Home › Glossary › Letter T

Thespis

Historical Figure
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Ancient Greek poet credited as the first actor and founder of tragedy

Detailed Definition
Thespis stepped out of the chorus to speak as an individual, creating drama. The term "thespian" honors him. Poets invoke him as the origin of theatrical voice, symbol of performance’s birth, and the innovator who turns collective song into personal story.
Example
Example in poetry:
Thespis appears in poetry as the legendary inventor of tragedy and the first actor to step out of the chorus; Poets use his name to explore the birth of theater and the power of impersonation; “Thespian” becomes a poetic synonym for actor, evoking drama’s ancient roots; Modern verse may reference Thespis to reflect on identity, performance, and the masks we wear; His cart, said to be the first stage, inspires metaphors about storytelling and public space; Thespis embodies the moment when narrative became embodied, bridging myth and human experience.
Additional Notes
Thespis (6th century BCE), legendary Greek actor and poet credited as the first to step out of the chorus and speak as an individual character; in poetry, Thespis symbolizes the birth of drama, theatrical illusion, or the origin of persona—his name gives us “thespian”; essential for analyzing poems on performance, identity, or the mask as a poetic device in lyric and dramatic traditions.
Also Known As
Thespis of Icaria
Skip to main content