characters, often built through conflict or uncertainty.
Example: Tension escalates with each revelation of how the Birlings and Gerald contributed to Eva Smith’s fate, culminating in the final twist of the play.
