4 Greek Trajedy The following list is compiled from Aristotle’s Poetics and it contains the six main elements of a Tragedy: I. plot – how the action is arranged A. tragedy:  a play with a serious theme that usually ends unhappily for the main character set in motion by some tragic flaw in his/her personality (harmartia). B. hubris:  arrogance demonstrated by a character as a result of his/her pride or passion C. foreshadowing:  clues as to what will probably happen later in the play D. climax:  the highest point of emotional tension or the turning point of the plot E. catharsis:  the purification of a character’s emotions and/or the relief of emotional tension F. denouement:  the resolution of the main conflict (not usually a happy outcome for the main character) II. characters – the people in the play III.theme – the main idea or message as the central focus IV.language/diction – the words spoken or sung by the characters V. music – the odes sung by the chorus and choragus (in Greek tragedy) VI.spectacle – the scenes, props, costumes, masks... anything visual A Greek tragedy is structured as follows: I.   Prologue:  Spoken by one or two characters before the chorus appears. The prologue       usually gives the background information needed to understand the events of the play. II.  Parodos:  the song sung by the chorus as it makes its entrance III. Episodes/Scenes:  the main action of the play IV. Odes:  songs (and often dance) that reflect on the events of the episodes, and weave the                    plot into a cohesive whole       A.  Choragos:  the leader of the chorus who often interacts with the       characters in the scenes.      B.  Chorus: the singers/dancers who remark on the action                         1.  strophe:  the movement of the chorus from right to left across the stage 2.  antistrophe:  the reaction to the strophe, which moves across the stage from      left to right.