SETTING: Time, place, social and physical environment. PLOT: Arrangement (sequence) of events.

DIALOGUE: Speech between two characters. THEME: The main idea. CHARACTERS: MAIN: The characters who have the larger role in the action; on whom the action is focused or based. SECONDARY: They do not have as large a role in the action but provide: Information - contrast - pathos (emotion, sorrow, pity) CONFCLICT: Struggle (Opposition) between characters, groups, ideas. EXTERNAL: Character versus Character -- Character versus Fate / Nature INTERNAL: Character versus himself / herself ARISTOTLES THREE UNITIES OF TIME, PLACE & ACTION: TIME: Not more than 24 hours (one day) PLACE: One place only, one setting. ACTION: One main action, no sub-plots. TRAGEDY: Imitation of an immense, serious action, presenting the change in fortune of the protagonist from prosperity to misery. TRAGIC HERO: A person of high rank and position, possessing many admirable qualities e.g. nobility, courage, intelligence, generosity, etc., but one flaw which drives him to commit an error of judgment, leading to a series of mistakes and his eventual downfall. PROTAGONIST: The most important character; all the action is based on him/her. ANTAGONIST: The character who presents opposition to the protagonist. THE CHORUS: A group of 3-15 (sometimes as much as 40) who sing and dance. They provide comments - advise - express the feelings of the people. EXPOSITION: It is found in the beginning of any work of art and introduces: The main character(s) -- main theme - mood (atmosphere) - Issues (sub-themes) OFFSTAGE VIOLENCE: In Greek drama, there must not be any acts of violence onstage; they can only be reported and remain offstage.

DRAMATIC IRONY: This incongruity (difference, contrast) between what is expected and what actually happens or between what is said and the truth. It means the audiences awareness of certain facts which one of the characters does not know e.g. the audiences knowledge that Oedipus is the cause of the plague that besets the city but he is ignorant of this. DENOUEMENT: The resolution, conclusion or end. Some plays have no end but are open-ended. CLIMAX: Highest point of action and is followed by a fall in action. FOIL: A character, who through contrast enhances the features of main characters. SOLILOQUY: A speech by a character, as if to himself, spoken alone on stage, revealing his inner thoughts and emotions. ORCHESTRA: The orchestra (literally, dancing space) was normally circular. It was a level space where the chorus would dance, sing and interact with the actors who were on the stage near the skene. THEATRON: The theatron (viewing-place) is where the audience sat, at first on part of the hillside, on cushions or wooden seats, which were later replaced by stone or marble seats. SKENE: The skene (tent) was the building directly behind the stage and was usually decorated as a palace, a temple or other buildings. The actors would change their costumes in it and make their entrances and exits through its doors. Also the actors playing gods and other characters could appear on the roof, if needed.