Bacchae Vocab Flashcards
Prologue
A monologue or scene of dialogue that establishes the setting and conflicts for the audience, and introduces the immediate issues at hand.
Parados
A song sung by the chorus as they enter the stage from the side entrances
Episode
A section of dialogue spoken by the actors, usually focused on one central issue or exchange. Each play has a multiple episodes.
Stasimon
An interlude between episodes sung by the chorus, often linked thematically to the context of the episodes. Each play has multiple stasimon.
Exodus
The final section of the play in which the action is resolved and the characters leave the stage for the final time.
Tragedy
A genre of drama originating in ancient Greece that depicts serious or sombre matters, often ending in increasing misfortunate events spurred on by the protagonist’s hamartia.
Tragic Hero
A virtuous character who is destined for downfall. This downfall must be prompted by some inherent deficiency in the person of the hero.
Hamartia
Inherent defect. or shortcoming in the hero of a tragedy, who is in other respects a superior being favoured by fortune.
Peripeteia
A “reversal of fortune”; because of the mistake, the character experiences a turn in fortune for the worse.
Anagnorisis
A recognition of how the original mistake caused the reversal of fortune.
Catharsis
The process of releasing strong or repressed emotions. In a Shakespearean context, this is felt by an audience member, typically after the conclusion of the play.
