Greek theater vocab

Hamartia

The fatal flaw

Anagnorisis

The moment of realization of the fatal flaw (hamartia)

Thymele

The altar

Skene

The background, usually a castle or temple

Proskene

The stage

Parados

Where the chorus enters the scene

Orchestra

The dancing place

Theatron

The seeing place

Coilus

The semicircle shape of the theatron

Aristaea

Moment of glory

Ode

A song or poem sung by the chorus

Prologue

The introduction to a theater story, setting the stage

Monologue

A section of speech or singing done by a single character for a long period

Dialogue

An exchange between two groups or characters, taking turns singing

Stichomythic dialogue

Dialogue with short, sometimes interruptive turns.

Episode

The development of the plot through dialogue and acting

Stasimon

A choral song summarizing the events of an episode

Strophe, antistrophe

The alternating choral parts of the stasimon

Catastrophe

Sudden overturn, conclusion

Exodium

The conclusion of a theatrical play

Exodus

The exit of the chorus

Paradoi

When the chorus enters the scene

Agon

A single character who sings or speaks apart from the group

Thespis

The first person to perform the part of the agon

Choragos

The wealthy sponsor of the dramatic production, the leader of the chorus

Apostrophe

Speech to something that cannot answer