Dramatic terms and character focus
DNA by Dennis Kelly
Below are some useful dramatic and spoken language terms for writing about the play. Match up
the word with the correct definition, then find an example of each dramatic or spoken language
term from the play.
Terms:
Chorus
Dialogue
Duologue
Ellipsis
Exclamation
False start
Hierarchy
Idioms
Imperative
Incomplete utterance
Interruption
Monologue
Repetition
Symbolism
Symmetry
Definitions:
When a speaker begins
an utterance, then
stops and either
repeats or reformulates
it.
A play or part of a play
with speaking roles for
only two actors.
Correspondence
between different
things; repeated
patterns.
A commonly used
expression whose
meaning does not
relate to the literal
meaning of its words.
Speech presented by a
single character, most
often to express their
mental thoughts aloud,
though sometimes also to
directly address another
character or the audience.
A sudden cry or remark
expressing surprise,
strong emotion or pain.
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Dramatic terms and character focus
DNA by Dennis Kelly
Conversational
exchange between two
or more people.
Using an object or a
word to represent an
abstract idea.
Saying the same words
or phrases a few times,
often for emphasis.
A system of ranking
according to status or
authority.
A group of performers
(originally in the plays
of classical Greece)
who comment with a
collective voice on the
dramatic action.
A short speech preceded
and followed by silence.
Cutting in: an act or
utterance that stops
someone or
something from
happening,
sometimes resulting
in overlapping.
Expressing a command.
The omission of a word
or words, giving speech
a casual and informal
tone.
Task
1. Create a hierarchy of characters in the play. Justify your positioning using some of the
terms on the list.
2. Choose a character from the play and focus on something that they say. Which words
characterise their interactions. Why? Contrast with a second character.
3. Choose a section of the play and annotate using any appropriate terms from the list.
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Dramatic terms and character focus
DNA by Dennis Kelly
Definitions matched up:
Chorus
A group of performers (originally in the plays of classical Greece)
who comment with a collective voice on the dramatic action.
Dialogue
Conversational exchange between two or more people.
Duologue
A play or part of a play with speaking roles for only two actors.
Ellipsis
The omission of a word or words, giving speech a casual and informal tone.
Exclamation
A sudden cry or remark expressing surprise, strong emotion or pain.
False start
When a speaker begins an utterance, then stops and either repeats
or reformulates it.
Hierarchy
A system of ranking according to status or authority.
Idioms
A commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to
the literal meaning of its words.
Imperative
Expressing a command.
Incomplete
utterance
A short speech preceded and followed by silence.
Interruption
Cutting in: an act or utterance that stops someone or something
from happening, sometimes resulting in overlapping.
Monologue
Speech presented by a single character, most often to express their
mental thoughts aloud, though sometimes also to directly address
another character or the audience.
Repetition
Saying the same words or phrases a few times, often for emphasis.
Symbolism
Using an object or a word to represent an abstract idea.
Symmetry
Correspondence between different things; repeated patterns.
© www.teachit.co.uk 2016
25653
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