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choral ode

choral ode

9.9
A song sung by the chorus in Greek plays to comment on the action
  • noun
  • /ˈkɔrəl oʊd/
  • Literature
translation icon : oda coral
  • Scholars have studied the structure and themes of the choral ode in ancient Greek tragedies.

Examples

  • The choral ode echoed through the theater.

  • The choral ode provided emotional commentary on the events unfolding in the play.

  • During the performance, the choral ode captured the collective response of the citizens to the hero's fate.

  • In many plays, the choral ode provides insight into the characters' emotions.

  • In the play, the choral ode reflects the tragic fate of the main character, enhancing the emotional impact.

  • The director chose a haunting melody for the choral ode to underscore the themes of loss and despair.

  • During the performance, the actors paused for a choral ode that provided insight into the moral dilemmas faced by the protagonists.

Surface Forms

choral ode singular
choral odes plural

Morphology

choral + ode

The meaning 'an ode sung by a chorus' follows directly from combining 'choral' (sung by a choir/chorus) with 'ode' (a lyrical poem), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the phrase. Though somewhat domain-specific (classical drama), the composition is regular and parallels similar constructions in other languages, making it readily comprehensible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

The phrase choral ode comes from old Greek plays where a group of singers, the chorus, sang an ode, a short song that reacted to the story. So a choral ode means a song by the chorus that 'comments on' or reacts to the action of the play.