In ancient Athenian drama, the chorus served as a crucial bridge between the actors on stage and the audience in the theater. Composed of a group of performers who sang and danced, the chorus would comment on the unfolding events of the play and reflect on the moral implications of the characters' choices. For instance, in Sophocles's tragedy *Antigone*, the chorus of Theban elders expresses sorrow over the impending doom of the protagonist, highlighting the emotional weight of her conflict with the king. This shared commentary helped guide the audience's emotional response and reinforced the play's central themes.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
- AIt suggests that ancient Athenian playwrights disagreed on the correct structure of a theatrical chorus.
- It provides a specific example to illustrate how a chorus functions within a theatrical production.Answer
- CIt contradicts the claim that the chorus served as a bridge between the actors and the audience.
- DIt summarizes the primary argument of the entire passage regarding the evolution of Greek drama.
Answer
The correct answer provides a specific example to illustrate how a chorus functions within a theatrical production.
The correct option is correct because the underlined sentence uses a transition phrase ('For instance') and a specific example (the chorus in Sophocles's *Antigone*) to show how the general assertions in the prior sentences function in a real play.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Identifying how a specific sentence or detail illustrates a broader claim in a passage.