Five act structureFive act structure

Five ActsFive Acts

• Shakespeare follows the Greek format developed by Sophocles.

• Tragic character suffers a reversal of fortune

• Reversal of fortune brought on by tragic flaw.– Tragic flaw: moral weakness or human

error that causes the protagonist’s downfall

• Shakespeare follows the Greek format developed by Sophocles.

• Tragic character suffers a reversal of fortune

• Reversal of fortune brought on by tragic flaw.– Tragic flaw: moral weakness or human

error that causes the protagonist’s downfall

Types of PlaysTypes of Plays• Tragedy: A play in which the main

character, called the tragic hero, suffers a downfall. The downfall may result from outside forces or a tragic flaw of the character.

• Comedy: A type of play that deals with light and amusing subjects or with serious subjects in a light or satirical manner.

• Tragedy: A play in which the main character, called the tragic hero, suffers a downfall. The downfall may result from outside forces or a tragic flaw of the character.

• Comedy: A type of play that deals with light and amusing subjects or with serious subjects in a light or satirical manner.

ExpositionExposition

• Act 1: Audience is introduced to the setting, characters, and germ of a conflict.

• Act 1: Audience is introduced to the setting, characters, and germ of a conflict.

Rising ActionsRising Actions• Act II: The course

of the action becomes more complicated. Interests clash, intrigues are spawned, events accelerate in a definite direction. Tensions mount and momentum builds.

• Act II: The course of the action becomes more complicated. Interests clash, intrigues are spawned, events accelerate in a definite direction. Tensions mount and momentum builds.

Climax of the ActionClimax of the Action

• ACT III: The development of conflict reaches its high point, the Hero stands at the crossroads, leading to victory or defeat, crashing or soaring.

• ACT III: The development of conflict reaches its high point, the Hero stands at the crossroads, leading to victory or defeat, crashing or soaring.

Falling ActionFalling Action• ACT IV: Reversals: The

consequences of Act 3 play out, momentum slows, and tension is heightened by false hopes/fears. There is still hope for the hero.

• ACT IV: Reversals: The consequences of Act 3 play out, momentum slows, and tension is heightened by false hopes/fears. There is still hope for the hero.

Catastrophe/ResolutionCatastrophe/ResolutionAct V: The

conflict is resolved, whether through a catastrophe, the downfall of the hero, or through his victory and transfiguration.

Act V: The conflict is resolved, whether through a catastrophe, the downfall of the hero, or through his victory and transfiguration.

Additional VocabularyAdditional Vocabulary• Aside: A comment made by a character

that is heard by the audience or another character, but is not heard by the other characters on stage.

• Soliloquy: Long speech delivered by a character who is alone onstage. Reveals the private thoughts and emotions of the character.

• Comic Relief: A short, funny episode that interrupts an otherwise serious or tragic work of drama.

• Aside: A comment made by a character that is heard by the audience or another character, but is not heard by the other characters on stage.

• Soliloquy: Long speech delivered by a character who is alone onstage. Reveals the private thoughts and emotions of the character.

• Comic Relief: A short, funny episode that interrupts an otherwise serious or tragic work of drama.

More VocabularyMore Vocabulary• Monologue: Long speech by a

character that sets the scene and gives information to the actors.

• Elizabethan Stage: Three stories high, open area in the center with a stage that juts out from the center. No props, scenery or costumes. All male actors.

• Monologue: Long speech by a character that sets the scene and gives information to the actors.

• Elizabethan Stage: Three stories high, open area in the center with a stage that juts out from the center. No props, scenery or costumes. All male actors.

More VocabularyMore Vocabulary

• Concealment: a literary device that means to hold back information in order to keep the audience in suspense

• Stage Directions: written instructions that explain how actors should look, speak, move, and behave.

• Concealment: a literary device that means to hold back information in order to keep the audience in suspense

• Stage Directions: written instructions that explain how actors should look, speak, move, and behave.

The Globe TheaterThe Globe Theater