Classical drama, according to Aristotle, started as
exclusively choral, in performances known as "dithyrambs". The addition of individual
actors was a later development. Choruses are used differently in tragedy and comedy.
They sometimes speak as normative voices, reminding the audience of shared standards
being violated by the characters. At other times, they may add narrative
elements.
In the actual staging of ancient tragedy,
choruses, like those of modern opera, dance, adding impressive visual components to a
drama.
In some plays choral odes are clearly connected to
plot development, but in others they serve as poetic and visual interludes with only
tenuous connections to the main plot.
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