Chorus/Chorodia
• Chorus- upon entering the stage from the aisles for the first time, they sang a song called a parados. The Chorus leader engaged in dialogue with the characters and the entire Chorus sang and danced at certain times.
• The Chorus of Medea is composed of the women of Corinth. They deliver much of the exposition and expounds (detailed statements) poetically on theme.
• The Chorus is both horrified and enthralled by Medea.
• They admire that she is powerful and fearless and refuses to be wronged by men. Represent traditional attitude towards the action
• At times the Chorus engages in the dialogue directly.
• Hamartia- is a Greek work rooted in the notion of “missing the mark”; translated it means mistake, flaw, failure, or sin. It is through the hamartia the audience experiences the catharis.
• Hubris- excessive self- pride or confidence. Crucial to this definition is the Ancient Greek’s concepts of honor and shame.
• Pathos- appeals to the audience’s emotions. It is part of Aristotle’s philosophies in rhetoric (along with logos and ethos). Pathos is the use of emotional appeals to alter the audience’s judgment.
• Catharsis- Greek word meaning “cleansing” or “purification”. Through tragedy the audience pities the tragic hero on some level. The pity brings about the catharsis. This is necessary for moral order to be restored.
• Deus ex machina- any artificial or improbable device resolving the difficulties of a plot
• Exodus- exit; end of play
