Chorus

Definition

In ancient Greek theater, a chorus is a group of performers who sing, dance, and provide commentary on the action of the play. The chorus serves as a bridge between the audience and the actors, offering insights, reflections, and emotional context that enhance the storytelling. This collective entity can represent the voice of society or specific characters, often expressing themes and moral lessons relevant to the narrative.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The chorus typically consisted of 12 to 15 members who performed in unison, enhancing the dramatic effect of the plays.
2. Choruses often conveyed the moral and philosophical underpinnings of the story, helping to articulate themes that might not be evident through dialogue alone.
3. The chorus would often interact with the main characters, posing questions or expressing opinions that guided the audience's understanding of the plot.
4. In addition to singing and dancing, choruses were essential for providing background information about events happening off-stage, which was crucial for audience comprehension.
5. The use of a chorus became less common as theater evolved, eventually giving way to more individualized performances and less reliance on collective commentary.

Review Questions

• How does the chorus enhance the storytelling in ancient Greek theater?
  • The chorus enhances storytelling by providing commentary that deepens the audience's understanding of themes and characters. It acts as a voice of reason or morality, offering reflections that can highlight emotional moments or foreshadow events. The collective performance adds layers to the narrative, allowing viewers to connect more deeply with the underlying messages of the play.
• Discuss the role of the chorus in conveying moral lessons within ancient Greek tragedies.
  • The chorus plays a crucial role in conveying moral lessons by articulating societal values and norms that resonate with the audience. Through their songs and dialogue, they reflect on human behavior and decisions made by characters, often providing insights into right and wrong. This not only guides the audience’s perception but also prompts them to contemplate their own moral beliefs in relation to the unfolding drama.
• Evaluate how the evolution of theater impacted the function and presence of the chorus in performance art over time.
  • The evolution of theater significantly impacted the function and presence of the chorus as performances became more focused on individual character development and complex narratives. As playwrights moved toward realistic dialogue and character-driven stories, the chorus gradually diminished in importance. This shift allowed for deeper psychological exploration within characters but also led to a loss of communal voice that once provided social commentary and emotional context in ancient dramas.

Related terms

Thespis: Considered the first actor in Western drama, Thespis introduced the concept of individual character performance separate from the chorus in ancient Greek theater.

Skene: The backdrop structure in ancient Greek theater that served as a stage and space for actors to enter and exit, often where the chorus would also perform.

Stasimon: A stationary song sung by the chorus in Greek tragedies that reflects on the events of the play, usually occurring between episodes.