Mimesis - From the original Greek word for
"imitation." Aristotle's chosen term to indicate the more or less
realistic re-enactment of historical experience on stage.
Tragic Hero -- a literary character who makes an error of
judgment or has a fatal flaw that, combined with fate and external forces,
results in tragedy. This is the central
character in a tragic play
Hubris -- exaggerated self pride or self-confidence
(overbearing pride), often resulting in fatal retribution. Your judgment >
The Gods It was considered the greatest sin of the ancient Greek world. The category
of acts constituting hubris for the ancient Greeks apparently broadened from
the original specific reference to molestation of a corpse or a humiliation of
a defeated foe to "outrageous treatment" in general. Hubris is used today to refer to people who
believe they are exempt from ordinary limitations on human behavior.
Hamartia – Literally translated, a hamartia is a “fatal
flaw.” In Greek tragedy, however,
hamartia refers to a typically desirable personality characteristic or course
of action that, due to unforeseen circumstances, results in tragic
consequences.
Aréte: This is the
exceptional talent or other feature of the tragic hero that places above the
ordinary population. It is generally ALSO the source of their pride (hubris)
and their hamartia.
Até: The blind
recklessness frequently displayed by tragic heroes. Tragic heroes typically act impulsively and
refuse to listen to the advice of others.
This complicates the conflict in the play and leads to the tragic
outcomes of the plot.
Prohairesis- (variously translated as "moral
character", "will", "volition", "choice",
"intention", or "moral choice" - The freedom of choice at
the end; the degree to which the Tragic Hero is free to choose.
Moira (fate) – the inescapable course of the
protagonist’s life, foreseen by the gods.
Chorus – A group of actors representing the voice of society
in a tragic play. The chorus will
occasionally interact with characters in one of the scenes. However, its most important role is to
respond to the action of each scene in a chanted “ode” which presents the
thoughts of the citizenry
Choragos – The leader of the chorus. The choragus occasionally steps out of the
main body of the chorus to interact with characters in a scene or provide
commentary during an ode.
Agon- The struggle or conflict at the center of the tragic
action.
Prologue – The opening scene in a tragic play which presents
the setting , introduces the central characters, and establishes the
conflict.
Parados – The initial ode following the prologue. This presents an opportunity for the chorus
to reveal more information about the setting and establish public opinion about
the events at the beginning of the play.
Ode – A chanted response to the events of a scene presented
by the chorus. In Greek drama, the
chorus would walk or dance from one side of the stage to another while they
chanted. Singing and dancing were
remnants of the old religious ceremonies that established the first dramatic
performances in Greece.
Recognition (Anagnorisis) – The point at which a tragic hero
becomes aware of, or accepts, the fact of his or her error in judgment. This frequently occurs at or near the climax
of the conflict in the tragedy.
Reversal – The tragic hero’s change in behavior resulting
from their recognition of error. In
tragedy, the events set in motion by the tragic characters’ actions are generally
too far advanced for the hero’s reversal of course to bring about change.
Kommós - (literally "a beating" of the
breasts in mourning) is a lyrical song of lamentation in an Athenian tragedy
that the chorus and a dramatic character sing together. A kommós occurs "when the tension of the
play rises to a climax of grief or horror or joy".
Exodus– The closing ode of the play in which the chorus
responds to the tragic events and presents the moral lesson to be learned from
the events.
Purpose of tragedy for tragic hero – is to learn wisdom and to
accept their limitations as humans before the laws of the gods. In short, the high are to be brought low so
they can see the roots of their error.
Purpose of tragedy for audience – to experience pathos, or
sympathy for the suffering experienced by the tragic hero as the result of his
or her unwitting error in judgment.
Pathos – The sympathy and sorrow felt by the audience for
the tragic hero.
Catharsis – The emotional release experienced by the
audience of a tragedy.
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