#stichomythia

[beluosus]

Elektra How terrible that one who speaks well should be so wrong.

Chrysothemis You have truly described the fault to which you cling.

Elektra What? Do I not seem to you to speak justly?

Chrysothemis But sometimes even Justice causes harm.

Elektra I do not want to live by such laws.

—Sophocles, Elektra 1039-43

[englishlistwords]

Stichomythia

noun

dialogue in which two characters speak alternate lines of verse, used as a stylistic device in ancient Greek drama.

[androgyknee]

Can you have a word stuck in your head?

The word "stichomythia" has been going around my head for like 10 minutes

[advancedenglishjournal]

Learning Journal - 6/2/14

In the first week of term 1, we had an introductory lesson on the texts that we'd be studying as well as the context of those texts. This term, we'll be focusing on Shakespeare's play Richard III, and Al Pacino's documentary Looking For Richard as a comparative study (I think?). 

So far, we've been watching the film adaptation of Richard III, as well as going through key excerpts of the play. Whilst the film is still in Elizabethan English, it is set in 1930's Britain, and cuts out/alters certain scenes of the play. The film has been a bit difficult to keep up with, but I think I understand most of it through reading the summaries we received. However, the characters and certain details of the play have been puzzling me. 

In the team task, my task is to focus on the values contained in the play. This shouldn't be too difficult (I hope), seeing as we've done similar tasks for King Lear. Today, Ms Hewes pointed out the similarity between Lady Macbeth in Macbeth and Queen Margaret in Richard III, where they both turn to the heavens and plea for God to bestow something upon them or their enemies. So it is evident that the value of religion prophecy is heavily contained in Shakespeare's work. Also the role of women, no matter how strong their character, will always be less than a man's position in society. This was portrayed in the scene between Richard III and Lady Anne arguing (where there was the use of Stichomythia); both intelligent and witty characters, yet in the end, Richard wins.

That's all for now. Next lesson we'll continue to watch the film and study the play. Until next time. Emily.

[a-flow-of-eloquence]

Word of the day: "Stichomythia"

Stichomythia \stik-uh-MITH-ee-uh\

noun

: dialogue especially of altercation or dispute delivered by two actors in alternating lines (as in classical Greek drama)