Modern screenplays consist of dialogues among individuals. Ancient tragedy began as a conversation between a single actor and a chorus. A second and third actor were added -- eventually.
Choral songs were divided into stanzas: strophe (turn), antistrophe (turn the other way), and epode (added song) that were sung while the chorus moved (danced). While singing the strophe an ancient commentator tells us they moved from left to right; while singing the antistrophe they moved from right to left.
> > Terminology For Tragedy
The URL for this resource page is
http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/bl_strope.htm
Strophe
This feature is copyright © 2002 N.S. Gill.
Graphic courtesy of ArtToday
|
