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The process of releasing deep emotions through art, often leading to relief and enlightenment. Critiques often focus on how a play's narrative triggers this emotional purification in the audience.

Excessive pride or self-confidence that leads to a character's downfall. Critics often point out hubris to demonstrate the moral lesson or downfall of the protagonist.

The audience's intentional avoidance of critical thinking or judgment to believe improbable elements of the storyline for enjoyment. Used in critique to assess how a play encourages or fails to maintain this imaginative leap.

The extent to which a work's appearance is true to life; its believability. Critics use this term to discuss how convincingly a play portrays reality.

A plot device where an unsolvable problem is suddenly resolved by an unexpected occurrence. Critiques generally view this as a sign of poor writing, due to its lack of foreshadowing and sudden resolution.

A character's tragic flaw that leads to their downfall. In critique, it's used to analyze character development and the internal dynamics of the tragic hero.

The imaginary barrier that separates the performers from the audience. In critique, it is used to discuss the level of engagement or separation between the audience and the performance.

The aspect of a play that leads the audience to feel pity and sorrow. Critiques use pathos to assess the emotional impact of the play on the audience.

The arrangement of scenery and stage properties in a play. Critics use mise en scène to discuss how these elements contribute to the tone, atmosphere, and overall storytelling of the production.

A genre that blends aspects of tragedy and comedy. Critics use this term to classify and critique works that cannot be easily defined as purely tragic or comedic.

The moment in a play when a character makes a critical discovery. It's used in critique to analyze the turning point and the character's realization that often leads to the climax of the narrative.

A silent, motionless depiction of a scene created by actors who are often in costume, carefully posed, and lit. The concept is discussed in critiques to assess the visual storytelling and symbolism in a play.

A style of theatre that self-consciously comments on the nature of theatre or the production itself. Meta-theatre is critiqued for its ability to engage with its own artifice and audience expectations.

The list of characters in a play. Critiques often refer to this to discuss character complexity, representation, and relationships within the narrative.

The method of presenting a play or a scene on stage, including set design, actors' movements, and technical elements. Used in critique to discuss the effectiveness and creativity of the visual presentation.

The arch that frames the stage in a proscenium theatre and separates the stage from the auditorium. Critiques may discuss how the proscenium arch affects the audience's view and the visual aspects of a production.

A recurring element in a play that holds symbolic significance. In critique, motifs are discussed to uncover deeper meanings, themes, and emotional resonance within the play.

The final resolution or clarification of the plot in a play. When critiquing, this term is used to analyze the effectiveness of the play's conclusion and resolution of its themes and conflicts.

A speech delivered by a character alone on stage, revealing their inner thoughts or feelings. In critique, soliloquies are examined for their contribution to character development and audience understanding.