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Transcript
Tragedy: Athens of the 5th century What led to the birth of tragedy: 1. Democracy = adult male citizens who made decisions on public policy issues, and anyone invited to get up and speak publicly and persuasively in this assembly; Direct democracy. 2. Select council of 500 – who came up with the issues to come before the assembly. 3. Court system - Greeks were particularly litigious – 4. Many administrative positions which were filled by “lot” or “election”; a citizen could hold a given an office only once and the assumption was that every male citi8zen would be involved. The office of general was elected and could be re-elected. Pericles was elected over and over. 5. 5th century bracketed by Persian wars and Pelopponisian War. a. 490 BCE – Athens had become involved in a revolt of Greek states against Persia, and Persia wanted Athens to pay the price. A huge power difference. It was seen as a matter of time before all of Athens would become a part of the Persian empire. Many city states refused to succumb to the Persian request for “earth and water”. Persians from North and East, and Athens lay right in the way of the rest of Greece. Athens asked for help from Sparta, the great Greek military power, but the Athenians were left on their own, and the Athenians with a small bit of help charged the Persians and defeated them just outside Marathon. The few Athenians who died there were buried there. Miltiades was the leader. b. Ten years later, Xerxes returned from Persia, and the Spartans met them at the pass at Thermopolae but all Spartans were killed. The Persians burned Athens and fought a decisive naval battle as Salamis. c. Unexpected victories gave Greeks and Athenians a sense of empowerment, and in aftermath of Persian wars, Athens set herself up as protector of Greece, called Delian league, with centre on island of Delos. Some small states tried to opt out of the Delian league. 454 the treasury moved to Athens from Delos and the treasury used to beautify Athens. At same time, Sparta continued as the land power. 6. Optimism, political power and wealth brought intellectual, rhetorical, arts, courtroom argument, new ideas brought in. often derided for their relativism. Constantly questioned tradition and convention, opening door to the philosophical. 7. Parthenon sculptural decoration: Athena and Poseidon vying to become deity of this city. Stuggles depicted referred to victory of Greeks over Persians. One sculptural band refers to workshop of Athena at the Parthenon; citizens were engaged with the gods, Athenians put themselves with the gods on the wall of the temple. This enthusiasm was 431 – 404 quelled by war with Spartans. The growth of Athenian power led to war with Sparta. Athens was naval power and Spartans were land power. War dragged on. Brought great hardships to Athenians and all Greeks and resulted in defeat of Athens. Euripedes plays use the Trojan war to comment on what was going on during the Pelopennians war. Two dramatic genres: tragedy and comedy. Origins of tragedy pre-date the development of democracy. Thespis, 534 staged first tragedies. Public festivals, choral performances developed into tragedy. The most prominent: the city dionysia open to all Athenians and maybe even open to women. Festival planned and organized – three playrights and three tragedies and 1 seder play. Wealthy Athenians provided financial support the production of the plays. Wealthy Athenian could also outfit a trireme. One day for comedies and one day each for each of the tragic playrights. This was religious festival. Tribute money from allies was brought out and displayed. War orphans of those who died fighting for Athens. All civic duties suspended. Judges chosen at the last minute, and prizes awarded and records kept of the winners. Tragedy: Subject matter from myth – all know the basic story Prologue – parados – choral songs divide the Episodes Chorus reflect on action of the play Trimester Poetry Choral songs in mixed and complex metres Participants male 3 pseaking actors Chorus was communal Theatre space – large outdoor theatre – spectators sat on curved benches Chorus sang and danced with orchestra Chorus is privy to all that is going on on stage, the audience incorporated into the play Difficult for modern audience to understand Backdrop with doors to represent Tragic actors and chorus actors all wore masks – fixed facial expressions Dues ex machine – a god that solves the problem Ecoclaima – a platform that could be rolled out for a scene to be played out Tragedy – not a consistent, constant and popular genre – tragedy does not appear in all times in all places – What is tragedy: artistotle – imitation of an action that is serious and complete, leads to catharsis in audience, leads to reversal of fortune, a good man has made a mistake. Tragedy usually involves necessary choice between equally negative options. Sophocles: Lived to an old age Introduced the third speaking actor Less use of chorus Less grandiose language in his style Plots more intricate Strong-willed individual who is not necessarily likable Oedipus the King The Theban plays were not a connected trilogy Oedipus the King 420s Oedipus Touranos, Oedipus Rex is Latin name Often considered the single greatest Greek tragedy to have survived. Oedipus at Colonnus 401 Antigone (440) Mythological background comes out gradually in the course of the play: audience knew the details of the myth, contributing to dramatic irony. Laeus – your son will grow up to kill his father and marry his mother Laeus marries Yocasta and they have a son, and they send him out to be exposed on a mountain. It’s acceptable to leave him in the wilds. They pierce his ankles and tie them together with a leather strap. Oedipus grows up as son of king of Corinth; as Oedipus reaches maturity, he hears a rumor that his parents are not his parents. He goes to Delphi and asks the oracle who his parents are: you will kill your father and marry your mother. O decides to avoid Corinth at all costs. As he leaves Delphi, O skirmishes with and older man and kills him, O goes to Thebes where a sphinx is plaguing the city and O answers a riddle that no one else can answer. This saves Thebes and so O is made king, and given the queen in marriage. Oedipus Rex is dramatic version of one small part of the myth, not a retelling of the myth. A play full of coincidences. Sophocles picks up story when Oedipus is king and married to his mother.