COMMUNICATION THROUGH CHORUS: STRUCTURAL AND CONTENT ASPECTS (ON THE EXAMPLE OF EURIPIDES’ DRAMAS)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the role of the chorus as a communicative element in Euripides’ dramaturgy.Based on the tragedies «Iphigenia in Aulis» and «Iphigenia in Tauris», the chorus is considered as a melodic (song) component of ancient drama. The main focus is on the analysis of the structural, content and communicative functions of the chorus in the context of ancient Greek tragedy, in particular on its ability to convey, interpret and emotionally enhance the content of the events of the drama.It has been established that the choir acts as an intermediary between the characters, the audience and the author’s position, forming a unique multi-level communication model. The analysis emphasises the importance of choral parts not only as a structural element of tragedy, but also as a poetic form that deepens the psychological dimension of images and expands the semantic field of dramatic action.Particular attention is paid to the role of the chorus in creating dramatic effect, conveying moral, social and philosophical ideas, and highlighting the internal conflicts of the characters. Due to the genre and stylistic diversity of choral parts (epic, lyrical, emotionally charged) in Euripides’ dramas, the image of the chorus is formed, resonating with the key themes of tragedies: sacrifice, justice, human choice and divine will.In tragedies about Iphigenia, the chorus appears not only as an element of ritual or commentator on events, but as an active participant in moral discussion, capable of influencing the interpretation of events, audience perception, plot development and the atmosphere of the action. Within the dramatic text, the chorus exists as a multifunctional speech act in which referential, expressive, poetic, appealing and phatic functions interact, integrated into the complex structure of ancient tragedy.Thus, the article reveals the potential of the chorus as an active subject of dramatic communication and demonstrates its key role in shaping the multivectoral meaning and artistic complexity of Euripides’ tragedies.