Greek Tragedy Vocabulary

anagnorisis

The critical moment of recognition or discovery

caparison

a usually ornamental covering for a horse’s saddle or harness, trappings, richly ornamented clothing; finery

catharsis

a purifying or figurative cleansing or release of emotions or of tension, esp. through art

didactic

intended to instruct. morally instructive; inclined to teach or moralize excessively

dirge

a funeral hymn or lament; a slow, mournful musical composition or poem

effulgent

shining brilliantly; resplendent

elegiac

Pertaining to an elegy; expressing sorrow, mournful; composed in couplets whose first line is dactylic hexameter and second a pentameter

flinty

Unyielding, stern; containing or composed of a very hard fine-grained quartz.

Hamartia

Missing the mark, a tragic flaw

hubris

arrogance

incarnadine

Flesh-colored, blood red

jobbery

corruption among public officials 

legion

a large number, multitude

Myrmidon

A faithful follower who carries out orders without question

Paean

A song of joyful praise or exultation

peripeteia

abrupt and unexpected change (such as a reversal)

progeny

Children; result of creative effort; product

promulgate

To announce publicly

putrescence

putrid matter

vicissitude

change or variation  sudden or unexpected changes or shifts often encountered in one’s life, activities or surroundings.