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Mimesis is a term meaning imitation of life in art, made famous by Aristotle in his work 'Poetics'.

Subtext refers to the underlying meaning or message in a drama that is not stated explicitly by the characters, often analyzed in modern drama.

Catharsis refers to the emotional release experienced by the audience after the climax of a tragedy. It originates from Aristotle's 'Poetics'.

Verisimilitude is the appearance of being true or real in literature, a notion advanced by many theorists, including Samuel Taylor Coleridge's 'willing suspension of disbelief'.

Anagnorisis refers to the moment in a play when a character makes a critical discovery, Aristotle developed this concept.

Commedia dell'arte is an improvised form of popular comedy in Italian theatres in the 16th century, characterized by stock characters and scenarios.

The Three Unities are rules for drama derived from Aristotle's 'Poetics', comprising unity of action, unity of time, and unity of place.

Intermedio is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music, dance, and elaborate sets, popular in 16th to 17th-century Italy, serving as a precursor to opera.

Soliloquy is a speech where a character speaks to themselves, revealing their thoughts to the audience without addressing any of the other characters, used by playwrights such as Shakespeare.

Well-made Play (French: pièce bien faite) is a dramatic genre from 19th-century France, characterized by a tightly knit plot and a climax that is resolved by means of a logical and satisfying resolution, pioneered by Eugène Scribe.

Stichomythia is a dramatic exchange of one-line speeches, often found in Greek tragedy, creating a sense of tension and conflict.

Deus ex Machina is a plot device where an improbable event solves all problems, originally found in Greek tragedies involving gods intervening.

Expressionism is an artistic style where the artist seeks to express emotional experience rather than impressions of the external world, often distorting reality for emotional effect in plays.

Naturalism is a literary movement that aims to reproduce a realistic representation of life, influenced by the scientific approach to the human condition, promoted by playwrights like Émile Zola.

Peripeteia signifies a sudden reversal of fortune or change in circumstances in a drama, another key concept from Aristotle's 'Poetics'.

The Fourth Wall is a theatrical term for the imaginary barrier between the actors and the audience, a concept breached by modern and postmodern playwrights.

Denouement is the final part of a play or narrative where the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved.

Pathos is an element that evokes pity or sadness from the audience, often used by writers to create emotional connections with characters.

An Aside is a brief remark by a character intended to be heard by the audience but not by other characters, commonly found in Shakespeare's plays.

Poetic Justice is a fitting retribution for actions, where virtue is ultimately rewarded, and vice punished, often used in a moralistic context.

Hamartia represents the protagonist's tragic flaw that leads to their downfall, a concept originally defined by Aristotle.

A Monologue is a long speech by one actor in a play or film, used to express their thoughts aloud or directly address another character or the audience.

Dramatic Irony occurs when the audience knows something that the characters do not, creating tension or humor.

Hubris is the concept of extreme pride and arrogance which often leads to the protagonist's downfall, frequently discussed in the context of Greek tragedy.