Epitasis vs. Protasis — What's the Difference?

In classical drama, the epitasis (Ancient Greek: ἐπίτασις) 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: prologue, protasis, epitasis, catastasis and catastrophe.

For the concept of protasis in linguistics, see 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.

The middle part of a play that develops the action leading to the catastrophe.

(Grammar) The dependent clause of a conditional sentence, as if it rains in The game will be canceled if it rains.

The second part of a play, in which the action begins.

The first part of an ancient Greek or Roman drama, in which the characters and subject are introduced.

(rhetoric) The addition of a concluding sentence that merely emphasizes what has already been stated.

The first part of a play, in which the setting and characters are introduced

(obsolete) The period of violence in a fever or disease; paroxysm.

A clause that expresses a contingent element in a conditional sentence

That part which embraces the main action of a play, poem, and the like, and leads on to the catastrophe; - opposed to protasis.

A proposition; a maxim.

The period of violence in a fever or disease; paroxysm.

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

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