Download Greek Tragedy

Greek Tragedy
Structure of a Greek Tragedy
Prologue- spoken by one or two
characters before the chorus appears;
usually gives the background information
needed to understand the events of the
play
 Parodos- the song sung by the chorus as
it makes its entrance
 Episodes/scenes- the main action of the
play
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Structure cont.
Odes- songs (and often a dance) that
reflects on the events of the episodes and
weaves the plot into a cohesive whole
 Choragos- the leader of the chorus who
often interacts with the characters in the
scenes
 Chorus- the singers/dancers who remark
on the action
 Supernumeraries- extras with no
speaking parts
Odes cont.
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Strophe- the movement of the chorus
from right to left across the stage
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Antistrophe- the reaction to the strophe,
which moves across the stage from left to
right
Structure cont.
Paean- a prayer of thanksgiving to
Dionysus in whose honor the Greek plays
were performed
 Exodus- sung by the chorus as it makes
its final exit, which usually offers words of
wisdom related to the actions and
outcomes of the play
 Epilogos- (epilogue) within the exodus
and usually directed to the audience at the
end with a lesson or message
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Origins of Drama
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Drama originated from religious
ceremonies:
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main feature of the religious
festivals given in honor of Dionysus
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Contests were held and the
greatest poet-dramatists submitted
plays for performance
Origins of Drama
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After work, people of Greece sang
and danced in a circle to worship
their gods.
These circle dances became the
dithyramb, a religious ritual
performed by a chorus of men
wearing masks.
Special arenas were built at the base
of the hills for the dithyramb.
Greek Theatre
Dionysus- the Greek god of wine and
fertility and rebirth; theatrical
performances were originally religious
ceremonies in honor of Dionysus.
 The Dionysia- the name of the annual
festival held in honor of Dionysus
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Key Figures in Greek Theatre
Thespis- credited as the “father of
drama” and first prize winner at the Great
Dionysia in 534 B.C.
 He introduced the concept of the
independent actor (thus why actors are
called “thespians”) as opposed to the choir
 Introduced the use of masks, make up
and costumes so the actor could play
several roles
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Three Great Greek Tragedians
Aeschylus (525-456 B.C.)- credited as the man
who first increased the number of the actors
from one to two and with reducing the role of
the chorus, putting emphasis on dialogue
 Euripides (480-406 B.C.)- was less formal and
wrote about the underdog; reduced participation
of chorus in main action; relied heavily on
prologues; Medea is his most famous play

Sophocles (496-406 B.C.)
Born into a wealthy family at Colonus
(outside of Athens)
 Had an auspicious education
 Incredibly popular and eminent in his time
and was often elected for positions he
didn’t necessarily want
 Prolific writer of over 120 plays but only 7
remain

