Download Oedipus the King Oedipus at Colonus Antigone

Sophocles
The Greatest of Greek Playwrights
•Wrote 120 tragedies
•Festival of Dionysus
30, 18, 2nd
•Moral lesson
•Introduced painted sets
•“Theban Tragedies”
Oedipus the King
Oedipus at Colonus
Antigone
496 – 406 BC ?
The Chorus
Characteristics of the CHORUS
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15 men
Sang lyric poetry
Performing was regarded as a civic duty
Wore robes and masks
Function of the CHORUS
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Often the voice of reason in the play
Reflected upon what happened
Asked or answered questions
Advised central characters
Separated scenes of action
Terms for Greek Theatre
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Antistrophe
Strophe
Choragos
Ode
Orchestra
Parados
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Paean
Prologue
Skene
Theatron
Thespian
Tragedy (see Aristotle)
Antistrophe
The antistrophe is the second part of the
ode. It is chanted by the chorus as the
chorus moves from left to right across the
scene.
Strophe
The strophe is the first part of the ode. It is
chanted by the chorus as the chorus moves
from right to left across the scene.
Choragos
A wealthy Athenian citizen who assumed the
public duty of financing the preparation of
the chorus and other aspects of a dramatic
production that were not paid for by the
government.
Ode
A type of lyrical stanza. A classic ode is
structured in three major parts: the strophe,
the antistrophe, and the epode.
Orchestra
Area in front of the ancient Greek stage
reserved for the Greek chorus.
Parados
Either a side-entrance, or the first song sung
by the chorus after its entrance from the
side wings.
Paean
Song or lyric poem expressing triumph or
thanksgiving.
Prologue
An opening to a story that establishes the
setting and give background details.
Skene
Structure at the back of a theatre stage,
initially a very light structure or just a cloth
hanging from a rope.
Theatron
Where the audience sits to view the
performance.
Thespian
An actor or actress.
Tragedy
Drama based on human suffering.
Skene
Parados
Orchestra
Theatron
The Greeks…
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Were notable for clarity of thought
Symmetrical, logical, balanced = UNITY
The Golden Mean
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ideal moderate position between two
extremes
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Purpose of drama was to entertain,
educate, and raise questions
Ambiguous: what is right? Wrong?
Aristotle: The Poetics
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Mimesis: tragedies are imitations of real life
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Plot is all important: a cause-and-effect
chain of actions
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The plot can not depend on coincidences
FORM is IMPORTANT
There must be complete UNITY:
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Time - Single revolution of the sun (24 Hours)
Place - No change in place/setting
Action - Chronological, Everything is Related, No Coincidences
Climax
Rising Action
Inciting Incident
Exposition
Falling Action
Denouement
(Freytag’s Pyramid)
Aristotle: The Poetics
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The rising action (desis) that leads to the
climax must be caused directly by the
character’s choices.
The resolution (lusis) must solve or resolve
the problem created during the inciting
incident.
Aristotle and Tragedy
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The more richness and themes, the greater
the value
Aristotle argues for BOTH a reversal of
fortune (peripeteia) and a moment of
recognition (anagnorisis)
Aristotle: THE POETICS
■ The function of tragedy is to arouse pity
and fear in the audience so that we may be
purged, or cleansed, of these unsettling
emotions - Catharsis
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Tragic Hero
Hamartia: flaw in the
character (tragic flaw)
According to Aristotle:
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Aristotle hypothesizes that the audience will
be able to cleanse themselves of the same
flaws as the characters (catharsis)
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Aristotle’s theory of Tragedy intends to
teach the audience about themselves by
showing the dangers of not knowing
themselves.
Why read TRAGEDY?
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Strength of character
Perseverance
Courage
Inspiration
The dignity of the
human spirit
Socratic Seminar
Group 1:
Group 2:
Payton
Nathan
Alyssa
Owen
Amanda
Eric
Kennedy
Rachel
Ryan
Tiffany
Katie
Abby F.
Sabrina
Raad
Jonathan
Jenny
Abby M.
Jasmine
Utkarsh
Marissa