M.K.BHAVNAGAR UNIVERSITYDEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

Name :- Gohil Devangiba A.M.A. Semester – 1Roll No. :- 16Paper No:-3 (Literary Theory & Criticism)Topic :- Literary Terms Chorus, Deus Ex Machina, Tragic HeroSubmitted to. :- Department Of English

Chorus The Chorus inhabited the orchestra. The actors spoke from the logeion. Only three actors were on stage at a time.The scene often functioned as a backdrop. It would also house the machinery for a Deus ex Machina.

Actors (only male) wore personae (masks), and

eventually cothurni (thick-soled shoes)to make them look larger.

Function of The Chorus

An agent : gives advice, asks, takes part. establishes ethical framework, sets up

standard by which function will be judged.

ideal spectator-reacts as playwright hopes audience would.

sets mood and heightens dramatic effects. adds movements, spectacle, song and

dance. rhythmical function- pauses/ paces the

action that the audience can reflect.

The chorus was considered to be the mouthpiece of society and morality.

They were suffering along with the Heroes.

for the tragedy, the chorus was very solemn.

In comedies, the chorus was funny.

Tragic Hero must be morally good.

(doesn’t mean won’t mess -up) Believable, true to life character. Consistent in their actions. must have a tragic Flaw. must discover they have done wrong and try to atone.

The tragic Hero Figure According to Aristotle.

A person of “high estate”

Fallible (has a tragic Flaw)

Hamartia :- error,

transgression, flaw

or weakness

in character

Hubris :- excessive pride and overconfi

dence

Deus Ex Machina

Translates to “deity from out of a machine.” from Greek and Roman dramas it characters found themselves in an impossible situation, a god would be cowered from a crane to resolve the problem. God who resolves a plot; in ancient Greek and roman theater, a god introduced to resolve a complicated plot. only a deus ex machina could resolve the novel’s thorny crisis. Part of speech – NOUN Word origin – NEW LATIN