Flashcards in Greek Theater Deck (30)
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1
Thespis
First to pull an actor from the chorus to interact with them, called the father of drama (actors are called Thespians)
2
Aeschylus
Followed Thespis and pulled 2 actors out of the chorus, now conflict could exist between characters, chorus was reduced in size
3
Sophocles
Pulled 3 actors out of the chorus in order to create an even more solid plot
4
Euripides
Known for being the last great Greek dramatist, made the chorus nonexistent and used exclusively actors
5
Aristophanes
Famous for writing comedies (but also wrote tragedies, just more known for comedy)
6
Chorus
Group that comments on the action of a play without participating
7
Hypokrite
Greek word for actor, translates to "wearer of masks"
8
Persona
Personality traits of a character represented by masks in Greek theater (anger, happiness, grief, arrogance, etc.), also another name for a mask
9
Prologos
The opening or introduction of a play
10
Episodia
The various scenes of a play that made up the plot
11
Stasimon
Choral Odes (when the chorus comments on the action of the show)
12
Strophe/Antistrophe
Various stanzas in a choral ode in which the chorus dance in different directions, left then right
13
Festival of Dionysus
Festival about partying and revelry to recognize the god of wine
14
Greek Theater
Developed from dithyrambs
15
Amphitheater
The outdoor theaters in which the Greeks performed plays, open air, semi-circular, and built into a hill
16
Theatron
Where the audience sat
17
Orchestra
Flat circular structure at the bottom of the Theatron where the Chorus was positioned
18
Thymele
Altar where animals were sacrificed to the gods before plays
19
Parados
The part of the structure where the participants walk into the Amphitheater, then an actual parading in of the Chorus following the Prologue
20
Skene
A wall that had doors in it that made up the scenery and allowed actors to rest, leave the stage, or change clothes
21
Dithyramb
A hymn to Dionysus that Greek theater came out of
22
Satyr Play
A sexual/comedic play often involving physical comedy
23
Kothernoi
Elevated shoes that helped increase presence of actors
24
Unity
3 elements that have to be unified: action, place, and time. Plays could only take place over the course of 24 hours or less, in one setting, with a certain action in mind
25
Hamartia
Greek word for the fatal flaw
26
Hubris
Excessive pride
27
Recognition
The point at which a character understands his or her situation as it really is
28
Cosmic Irony
Occurs when God, fate, or some larger force seems to be intentionally deceiving characters into believing they can escape their fates
29
Deus ex Machina
"God from the machine," when a higher power intervenes in a story (which is almost like a cop-out to finishing the plot)
30
