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Difficulty: Very hardDramatic Devices and Conventions

Complete the statement below regarding theatrical conventions and structural devices by providing the precise literary term for each blank.

Answer:In dramatic structure, the narrative device wherein an author temporarily interrupts the forward chronological sequence of action to present an earlier event that illuminates present character motivation is known as a 【flashback】, whereas a long, uninterrupted speech delivered by a single character directly to other characters present on stage is classified as a dramatic 【monologue】.

Answer

blank_1: flashback (or analepsis); blank_2: monologue
A flashback (or analepsis) breaks chronological order to depict prior events that explain present actions. A dramatic monologue is a sustained speech by one character delivered to other characters present on stage.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structural function described in the first part of the sentence.
The insertion of a past event into the current chronological narrative sequence to provide backstory is identified as a flashback (or analepsis).
Flashback moves the timeline backward to explain current dramatic conflicts or character motives.
2
Analyze the staging context and audience of the speech described in the second part of the sentence.
An extended speech given by one character to other characters on stage is a dramatic monologue.
Unlike a soliloquy where the speaker is alone or speaking to themselves/audience, a dramatic monologue is addressed to listeners present within the dramatic scene.

Key Concept

Dramatic Devices and Conventions: Flashback vs. Monologue
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Dramatic Devices and Conventions

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