Chapter 12
Classical Aristotle GreekWe have already spoken of the constituent parts to be used as ingredients of tragedy. The separable members into which it is quantitatively divided are these: Prologue, Episode, Exode, Choral Song, the last being divided into Parode and Stasimon.
These are common to all tragedies; songs sung by actors on the stage and commoi are peculiar to certain plays.
A prologue is the whole of that part of a tragedy which precedes the entrance of the chorus.
An episode is the whole of that part of a tragedy which falls between whole choral songs.
An exode is the whole of that part of a tragedy which is not followed by a song of the chorus.
A parode is the whole of the first utterance of the chorus.
A stasimon is a choral song without anapaests or trochaics.
A commos is a song of lament shared by the chorus and the actors on the stage.
The constituent parts to be used as ingredients of tragedy have been described above; these are the separable members into which it is quantitatively divided.