Satyrs—A woodland creature depicted as having the pointed ears, legs, and short horns of a goat and a fondness for unrestrained revelry. They accompanied

Dionysus.

• Dithyramb• a song

• Comedy• Satire (from satyr)• Parody

• Tragedy• based on human suffering• from “tragos” (“goat song”)

 

Theatron— literally “watching place”- where the audience sat

Orchestra—where the chorus sang and danced Parados— aisles where actors or chorus entered and

exited Skene— backdrop or scenic wall Machinery:

aeroremaDeus ex machinaekkyklema

1. Visibility2. Characterization–Emotion, Men only

3. Few actors, many roles

4. Acoustic Assistance

s

a

A

Thespis (c. 534 BC.) – one actor  Aeschylus (525 BC.) – two actors Sophocles (497 BC.) – three

actors

Son of a wealthy household Highly educated Served as chorus leader Later, served as high official in Athens and

playwright Wrote 120 plays; Seven still exist Most awarded playwright for 50 years Well respected by Athenians Died at age of 90; Athenians paid homage to him.

Represent the citizens of the city Usually sings or chants Chorus leader interacts with characters as

a representative of the citizens Playwrights would choreograph the

movements of the chorus

Provide background Summarize previous scene Comment on theme or action of the

drama Represent the attitude of the

citizens Foreshadow

Unity of Time Unity of Place Unity of Plot

Trilogy: Oedipus the KingOedipus in ColonusAntigone

pre-determined & inescapable

The Fates•three white-robed personifications of destiny•controlled the thread of life of every mortal and immortal•appeared three nights after a baby’s birth to determine destiny•feared even by the gods

Clotho —spins the threadLachesis —measures the threadAtropos —cuts the thread

A young king and queen have a son They seek a prophecy about their son

from the Oracle of Delphi

• “He will one day kill his father and marry his mother.”

• In response, the baby is “exposed,” his feet “pinned”, and he is left on the mountain

King Polybus & Queen Meropechildless, they adopt the babyThey name him Oedipus = swollen foot

is brought up as a prince, unaware of his own history

Goes to the Oracle of Delphi for counsel

Is told, “You will someday kill your father and marry your mother”

Horrified, Oedipus decides to leave Corinth

travels across the mountain altercation at the crossroads with a

wealthy man in a chariot and the man’s servants. He kills the man and all but one of the servants.

• Lioness with wings and human head• Stood at entrance to Thebes, devoured

anyone unable to answer her riddle• “What goes on four legs in the

morning, on two legs in the afternoon, and on three legs in the evening?”

marries the beautiful queen, Jocasta

has four children: Eteocles, Polynieces, Antigone, Ismene

They live happily many years

Messenger sent to Oracle of Delphi to find the cause of the plague which is destroying the citizens of Thebes

Oracle says there is a plague because the murderer of the late King Laius still lives in the city of Thebes

King Oedipus calls Tiresius, the blind seer

• Tiresius says, “Do not seek the murderer lest you find that is you yourself”

• Jocasta tells Oedipus, “All seers are all liars”

• Dramatic Irony-occurswhen the audienceknows more than the character himself does

 Messenger from Corinth  Oedipus can return—King Polybus is

dead “You are Merope’s beloved adopted son”

Jocasta leaves upset and kills herself offstage.

Oedipus blinds himself with Jocasta’s brooch pins

Says, “I could not see the truth when I had eyes”

• Sons are put under the care of Creon, their uncle

• Daughters accompany their father to Colonus and live with him there in exile.

• Polynieces visits Oedipus• He has been banished by Creon and Eteocles, and is preparing

to attack Thebes with the help of the Argive army.

• On his deathbed, Oedipus fortells the doom of his two sons, that they will kill each other in battle

• There is a firestorm from Zeus as Oedipus dies

1. The tragic hero is an important person (ie: king, princess)* Ancient Greeks felt that the tragedy would be

more profound if the hero had more to lose2. The tragic hero has a tragic flaw, usually hubris (excessive

pride) which leads to his/her downfall.3. The tragic hero has an important moral choice.4. The choice which the hero makes leads to ruin.5. The destruction which the hero causes becomes

widespread, affecting those around the tragic hero.6. The hero experiences an epiphany as a result of the

destruction he has caused.