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A plot device where an unsolvable problem is suddenly and abruptly resolved by an unexpected and unlikely occurrence. Example: In Euripides' 'Medea', a chariot sent by the sun god Helios saves Medea at the end.

A literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story. Example: In 'Death of a Salesman', Willy Loman's constant admiration for his brother's success foreshadows his own downfall.

Instructions in the script of a play that tells actors how they should move or how they should deliver a line. Example: In 'Death of a Salesman', detailed stage directions help create the setting and mood.

A scene in a play that interrupts the present action to depict an event at an earlier time. Example: In August Wilson's 'Fences', flashbacks are used to reveal Troy Maxson's history of sports and his past relationships.

A moment in a play when a character makes a critical discovery. Example: In 'Oedipus Rex', Oedipus' realization of his true parentage is a classic example of anagnorisis.

The purification or purgation of emotions, especially pity and fear, through art. Example: At the end of 'Oedipus Rex', the audience experiences catharsis through the resolution of the drama.

A quality that evokes pity or sadness. Example: In Tennessee Williams' 'The Glass Menagerie', Laura's fragility and struggles evoke a sense of pathos.

Extreme pride and self-confidence which often leads to downfall. Example: In Sophocles' 'Antigone', Creon's hubris leads to his tragic end.

The main character in a play, often considered the hero or the character with whom the audience is meant to identify. Example: In Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Salesman', Willy Loman is the protagonist.

A short remark or passage by a character in a play that is intended to be heard by the audience but unheard by the other characters in the play. Example: In Shakespeare's 'Hamlet', Hamlet delivers asides to express his inner thoughts.

A monologue in which a character in a play expresses their thoughts and feelings without addressing any of the other characters. Example: In 'Macbeth', Macbeth has a soliloquy where he contemplates the nature of life and death.

A character who opposes the protagonist, often adding conflict to the narrative. Example: In Henrik Ibsen's 'A Doll's House', Torvald Helmer can be seen as the antagonist to Nora Helmer.

A dramatic principle that states every element in a story must be necessary and irrelevant elements should be removed. Example: In Anton Chekhov's 'The Seagull', a gun introduced in the second act becomes a significant item in the story's conclusion.

When the audience knows more about a situation or a character than the characters in the play do. Example: In Sophocles' 'Oedipus Rex', the audience knows that Oedipus has killed his father and married his mother, but Oedipus himself does not.

An extended speech by one character in a play. Example: In 'A Streetcar Named Desire', Blanche DuBois gives a poignant monologue about her past.

A character trait that leads to the downfall of the protagonist. Example: In 'Hamlet', Hamlet's indecisiveness is often interpreted as his tragic flaw.

A group of characters in Greek tragedy who comment on the action of a play without participation in it. Example: In 'Antigone', the chorus offers background and commentary throughout the play.

The inclusion of a humorous character, scene, or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, to relieve tension. Example: In 'Romeo and Juliet', the Nurse's character provides moments of comedic relief.

A state of mental uncertainty, excitement, or apprehension about what may happen. Example: In 'Wait Until Dark', the suspense is built by the protagonist's blindness and the presence of villains in her home.