Tragedy Key Terms Flashcards
A range of behaviours from outrageous or excessive behaviour through to physical or sexual assault
hubris
Choral ode following the parodos; second ode
stasimon
A feeling of strong emotion, perhaps pity or grief
pathos
Ritual staff made of fennel carried by Dionysus and his followers; often depicted as covered in ivy
Thyrsus
Female followers of Dionysus, who take part in the Bacchanals or sacred rites, and often seem possessed by the gods
bacchant
When an audience has information which a character or characters do not, creating humour or pathos
dramatic irony
The fatal flaw or mistake of a character, leading to their tragic downfall
hamartia
A formal song at moments of heightened emotion involving dialogue between an actor and the chorus
kommos
The first ode sung by the chorus in the play
parodos
Songs sung by the chorus
choral ode
Spiritual pollution caused by bad deeds or contact with the dead
miasma
Past events narrated by a messenger figure, often a lower class character such as a soldier or shepherd
messenger speech
Dialogue in which characters speak alternating lines, used to denote a close or alternatively a combative relationship
stichomythia
A fall from grace, often a noble or important character punished by the gods, e.g. Oedipus Rex, King Oedipus
peripeteia
