ELA Greek play vocab

Tragedy

A play dealing with tragic events and having an unhappy ending, especially one concerning the downfall of the main character

Tragic Hero

A literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably lead to his/her own destruction.

Hamartia

A fatal flaw or an error in judment leading to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine

Fate

The development of events beyond a person’s control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power

Pathos

a quality that evokes pity or sadness.

Catharsis

the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions

onkus

wigs

Cothrurnus

shoes

Chitons

robes

Satyr

farce, slapstick, physical comedy

comedy

About commoners and their lives

Aristophanes

only writer of comedy still in existence

Sophocles

writer of Antigone

Euripides

writer of tragedy, tended to be more violent, darker subject matter

Aeschylus

oldest writer of tragedies still in existence

Tragos

"goatsong" origin of the word tragedy

Dionysus

god of wine and patron god of greek theatre. festivals held in honor showcased his plays

Thespis

First playwright and actor