Key Terms for Module 1: Aeschylus and Sophocles

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Module 1: Aeschylus and Sophocles.

Aetiology

Story of a cause

Anagnōrisis

Recognition

Antistrophe

The second section of a choral ode; movement in the opposite direction, following the strophe and using the same metrical pattern

Aretē

Excellence (virtue or outstanding quality)

Aulos

Pipe

Aulētēs

Piper

Catharsis

Purification, purgation (emotional release)

Chorēgos

Producer

Choros

Dance; the band of dancers

Deus ex machina

God from the machine; unforeseen divine intervention that resolves a plot

Eisodos

Road in; entrances to the stage or orchestra

Ekkuklēma

Roll-out platform to display interior spaces (used to reveal scenes)

Ephēbe

Adolescent male

Epode

Aftersong; closing section of the ode, sung while the chorus stands still

Hamartia

Flaw, fallibility, or defect of character

Hiketeia

Supplication

Hubris

Violence or insolence; excessive pride

Kommos

Lament song sung in alternating turns between chorus and a main character; mournful gesture

Mēchanē

Crane (the hoist mechanism on stage)

Mimesis

Imitation

Metic

Resident foreigner

Miasma

Pollution

Nostos

Homecoming

Orchēstra

Dancing place

Parodos

Road from the side; chorus’ entrance song

Pathos

Suffering or calamity

Peripeteia

Reversal

Skēnē

Stage building

Stichomythia

Row speech; alternating lines of dialogue

Strophe

Turn; opening section of a choral ode