Greek Theatre
Vocab terms and other useful info about Greek theatre
Terms
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- Stichomythia
- Technique of alternating quick, short dialogue.
- Aeschylus
- Second dramatist. Used two actors.
- Orchestra
- Dancing place for chorus.
- Sphinx
- The mythical beast that was overcome when Oedipus solved its riddle.
- Merope
- The foster mother of Oedipus, queen of Corinth.
- Thespis
- First recognized dramatist. Used only ONE actor.
- Incest
- Sexual relations between family members.
- Laius
- Oedipus killed this man, who happened to be his father and the King of Thebes.
- Jocasta
- The mother and wife of Oedipus.
- Episodes
- The different acts in a play.
- Oedipus
- Protagonist of the play, his tragic flaw is his hubris.
- Motifs
- Recurring objects or ideas.
- Hubris
- Excessive pride.
- Greek Unities
- Plays take place during ONE day, with ONE plot, in ONE place.
- Sophocles
- Author of Oedipus Rex. Added a third actor.
- Tragic Flaw
- The protagonist's flaw that causes his downfall.
- Skene
- Very back of stage.
- Parados
- Entrance to the orchestra.
- Irony of situation
- Opposite of what is expected to happen.
- Parracide
- Killing of one's father.
- Catharsis
- To arouse sensations of pity and fear and to purge emotions.
- Dramatic irony
- The audience knows something that the character does not.
- Theatron
- Place where audience is seated.
- Polybus
- The foster father of Oedipus, king of Corinth.
- Proscenium
- Front of stage.
- Foil
- Someone with opposite characteristics of the protagonist.
- Prologue
- Gives background of characters and play.
- Verbal Irony
- Sarcasm
- Stasima
- The poems/odes recited by the chorus.
- Parados
- Chorus sings/chants
- Persona
- A mask that the actors used. Showed emotion and who the actor's character was.
- Anagorisis
- Moment during play where Protagonist realizes the truth.
- Oracle
- Housed at Delphi, gives advise.
- Vicarious action
- Relating a story to a character of something that happened during the play when that character was not present.
- Antecedent action
- Action that occurs before the play begins.
- Corinth
- Oedipus was raised in this city, after being left in the mountains by his mother.
- Creon
- Character in Oedipus that is the antagonist. Becomes King of Thebes at the end of the play.