MELODY

(MELOS)

Aristotle’s Poetics &

Oedipus Rex
Helen Xu
Sally Kim
Sarada Bhagavatula
Christina Collens
Evan Gaensbauer

Block: F
Melody is the fifth principle in Aristotle’s
Poetics and functions as the musical element of
the chorus. In his analysis of the tragedy, he
states that the Chorus should be fully
integrated in to the play like an actor.
Their odes should not be “mere interludes” but
should contribute to the unity of the plot.
 -“I” and “We”-
Quotes:

Chorus—“Why has the Queen, sir, left us in such deep

passion?
I fear some wile catastrophe will out
From what she dare not tell” (55)

Chorus– “Already we have wept enough for the things we

have known,
The things we have seen. What more will your
story add?” (60)

àChoragos = a representative or member of the Chorus who

-Major Components of the Greek Theatre
Stage-
 -Parados-
Quote:

Chorus—“In Thebes, City of Light, form the Pythian House of

Gold
The gracious voice of heaven is heard
With fear my hear is riven, fear of what shall be
told.
O Healer of Delos, hear!
Fear is upon us. What wilt thou do?
/…./
To slay the Death-god, the grim enemy,
God whom will other gods abhor to see” (30-31)

Anapaests = a marching rhythm of four feet per line. In a meter,

there are
….Then four odes are followed.

Ode 1 on page 39, starting with “From the Delphian

rock the
heavenly voice denounces …” and ending
with “To think him
other than good.”

Ode 2 on page 49, after Jocasta goes to fetch the

shepherd.

Ode 3 on page 56, after Oedipus says, “Born thus, I

ask to be no
other man / Than that I am, and will know
what I am.”
 Dithyramb = a choral hymn sung in ancient
Athens in
honour of the god Dionysus.

Stasimon = formal odes (lyric songs) after the

parados

 
Stasima = lyric odes sung, along with dance,
by chorus
without the presence of actors.
 -Exodos-
Quote:

Chorus—“Behold, what a full tide of misfortune

swept over
[Oedipus’] head.
Then learn that mortal man must
always look to his
ending,
And none can be called happy until
that day when he
 Strophe = a “turning” – in other words, a
stanza in which the Chorus moves in one
direction, toward the alter

Antistrophe = the following stanza in which the

Chorus moves in the opposite direction
 -Kommos-
Quote:
Chorus— “There were rumours, of course; but
mostly old
wives’ tales.
Oedipus– Rumours? What rumours? I must hear
them all.
Chorus– He was said to have been killed by
travellers on the
road.
Oedipus– So I have heard. But where are the
witnesses?
Chorus– He’d be a bold man, sir, that would pay no
heed
In Conclusion…

Aristotle

Sophocles
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
•BOOKS:
"Oedipus." Merriam Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature. United States of
America: Merriam Webster, 2005.
 
Bellinger, Martha F. A Short History of the Drama. New York, United States of
America: Henry Holt and Company, 1927.
 
Gassner, John, and Edward Quinn. "Chorus." The Reader's Encyclopedia of
World Drama. New York, Unites States of America: A Cromwell Reference
Book, 1969.
 
Gassner, John, and Edward Quinn. "Oedipus Tyrannus." The Reader's
Encyclopedia of World Drama. New York: A Cromwell Reference Book, 1969.
 
Sophocles. The Theban Plays. London, England: Penguin Books, 1947.
 
Vaughn, Jack A. Drama A to Z: A Handbook. New York, Unites States of
America: Frederick Ungar Publishing.co, 1978.
 
WEBSITES
 
Karayannakos, Elias. The Origin of the Theatre. 1 Dec. 2007. 21 Oct. 2008
http://www.greektheatre.gr/actors.html.
 
McManus, Barbara F. "Outline of Aristotle's Theory of Tragedy." Nov. 1999
http://www.cnr.edu/home/bmcmanus/poetics.html.
 
Porter, John. "Glossary of Terms Associated with the Greek Stage." Home Page
of John R. Porter--Director of Classical, Medieval, and Renaissance Studies 23
Apr. 2007
http://homepage.usask.ca/~jrp638/CourseNotes/Glossary.html#stasimon.
 
Siegel, Janice. Dr. J's Illustrated Greek Theater. 11 Nov. 2006. 21 Oct. 2008
http://people.hsc.edu/drjclassics/lectures/theater/ancient_greek_theater.shtm.
THE END