Sophocles cont.
Won first prize at the Great Dionysia 18
times
 Added a third actor in the late 5th century
 Fixed number of chorus members to
fifteen
 Introduced painted scenery
 Evidently pretty darn good looking too!
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Sophocles’ Plays
Ajax 445 B.C.
 Antigone 440 B.C.
 Electra 440 B.C.
 Oedipus Rex B.C. 430 B.C.
 The Trachiniae 413 B.C.
 Philoctetes 410 B.C.
 Oedipus at Colonus 401 B.C.
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Greek Theatre Terms
Satyr- commonly confused with “satire”;
had to be mastered by tragedians and was
comprised of the following elements:
 Chorus- half-man, half- beast- satyrs,
companions of Dionysus
 Burlesque of mythology ridiculing gods or
heroes
 Everyday and colloquial language
 Short after-pieces to tragedies
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Structure of Greek Theater
Structure of Greek Theater
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theatron – where the audience sat
orchestra – circular dancing place where
actors and chorus performed
thymele – altar to Dionysus in center of
orchestra
skene – building used as a dressing room
proskenion – façade of skene building
which served as backdrop
parodos – entrance to the theater used
by the chorus
Ancient Theatre at Mt. Etna
Actors and Acting
Hypocrites – the answerer
• 1st “dramas” (Thespis) – actor and
playwright were originally the same
• playwright took leading role
• never had more than three actors
playing all roles
• all male performers
Actors and Acting
Costumes and Masks:
• long, flowing robes – colored symbolically
• high boots, often with raised soles (heroic
parts)
• larger-than-life masks made of linen,
wood, and cork
• Identified age, gender, emotion
• Exaggerated features – large eyes, open
mouth
Elements of Greek Tragedy
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Tragedy – play in which main
character, tragic hero, suffers a
downfall.
Tragic hero – character whose
downfall is brought about by a flaw
within his/her own character.
 neither
totally good nor totally evil
 usually of high birth (not a commoner)
 Arete- inborn capacities
Elements of Greek Tragedy
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peripetia – reversal of fortune
nemesis – fate that cannot be escaped;
in Greek mythology, Nemesis is the
goddess of retributive justice of
vengeance
catharsis – purgation of emotions of pity
and fear which leaves the viewer both
relieved and elated (part of recognition)
Elements of Greek Tragedy
Reversal-when a character produces an
unintended effect and things go from bad
to worse
 Catastrophe- the final resolution in the
plot where the protagonist undergoes a
change of fortune
 Recognition- a discovery on the part of
the protagonist; a change from ignorance
to knowledge (catharsis)
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Aristotle’s Poetics and the Six
Elements of Tragedy
I.
A.
B.
Plot- how the action is arranged
Tragedy- a play with a serious theme that
usually ends unhappily for the main character
set in motion by some tragic flaw in his/her
personality (hamartia); intended to arouse
emotions of pity and fear; violence often
described but not enacted on stage
Hubris- arrogance demonstrated by a
character as a result of his/her pride or
passion
Elements of Plot cont.
C. Foreshadowing- clues as the what will
probably happen later in the play
D. Climax- the highest point of emotional tension
or the turning point of the plot
E. Catharsis- the purification of a character’s
emotions and/or the relief of emotional tension
F. Denouement- the resolution of the main
conflict (not usually a happy outcome for the
main character)
Six Elements of Tragedy cont.
II. Characters- the people in the play
III. Theme- the main idea or message as
the central focus
IV. Language/Diction- the words spoken
or sung by the characters
V. Music- the odes sung by the chorus and
choragus (in Greek Tragedy)
VI. Spectacle- the scenes, props,
costumes, masks…all things visual
Freytag’s Pyramid
(Dramatic Structure)
The Oedipal Trilogy
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Oedipus Rex –
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The story of Oedipus’ birth, his
upbringing, his marriage (to his
mother, unbeknownst to either
bride or groom), their 4 children,
and how they learn of and deal
with their incest.
The Oedipal Trilogy
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Oedipus at Colunus
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The continuation of Oedipus’ life
once he goes into his self-imposed
exile, with his dutiful daughter,
Antigone, at his side.
His two sons battle each other for
control of Thebes.
The Oedipal Trilogy
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Antigone
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The final piece (but the first play
actually written) of the story of the
line of Oedipus. This tells of the
aftermath of the battle between
the brothers, Seven Against
Thebes, and how the remaining
family members proceed.
The Riddle of the Sphinx
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In Greek mythology, the Sphinx sat outside of Thebes and asked
this riddle of all travelers who passed by. If the traveler failed to
solve the riddle, then the Sphinx killed him/her. And if the traveler
answered the riddle correctly, then the Sphinx would destroy
herself.
The riddle: What goes on four legs in the morning, on two legs at
noon, and on three legs in the evening?
Oedipus solved the riddle, and the Sphinx destroyed herself.
The solution: A man, who crawls on all fours as a baby, walks on
two legs as an adult, and walks with a cane in old age.
Of course morning, noon, and night are metaphors for the times in
a man's (person's) life. Such metaphors are common in riddles.
There were two Thebes, apparently this Thebes was the one in
Greece. And this Sphinx was apparently not the one at Giza, in
Egypt.
Oedipus and the Sphinx