1. Set/Stage : a surrounding in which an event or story takes place

1. Set/Stage : a surrounding in which an event or story takes place
2. “The three unities”: a play that has unity of action, unity of time and unity of places

3. Peripety: a sudden turn of events or an unexpected reversal

4. Deus ex Machina: A crane like device is used when a new character, force, or event suddenly shows up to solve a seemingly hopeless situation.

5. Dramatic irony: when the audience knows something the characters does not

6. Hamartia: the fault in character which leads to the downfall of the leading character in a tragedy

7. Poetic justice: when virtue is rewarded and vice is punished

8. Soliloquy: when a character reveals his or her thoughts that is unaware of the presence of other characters

9. Aside: When a dialogue is said but not heard by other actors on the stage

10. Foil: when a character has characteristics that opposes the main character

11. Comic relief: is used to relieve tension in a serious work by including a funny scene or character
12. Stichomythia: a dialogue of dispute in which two characters speak alternate lines of verse

13. Blank verse: a verse without rhyme that uses iambic pentameter

14. Mise en scene: the arrangement in regards to setting of stage, actor placement, scenery etc

15. Comedy of manners: depicts the manners and behaviours of a particular class

16. Epigram: Epigram is a rhetorical device that is a memorable, brief, interesting and surprising satirical statement

17. Black humour: a form of humour that regards human suffering as illogical

18. Subtext: a message which is not stated directly but can be inferred
19. Problem play: deals with serious, controversial or taboo issues in society

20. Theatre of the absurd: plays that depicts the irrational or illogical aspect of life in which everything seems ridiculous