Don Quixote and Cyrano de Bergerac

Lit Devices

Parody

A humorous imitation of another, usually serious, work.• Most often uses exaggeration or distortion to

ridicule the work, its style, or its author.

Drama

(AKA a play)

A story written to be performed by actors

Comedy

A literary work, especially a play, that has a happy ending.

• Often show ordinary characters in conflict with their society

• Romantic comedy– Problems between lovers

• Comedy of manners– Satirically challenges social customs of a sophisticated

society• Often contrasts with tragedy

Tragedy

• Literature or drama that shows the downfall or destructions of a noble or outstanding person, traditionally one who possess a character weakness called a flaw.– Tragic hero

Divisions of a play

ActSubdivision of a play; there are typically five acts in a Shakespeare play

SceneFurther subdivision of a play

Chit chatDialogue

Conversation between characters

PunPlay on words involving a word with multiple meanings or two words that sound alike but have different meanings

AsideA character revealing his or her true thoughts or feelings in a remark that is unheard by other characters

Chit chat cont’dSoliloquy

A lengthy speech in which a character—usually alone on stage—expresses his or her true feelings; a soliloquy is unheard by other characters

Monologue

A lengthy speech by one person; a monologue is addressed to other characters

IronyIrony exists when speech or events are

incongruous or the opposite of what is expected or intended. There are three types of irony: situational, verbal, and dramatic irony.

Situational IronyThe difference between what is expected to

happen and what actually does

Example:My mother is a professional make-up artist, but I rarely—if ever—wear make up.

Verbal IronySaying the opposite of what you mean

AKA—SARCASM!

Mrs. France saying, “Oh yeah, I love Algebra. I’m so good at it.”

Dramatic IronyWhen the audience knows more about what’s

about to happen in the play than the characters themselves

When Romeo heard that Juliet was dead, we knew she was actually alive, but he didn’t.