Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
Unrhymed iambic pentameter used extensively in English Renaissance drama, particularly by Shakespeare.
A poetic or dramatic listing of a person's attributes or characteristics, often used to praise or mock.
Loud, aggressive, or boastful speech or behavior, often exaggerated for comic or dramatic effect.
An old-fashioned dagger or sharp instrument, referenced famously in Shakespeare’s 'Hamlet' as a symbol of suicide.
An archaic word meaning 'useless' or 'without result,' commonly found in Shakespearean dialogue.
Short trousers worn historically by men; also refers to roles in which women dressed as men, common in older theatrical traditions.
A lively or playful leap or dance; in drama, it can refer to light-hearted mischief or comic adventure.
A high-ranking church official, typically used in period or religious dramas to embody power, hierarchy, or moral dilemma.
Relating to the reign of Charles I of England; Caroline theatre often featured court masques and early tragicomedies.
A child believed to be swapped by fairies; in drama, symbolizes identity and transformation.
The English monarch who restored the theatre in 1660 after Puritan suppression, supporting the emergence of Restoration drama.
To scold or rebuke, frequently appearing in English Renaissance drama.