stasimon

Stasimon is a term from ancient Greek theatre referring to a type of choral ode sung by the chorus in a tragedy, typically between episodes of action. The stasimon functions as lyric commentary rather than onstage action, and it helps to reflect on the events just depicted and to frame upcoming developments.

The word derives from Greek and denotes a standing or stationary song performed by the chorus in the orchestra. In performance, the chorus remains on the stage area of the orchestra and delivers a musical, often meditative, reflection. The stasimon may address the gods, fate, moral concerns, or thematic aspects of the plot, linking dramatic episodes with a broader interpretive perspective.

Formally, a stasimon is usually a lyric ode that may be divided into strophes and antistrophes, employing meters appropriate to choral song. Its content often emphasizes ethical or theological dimensions, adds emotional resonance, and can set a tonal or thematic mood for the drama as a whole. Unlike the action scenes, the stasimon concentrates on contemplation, prophecy, or general statements about human fate.

Placement and examples: In classical tragedy, the chorus performs stasima after episodes and before the next, creating deliberate pauses for reflection. Surviving plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides contain multiple stasima, and individual odes are sometimes identified as stasima in scholarly discussions. Notable instances occur in works such as Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus and Antigone, where the chorus offers extended reflective passages.

Legacy: The stasimon is a central concept in the study of ancient Greek drama, distinguishing the choral ode between dramatic episodes from the opening parodos and the final exodos. In modern scholarship, it remains the label for the chorus’s reflective odes within tragedy.