For those who have not yet been introduced to the intricacies of Khon, the experience is memorable, but difficult to comprehend. They have yet to gain knowledge that the costumes and masks have remained the same for centuries because they serve to identify the individual dramatis personae. They soon recognize the mimic gestures as meaningful expressions that serve to neutralize the expressionless, even bland, faces of the unmasked dancers and the masks. Just as soon will they realize that certain pieces of music express a particular dramatic nuance, such as the one used for crying to and another used to accompany the battle scenes.