Parts of The Greek Theatre
Greek Figures
Dramatic Structure
Greek Potpourri
Greek Terminology
100

Semicircular space in front of the stage used by the chorus in ancient Greek theaters.

Orchestra

100

General, civic leader, ambassador, and priest; Superb plot construction with an exploration of character and a focus on the individual

Sophocles

100

A scene in which two or more characters confront each other and the plot starts to develop

Episode

100

Social and cultural activity of sharing stories with improvisation, theatrics, or embellishment

Storytelling

100

A combination of three tragedies and one satyr play by a single playwright

Tetralogy

200

A structure at the back of the stage in ancient Greek theater. It faced the audience and provided a background for performances.

Skene

200

Considered the most “modern”; Sympathetic portrayal of women, greater realism, mixture of melodrama with comedy, and skeptical treatment of the gods and heroes

Euripides

200

A narrative monologue by the chorus

Ode

200

Name 2 of the 6 elements of drama

Plot, Characters, Theme, Language, Music, and Spectacle

200

A group of actors that sang, danced, and recited vital information that is narrative to the plot

Chorus

300

Where the spectators sit; usually part of a hillside overlooking the orchestra

Theatron

300

First person to develop drama into a form separate from singing, dancing, or storytelling and was fond of theatrical spectacle

Aeschylus

300
The opening scene, sets the action and provides background information

Prologos

300

Stories that were told as an attempt to explain natural and human events

Myth

300

Makes fun of society, politics, or culture with recognizable public figures at the center

Old Comedy

400

A large platform that was wheeled out from the skene to indicate a change in the setting

Ekkyklema

400

Known as the first critic; Philosopher and scientist who described and catalogued the world he saw around him; Created a system of dramatic analysis from his work, “The Poetics“ 

Aristotle

400

The final scene

Exodos

400

What is the name of the work by Aristotle that serves as a foundational philosophical treatise on literary theory, specifically focusing on analysis of the dramatic structure?

The Poetics

400

Comedy of manners that focused on domestic situations and bourgeois life in the cities

New Comedy

500

The paths by which the chorus and some actors (such as those representing messengers or people returning from abroad) made their entrances and exits

Parados

500

The first writer of tragedy and first actor

Thespis

500

The entrance of the chorus is called what?

Parados

500

The god of wine, fertility, and revelry

Dionysis

500

A brief comedic parody of social events, politics, or mans’ banter in general

Satyr Play