rhesis

noun

1. A passage of text in a play.

   “Such speeches (like the rheses) have the distinction of length, often exceeding one hundred lines; they give the impression that for a time dramatic effect is suspended, and, as a substitute, the recognised features of Epic Poetry supply a new interest.”

   “The chorus or chorus-coryphaeus is followed by a rhesis of the actor, followed in its turn by a stichic dialogue A/actor which usually culminates in a stichomythia.”

   “A scheme that includes tetrameter sets off the rhesis from dialogue even more starkly , but it considerably enhances the potential of actor-chorus dialogue to be an effective balance to the long speech.”