Synopsis

Synopsis (an acceptable variant is sínopsis, reflecting the original Greek stress; Anc. Gr. σύνοψις < συν — with, together + όπτω — I look, I see) — in the scholarly nomenclature of the ancient Greeks, denoted the presentation, in a single general overview, of one whole subject or one field of knowledge, in condensed form, without detailed argumentation and without elaborate theoretical reasoning. A synoptic (συνοπτικός) was the name given to a scholar who, with a single comprehensive glance, embraced in his worldview the entire range of subjects belonging to a given sphere. Examples:

• the «Synopsis» of Oribasius — a compendium of medical knowledge (4th century);
• the «Great Synopsis of the Basilica» — a Byzantine legal compendium;
• the «Lesser Synopsis» — a Byzantine legal compendium.

In later times, the name synopsis was given above all to historical works that set forth facts one after another in chronological order, carefully noting their dates. In Christian theology, a synopsis is a collection of excerpts or an abridged presentation of sermons, interpretations of Holy Scripture, and other writings of church authors.

Synopsis, as a mode of historical presentation, was usually contrasted with the syntagma (Anc. Gr. σύνταγμα — co-ordering), according to the rules of which the material contained in a work was arranged not only in chronological order but also in a more or less systematic one, although this systematic quality could rest on a purely external scheme — for instance, alphabetical order (the canonical syntagma of Matthew Blastares).

From later historical works, the synopsis is distinguished by a complete absence of pragmatism — that is, of any explanation of the internal connection between preceding and subsequent events — and by the absence of any elements of historical criticism whatsoever. A typical example of a historical synopsis is the «Kyivan Synopsis» of Innocent Gizel, which presents, in condensed form and in chronological sequence, the facts of early Rus history; it is the first East Slavic educational-historical work (Kyiv, 1674).

Among the Poles, a synopsis was once the name given to a simple chronological collection and presentation of the rights and rules granted by the Polish kings to the Rus people who were subjects of the Polish crown.

In Byzantine theological literature, a synopsis was the name given to a sequential review and condensed presentation of several related themes; such, for example, is the review of the homilies of St. Athanasius (4th century) or the review of Chrysostom's sermons on the Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testaments (4th—5th centuries).

A synopsis is also the name given to an abridged presentation of the interpretations of the Church Fathers, the prototype of which is the multivolume edition «Sacrae Scripturae cursus completus» by the Frenchman Migne. Synoptics is the name given to the authors of the three Synoptic Gospels (the first three of the four in the New Testament): Mark, Matthew, and Luke. The evangelical synopsis is the harmonization of the narratives of the four canonical Gospels.

Professor M.A. Golubev used the term synopsis for the whole discipline known as «Introduction to Holy Scripture,» as well as for his own works, such as his commentary on the First Epistle to the Corinthians.

• Synopsis in filmmaking — a brief summary of the screenplay. It is the first stage of preliminary work on a film. It is used to first set down the story and define its concept in general terms. A synopsis may include the introduction, development, and conclusion of the film's screenplay. On average it runs from 1 to 3 pages and does not include dialogue. It can be regarded as a brief introduction to the film for readers and a roadmap for screenwriters.
• Synopsis in publishing — a brief summary of a manuscript prepared by the author when submitting the manuscript to a publisher.
• Synopsis in musical theater — a brief retelling of the libretto.