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Where and how were the dramas performed? …In an amphitheatre …With a chorus who described most of the action. …With masks …With all the fighting and movement going on off stage. ….With tragic plays performed first and the one comic play last to lighten the mood. The Stage The Stage The Stage The Main Parts of The Greek Theatre: Skene – Raised Portion of stage where actors performed Orchestra – Circular patch of dirt “Dancing Place” where chorus sang to the audience Theatron Theatron – Seating for audience: usually carved into a hillside and looking out over natural scenes of beauty Parodos - Entry way on the sides of the skene Thymele - Altar to Dionysus: Located in the center of the orchestra Ekkyklema - Plank rolled out from the Skene building Mechrone - Crane used to elevate actors above the stage Thymele Orchestra Parodos Parodos Skene Ekkyklema The Stage • Greek plays were performed during religious ceremonies held in honor of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and revelry (altars generally on stage) • Banks would shut down for days, people would travel from all around to see the drama competitions—even prisoners were temporarily released to see the plays Plot of the Play • Completeness Vs Size • Unity of the Plot – Unity of Time: All action takes place in a single day – Unity of Place: All action takes place in one location – Unity of Action: Play has one main action that it follows, with " " no or few subplots • Dramatic Techniques -Dramatic Irony – Created when audience knows more than character about a given point & character speaks directly to this point unknowingly -Use of Pity & Fear to create Catharsis (emotional release) A General Definition of Tragedy From Aristotle • Any serious and dignified drama that describes a conflict between the hero(protagonist) and a superior force(antagonist), and reaches a sorrowful conclusion (usually death)due to a fatal flaw in the protagonist, arousing pity, fear, release in the audience(catharsis). Characteristics of the Tragic Hero. The Character… • Is not all good or bad • Is of the noble class or highly renowned and prosperous • Has a “fatal flaw” • Ultimately recognizes his error and accepts the consequences • Arouses the audience’s pity and fear 5 Functions of the Chorus 1. Expression of opinions, moral advice, or intervention 2. Representation of the author’s point of view: Sometimes presented a moral precedent against which the characters could be judged. 3. The Ideal Spectator: Reacting to events as they occur onstage in order to instruct an audience how they should react. 4. Establish and Heighten Dramatic Action 5. Spectacle: Adding some visual or aural effect such as: color, movement, dance, singing, music. All performers wore masks made of lightweight wood, cork, or linen. A Distinct Greek Device. Masks were used for several purposes: – Rapid change of Roles – Gender Change (All parts were played by males) – Indication of Physical or Character Difference (Age/Race) – Communication of the Character: The masks captured the essential qualities of the character and allowed them to be picked up on from a distance. The Myths Why they were written 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Myths were common knowledge for all Greek citizens. The playwrights used these stories as a foundation for their plays. Explained the unexplainable Justified religious practices / Gave credibility to leaders Gave hope Polytheistic (more than one god) Centered around the twelve Olympians (primary Greek gods) The Twelve Olympians Greek / Roman Name 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Zeus / Jupiter - King of Gods; sky, thunder; eagle, lightning bolt Hera / Juno - Queen of Gods; marriage, family; cow, Poseidon / Neptune - God of sea, earthquakes; the trident, Amphitrite Demeter / Ceres - Goddess of harvest, fertility; wheat Athena / Minerva - Goddess of wisdom, war strategy; owl, olive tree Apollo / Phoebus - God of light, healing, music, prophesy; sun, lyre 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Artemis / Diana - Goddess of the hunt, virginity; moon, deer Ares / Mars - God of War, violence; serpent, dog, spear Aphrodite / Venus - Goddess of love, desire; Hephaestus / Vulcan - Blacksmith, craftsman of gods; fire and forge Hermes / Mercury - Messenger God, god of thieves; winged sandals Dionysus / Bacchus - God of wine, ecstasy, theatre; grapevine, tiger 13. Hades / Pluto - God of underworld, the dead; The Oracle at Delphi Most famous oracle in Greek mythology. • An oracle was a priest or priestess who would send a message to the gods from mortals who brought their requests. The word refers to the priest, the prophesy, as well as the place. Sophocles • 494-406 BCE • Athenian statesman, was treasurer, general, priest • 7 of 123 plays remain • Antigone (441 BC) • Oedipus the King (429 BC) • Oedipus at Colonus (406 BC • Oedipus was most likely never performed as a trilogy in competition. All the plays were written in different years (decades apart). • Fixed the number of the chorus at 15