dramatis personae
/'drɑ:mətispə:'sounai/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The characters in a play or story: "Dramatis personae" refers to the list of all the characters who appear in a dramatic work, such as a play, opera, or novel. It is often presented at the beginning of the script or book.
- The cast of actors: By extension, it can also refer to the group of actors who portray these characters in a performance.
Usage
- This term is used primarily in literary, theatrical, and academic contexts to discuss the characters or cast of a dramatic work.
- It is typically used as a singular noun phrase (e.g., "The dramatis personae is listed...").
- It is often italicized in writing, as it is a Latin phrase.
Examples
- Noun:
- Before the script began, there was a page listing the dramatis personae.
- The play's dramatis personae includes a king, a fool, and three sisters.
- Understanding the dramatis personae is essential for analyzing the plot's relationships.
Advanced Usage
- Metaphorical Use: The term can be used metaphorically to describe the key people involved in any real-life situation or event.
- The dramatis personae of the corporate merger included several powerful CEOs.
Variants and Related Words
- Cast (n): The group of actors performing in a play, film, or show. (A more common, modern synonym).
- Characters (n): The persons represented in a dramatic or narrative work.
- Personae (n): Plural of "persona," meaning the aspects of a person's character or the roles they assume. (Note: "Dramatis personae" is a fixed phrase; "personae" alone has a broader, often psychological, meaning).
Synonyms
- Cast of characters
- Character list
- Personnel (in a specific, often military or organizational context, not theatrical)
Notes
- "Dramatis personae" is a direct borrowing from Latin, meaning "the persons of the drama."
- There are no direct phrasal verbs or idioms derived from this specific term, as it is a fixed noun phrase.
Noun
- the actors in a play