The Collaborative International Dictionary
Epitasis \E*pit"a*sis\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? a stretching, fr. ? to stretch upon or over; 'epi` upon + ? to stretch.]
That part which embraces the main action of a play, poem, and the like, and leads on to the catastrophe; -- opposed to protasis.
(Med.) The period of violence in a fever or disease; paroxysm.
--Dunglison.
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context ancient drama English) The second part of a play, in which the action begins. 2 (context rhetoric English) The addition of a concluding sentence that merely emphasizes what has already been stated. 3 (context obsolete English) The period of violence in a fever or disease; paroxysm.
Wikipedia
In classical drama, the epitasis is the main action of a play, in which the trials and tribulations of the main character increase and build toward a climax and dénouement. It is the third and central part when a play is analyzed into five separate parts: prelude, protasis, epitasis, catastasis and catastrophe.
In modern dramatic theory, the dramatic arc is often referred to, which uses somewhat different divisions but is substantially the same concept overall.
Category:Drama Category:Ancient Greek theatre
Usage examples of "epitasis".
It doubles itself in the middle of his life, reflects itself in another, repeats itself, protasis, epitasis, catastasis, catastrophe.