Download The Theban Plays written by Sophocles

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Classical Drama originated in the
ancient
. It developed a rich tradition in
and
.
The Greek tragedies were produced as part of an
in Athens.
Components of the play:
Tragedy: a drama that recounts the
of a dignified,
who is involved in
or
significant
.
What is a satyr?
What is a tragic hero in the play?
What is the difference between a protagonist and an antagonist?
Tragic Flaw: a
in the
that brings about
or contributes to his or her
. This flaw may be poor judgment,
,
weakness, or an excess of an admirable quality. The tragic hero recognizes his/her flaw and its consequences,
but only after it is too late to change the
The
of
Plays written by



(441 B.C.)
Oedipus Rex (430 B.C.)
at Colonus (401 B.C.)
.
Characteristics of Sophoclean Tragedy:
It is based on events that already took place and are
.
The protagonist is a person of
.
The protagonist has a
and because of it becomes isolated and suffers a
.
Because the protagonist’s fall is not entirely his/her own fault, the audience may end up pitying him/her.
The fallen protagonist gains
understands his weakness.
. He has a deeper insight into himself and
The audience undergoes
, a purging of emotions, after experiencing pity, fear, shock
and other strong feelings. The people go away feeling better.
The drama usually unfolds in one place in a short period of time, usually about a
.
Pride as a Character Flaw:
Pride was considered a
because it placed too much emphasis on individual will,
thereby downplaying the will of the state and endangering the community as a whole.
Because pride makes people unwilling to accept wise counsel, they act rashly and make bad decisions. Great
pride is referred to as
The Amphitheater:
The plays were put on beneath the bright skies of Greece, in huge outdoor
amphitheaters, somewhat like modern
Built upon hillsides, they seated as many as
cut in half.
people at a time.
The stage was a slightly raised platform in the open area upon the ground.
A long building, called the
, served as a backdrop of the action and as a dressing
room.
We do not know for certain all the details of the Greek theater. Scholars believe that the stage was backed by a
structure with
A spacious circular floor, the
and
which could represent a palace or the walls of a city.
, was located between the skene and the audience.
Other distinguishing characteristics of Greek theater:
 All of the actors were
. They wore
megaphones to send their voices through the vast theater.
which may have contained built in
 The actors wore elegant robes, huge masks, and often elevated shoes which added to the grandeur of the
spectacle.
 Sophocles used
actors in his plays; between scenes, they
changed
characters.
and
when they needed to portray different
 The play depended more on the
of facial expression or gesture.
the actors
 The actors’ movements had to be
and
to the realistic style of drama we expect today.
than on the subtle effects
. This kind of theater has little relation
The Chorus:
The Greek chorus was a group of actors (12-15) who moved and sang together as
. Actually the plays themselves developed from a kind of community sing when bit by bit a chorus
grew up that told stories in song and verse.
Role of the Chorus:
the action
the action in relation to the law of the
state and the law of
gods
the future
Serve as
in the play
and/or dance
Other facts about the Chorus:
The chorus is often considered a kind of
representing the response of
,
citizens to the tragic events unfolding in the play.
The chorus could also set the mood of the story.
Sometimes the chorus sided with one or another
Sometimes it
a character of impending
Often the chorus, with its folk truths and its
the loftier passions and thoughts of the hero.
The chorus did NOT mouth directly the ideas of the author.
in the play.
.
, created a contrast with
Conventions—standard ways of presenting action:
The Greek tragedy usually followed conventions requiring unity of time, place, and action.
Explain what it means that the play has unity of action:
Greeks felt that
horror was so repulsive to see that it ruined the artistic effects of the
dramas. Therefore, all
actions took place off stage. They were reported to the audience by
.
Glossary of Greek Drama:
Catharsis: a
of
.
Drama: Literary work with
written in verse and
by actors
playing characters experiencing conflict and tension. In Greek drama, a play derives its plot from stories
from history or mythology.
Dramatic
: Failure of a character to see or understand what is obvious to the audience.
Oedipus, for example, was unaware early on of what the audience knew: that he was married to his own
mother, Jocasta.
Dionysus: Patron god of
drama; god of
and
. Dionysus was
the son of Zeus and one of the most important of the Greek gods. Dionysus died each
was reborn each
and
, symbolizing renewal and rejuvenation. Festivals of Greek drama were
held in his name.
Hubris: Great
Ode:
. Hubris often is the character
in Greek drama.
sung in a play or a festival.
Prologue (Prologos)
of a play that provides background material.
Satire In Greek literature, a play or a passage in a play that
at public figures
or the gods.
: Ancient City of E. Central Greece; NW of Athens
Oracle of Delphi: A shrine in Delphi where people would consult a representative (
or
) of the god/goddess.
: In Greek mythology, the head of a woman, body of a lion, teeth and wings and
claws like an eagle; killed all who couldn’t answer her riddle.