What is "protasis"

Protasis \Prot"a*sis\ (pr[o^]t"[.a]*s[i^]s), n. [L., fr. Gr. pro`tasis, fr. protei`nein to stretch before, forward; pro` before + tei`nein to stretch.]

1. A proposition; a maxim.
   --Johnson.

2. (Gram.) The introductory or subordinate member of a sentence, generally of a conditional sentence; -- opposed to apodosis. See Apodosis.

3. The first part of a drama, of a poem, or the like; the introduction; opposed to epitasis.
   --B. Jonson.

n. 1 the first part of a play, in which the setting and characters are introduced 2 (context logic grammar English) the antecedent in a conditional sentence

In drama, a protasis is the introductory part of a play, usually its first act. The term was coined by the fourth-century Roman grammarian Aelius Donatus. He defined a play as being made up of three separate parts, the other two being epitasis and catastrophe. In modern dramatic theory the term dramatic arc has substantially the same meaning, though with slightly different divisions.

Category:Drama