Greek tragedies followed certain conventions: They were performed in large outdoor theaters holding thousands, with no microphones or scene changes. The chorus commented on the action through songs between dramatic episodes, helping establish mood and interpret events. Plays focused on a single storyline over a short period in a single location, with the chorus representing community thoughts.

1. Structure of
Greek Tragedy
and the Role of
the Chorus
What you need to know
when reading Oedipus Rex

2. The awesome amphitheater
 Plays were performed in HUGE outdoor
amphitheatres that could seat 40,000
people (Yankee Stadium seats 52, 325)
 No microphones! But you can hear a penny
drop from all the way at the top!

3. Cast And action
 All actors were men. They wore masks to
depict which characters they were.
 There were no scene changes (no
backstage!)
 The audience knew the story ahead of time.
The emotion of the characters was what
they came to see.
 Violent action took place offstage (I.e.
audience had to imagine it). Messengers
then told the audience what happened.

4. Unity of Time, Place, and
Action
 Greek plays were much different
from the films we are used to:
 The unity of action: Play follows one
main storyline with no or few subplots.
 The unity of place: play occurs in a
single place and does not change
setting (the stage represents one place)
 The unity of time: the action in a play
should take place over no more than 24
hours.

5. So what is the chorus?
 The chorus was a group of 12-15 men who
sang and danced during the plays.
 They often represent the community’s
thoughts but not necessarily the poet’s
thoughts.
 In Oedipus Rex, the chorus is made of
senators – wise old guys!

6. The Role of the Chorus
 To set the mood of the play and tell us the themes
 To interpret the action in relation to the law of the
state and the law of the Olympian gods
 To divide the action and offer reflection on events
 To give background information
 (Think of it like you have all your grandparents,
aunts, and uncles sitting around commenting on
your life)

7. Structure of Tragedy
 A Greek Tragedy alternates between
odes and episodes
 Odes are songs sung by the chorus
to comment on the action
 Episodes are when characters talk
together (Dialogue)

8. In more detail…
 Prologue: The first part of the play that give
background information.
 Parodos: The first song the chorus sings.
 Choral Ode: At the end of each episode, the
other characters leave the stage and the chorus
sings!

9. The End
 Exodos: At the end of play, the chorus exits
singing a processional song which usually
offers words of wisdom related to the actions
and outcome of the play.
 This is the “moral” of the story where the chorus
tells us what we were have supposed to learn
from the characters

10. Exit Slip
 What is an ode? What is an
episode? How do they work in a
Greek Tragedy?
 What does unity of time and
place mean in Greek tragedy?
 Name 2 purposes of the chorus
in a Greek tragedy.
 What would be the benefit of
being in a chorus?