Dramatis personae is the same as ____________

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks which term means the same as dramatis personae.

Step 2: Explain the concept Dramatis personae is a Latin phrase meaning "the persons of the drama." In a printed play, it is the list of characters that appears at the beginning of the script, usually with a short description of each one. In performance terms, it refers to the characters, or the cast, of the play.

Step 3: Check each option

• A. Chorus: A group of performers (or one performer) who comment on the action, as in Greek tragedy. It is not the list of characters.
• B. Prompter: A person backstage who helps actors with forgotten lines. This is a theatre staff member, not the characters.
• C. Foil: A character who contrasts with another, usually the protagonist, to highlight that character's qualities. It is a single character type, not the whole group.
• D. Cast: The characters or actors in a play. This is the closest match to dramatis personae.

Step 4: Answer Option D, Cast, is correct.

Tip: Break the Latin down: dramatis means "of the drama" and personae means "persons" (think of "personality" or "person"). So it is simply "the people in the play," which means the cast. For similar questions, link Latin literary terms to their English roots.