Core Vocab
This term refers to justice or the moral order often challenged or upheld in Greek tragedy.
What is dikē?
This term relates to the division of judgment or resolution of disputes.
What is krinein?
This term describes the longing or yearning often seen in tragic narratives.
What is pothos?
This term refers to the role of gods or semi-divine beings in the mortal world. hint: you can be blessed with a good (this word)
What is daimōn?
This term refers to the state of happiness or prosperity, often fleeting in tragedy.
What is olbios?
In tragedy, this term signifies the ruin or delusion that leads a character to misfortune. (hint: think Agamemnon; both in Iliad & his own play)
What is atē?
A lament for the dead, often expressed by a chorus in tragedy.
What is penthos?
The ultimate goal or fulfillment of a sequence of events in tragedy.
What is telos?
A Greek hymn or tale often used to convey moral lessons or praise gods.
What is ainos?
Homecoming
What is nostos?
This term describes the intellect or reason, particularly in moments of decision-making
What is noos?
The term for a hero’s helper or attendant, frequently seen in Greek epics and tragedies.
What is therapōn?
This term signifies pollution or defilement, often tied to moral or ritual transgressions.
What is miasma?
The group / worship that builds up around a hero or figure in disparate regions after their death.
What is hero cult?
A formal grief ritual performed mainly by a group of women or girls.
What is lament?
In the context of the tragedies, this term represents honor or worth, often tied to status. (hint: not kleos)
What is timē?
A term for the perpetual renown or fame that a hero seeks through their deeds.
What is kleos?
The "hour" or critical moment of decision that leads to irreversible consequences. This word is also used to describe the seasons, passage of time, etc. in epic, or the __ of a hero's fate.
What is hōrā?
A divine prophecy or oracle influencing mortal decisions.
What is sēmainein?
The negative tension, force, or rivalry that drives the plot of many Greek tragedies.
What is antagonism?
A term referring to a visible sign or omen, often a divine message in the plays.
What is sēma?
A contest or struggle, central to the conflicts in Greek tragedy.
What is agōn?
This term describes the unending or imperishable, often linked to divine qualities.
What is aphthiton?
The structured narrative of a hero’s life and deeds, both large-scale and personal. Hint: we see this structure often in Homer
What is micronarrative/macronarrative?
The ultimate recognition or remembrance of the hero’s deeds. Not through epic poetry.
What is memnēmai?