| A | B |
|---|
| Thespis | first actor; carried his "set" and performed in a wagon; credited with creating the prologue, set speech, dialogue, and conversing with the Chorus |
| Chorus | 12-15 male actors; dance and recite lines in meter; represent the community or city |
| Theater | in the round (semi-circle); |
| 40,000 | maximum number of spectators at some theaters |
| theater seating | stone seats; best for wealthy men, worst for poor men and women |
| Orchestra | flat circular area where Chorus performed; included a thymele or altar |
| Skene | back wall of stage with doors to changing room; includes some sparse and unrealistic scenery |
| Parodos | ramps into Orchestra by which the Chorus entered and exited |
| Deus ex Machina | crane situated above the Skene by which a god could be lowered onto to stage |
| Hamartia | tragic flaw causing downfall of protagonist; does not exist in Oedipus |
| Characters | maximum of three male actors on stage at any time; wore masks to change roles |
| Performance | no violence on stage b/c performed at religious festival for Dionysus |
| City Dionysia | most famous religious festival lasting five days; took place in Athens; plays performed in competitions |
| Tetralogies | plays presented by an author in groups of four: three tragedies and a comedy or satyr play; paid for by wealthy citizen |
| Themes | the fate of heroes |
| Catharsis | Aristotle's "purging of the emotions of pity and fear" |
| Aeschylus, Euripides, Sophocles | most famous writers of tragedies |
| Aristophanes | most famous writer of comedies; author of FROGS |
