ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Dramatic convention

Okay, so imagine you are playing pretend with your friends. You all decide to put on a play, just like the ones you have seen at the theater or on TV. In a play, there are certain things that you do to make it more interesting and easier for the audience to follow along. These things are called "dramatic conventions."

One dramatic convention is called "breaking the fourth wall." This means that sometimes the characters in the play will talk directly to the audience, like you are talking to me now. They might explain things that are happening or give their opinions on the story. It's like they are breaking down an imaginary wall between the play and the audience.

Another convention is called "soliloquy." This is kind of like when you talk to yourself out loud, but in a play, the character is talking to the audience instead of themselves. They might be thinking about something, or explaining why they are doing something, or just talking about their emotions.

One more convention is called "foreshadowing." This is when the play hints at something that is going to happen later on, like a clue in a mystery story. It can create suspense and make the audience more interested in the story.

Overall, dramatic conventions are just ways to make a play more interesting, engaging, and easier to follow for the audience. Just like how you and your friends use different rules and techniques when you play pretend, actors and playwrights use dramatic conventions to make their plays more exciting and fun to watch.
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