Download Medea - msrobinson

Greek drama
an overview
Euripides

Euripides was born around 484 B.C.,
began to write in his late teens, and
competed for the dramatic prize in Athens
in 455 B.C. Over 50 years he wrote more
than 80 plays, 19 of which survive today.
He won 5 major awards. Medea was first
produced in 431 B.C.
Religious Ideas
The Greeks, who worshipped multiple gods,
attributed human characteristics to these gods.
The Greeks also believed in fate as a divine
force, even stronger than the gods.
 They believed that gods became angry with
people who were guilty of pride or any kind of
excess.
 Although the Greeks focused on man in
everyday life, they did believe in the immortality
of a soul in Hades.

Greek Tragedy
Originated in Athens, Greece
 Greek drama has roots in religious
celebrations that use song and dance to
convey meaning
 Focuses on the TRAGIC HERO
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Hero who has a fatal flaw that leads to his downfall
Over time, evolved into actual plays, such
as the Oedipus plays and Medea
Conventions of Greek Theatre

Dramatic Irony
 –audience

Staging
 --minimal

knew more than the characters.
costumes and props
Actors
 --always
boots.
male; wore masks, wigs, and high
Aristotle’s Unities
 Unity
of time -- All of the action took place
within 24 hours. Dialogue and soliloquies
provided background information.
 Unity of place- Action was limited to one
setting. Only one set was used throughout the
play.
 Unity of subject- The focus was on the main
character. There were no sub-plots.
The Chorus
Explained the Theme of the Play.
 Represented the Greek people or a
specific society.
 Function of Chorus:

 Set
tone
 Background information
 Recall events
 Summarize Plot
 Moral Conclusion in the end
Deus Ex Machina
Literally means “god of the machine”
 Once the Deus Ex Machina arrived, the
problems in the plot were solved with one
stroke.
 The term is now used for any improbably
or unexplained resolution in the plot in a
play or novel.

Parts of the Play

Prologue:
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Parados

Choral song chanted by the chorus as they enter the
area in front of the stage.

Choral Recitation of the previous scene. Serves as the
“scene change”—Chorus comments on events.
Ode
Paean


Begins with the Prologue. The Prologue’s purpose is to
give background information to show the conflict.
A hymn in praise of a god.
Exodos

Final scene of the play
Greek Stage
•Theatron—The outer
arena where the audience
watches the action
•Orchestra—The circular
area where the action occurs:
“The stage”
•Parados—where the Chorus
and actors enter the stage.
•Skene—backdrop and
“scenery” for the play
•Ekeclema—wheeled
platform where dead bodies were
carted offstage.
Greek Theatre

The first theatre was on the slopes of
Acropolis. People sat in the open air on
benches which surrounded the stage on
three sides. Theatre arena was an
Amphitheatre because of how sound
carried.
Popular Playwrights

Aeschylus

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Sophocles
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Antigone, Oedipus Rex
Euripides
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Oresteia
Medea
Aristophanes

The Birds
Some Info. on Medea
Princess of Colchis, and daughter of Creon
 Helps Jason to obtain the Golden Fleece
 Forsakes Family and country to be with
Jason in Greece
 They marry and she has his child
 In Greece, he betrays her and marries
another
 Angry and betrayed, Medea kills Jason’s
wife, Jason, and his two sons

Themes in Medea
Jealousy and Hate destroy people
 Excessive pride can lead to one’s
downfall.
 Medea as a representation of
oppressed women
 Being an alien in a foreign country
causes problems
 Fate predetermines your life’s
course.
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