Crucible Vocabulary

3. the downfall of a central character
4. one having seemingly contradictory qualities or phases
7. a struggle within a character
9. the text of the play structured & organized by act & scenes
12. story developed through dialogue & action
14. background information that helps the audience understand events happening "offstage" or prior to other events
18. the audience's understanding of events or individuals in a work surpasses that of its character
19. expression by symbolic fictional figures & acts of truth or generalizations about human existence
22. light & humorous in tone & usually ends happily
23. often opposes the protagonist, giving rise to the central conflict of the play

1. italicized instructions that describe details about characters
2. specific details about a character stated explicitly often in the stage direction
5. the use of words in a way that deviates from the conventional order & meaning
6. when a reader infers what a character is like based on clues in the text
8. a major unit of actors
10. conversation between characters
11. exaggerations of tragedies & comedy that feature absurd plots, stereotypical characters, humorous dialogue, & over-the-top emotional displays
13. one hundred years
15. the central character of the play
16. a subdivision of an act that often signals a change in time or place
17. a minor character who provides a striking contrast to another character
20. struggles between a character & an outside force
21. accurate & detailed description