Background on Greek DramaBackground on Greek Drama

Sophocles and Greek DramaSophocles and Greek Drama

How was Greek drama born?How was Greek drama born?It developed from ancient rituals honoring It developed from ancient rituals honoring Dionysus. The celebrations became a yearly Dionysus. The celebrations became a yearly occurrence held in Athens. occurrence held in Athens.

Difference between tragedies and satyr Difference between tragedies and satyr plays?plays?

Tragedies are serious plays about religious or Tragedies are serious plays about religious or mythic questions.mythic questions.

Satyr plays are humorous plays about religious or Satyr plays are humorous plays about religious or mythic questions.mythic questions.

Review: Sophocles and Greek DramaReview: Sophocles and Greek Drama

Describe the Describe the theater of theater of Dionysus.Dionysus.

SemicircleSemicircleSeats carved Seats carved out of stone on out of stone on a hillsidea hillsidePerformance Performance area in two area in two parts: parts: orchestra and orchestra and skeneskene

Review: Sophocles and Greek DramaReview: Sophocles and Greek Drama

Sophocles surprised Athenians by:Sophocles surprised Athenians by:Winning first prize for tragedy at the festival of Winning first prize for tragedy at the festival of Dionysus, beating Aeschylus.Dionysus, beating Aeschylus.

Who was Aeschylus?Who was Aeschylus?The leading playwright of the time (think Steven The leading playwright of the time (think Steven Speilberg)Speilberg)

How many tragedies did Sophocles write?How many tragedies did Sophocles write?He wrote more than 120 tragedies… only 7 still He wrote more than 120 tragedies… only 7 still survive today.survive today.

Review: Sophocles and Greek DramaReview: Sophocles and Greek Drama

What was Sophocles concerned about?What was Sophocles concerned about?He was concerned with the individual’s need to He was concerned with the individual’s need to find his/her place in the world within the existing find his/her place in the world within the existing moral/cosmic order.moral/cosmic order.

Moral lessons against too much pride and religious Moral lessons against too much pride and religious indifference.indifference.

What did Sophocles add to Greek drama?What did Sophocles add to Greek drama?A third actor (originally two- used masks)A third actor (originally two- used masks)

Painted setsPainted sets

Larger chorus (from 12 to 15 members) Larger chorus (from 12 to 15 members)

Greek TheatreGreek Theatre

Greek TragedyGreek Tragedy

A Greek tragedy is structures as follows:A Greek tragedy is structures as follows:(each genre has a different structure)(each genre has a different structure)

I. I. Prologue: Prologue: Spoken by one or two characters Spoken by one or two characters before the chorus appears. Thebefore the chorus appears. The– prologue usually gives the background prologue usually gives the background

information needed to understand the events of information needed to understand the events of the play.the play.

II. II. Parodos: Parodos: the song sung by the chorus as it the song sung by the chorus as it makes its entrancemakes its entrance

III. III. Episodes/Scenes: Episodes/Scenes: the main action of the playthe main action of the play

Greek Tragedy Con’tGreek Tragedy Con’tIV. IV. Odes: Odes: a song (and often dance) that a song (and often dance) that

reflects on the events of the episodes, and reflects on the events of the episodes, and weaves the plot into a cohesive wholeweaves the plot into a cohesive whole

A. A. Choragos: Choragos: the leader of the chorus who the leader of the chorus who often interacts with the characters in the often interacts with the characters in the scenesscenes

B. B. Chorus: Chorus: the singers/dancers who the singers/dancers who remark on the action; react as the remark on the action; react as the playwright hopes the audience will playwright hopes the audience will

1. strophe: the movement of the 1. strophe: the movement of the chorus chorus from right to left across from right to left across the stagethe stage

2. antistrophe: the reaction to 2. antistrophe: the reaction to the the strophe, which moves across strophe, which moves across the stage the stage from left to right.from left to right.

The ChorusThe ChorusThe chorus was made The chorus was made up of amateur actors.up of amateur actors.

In Oedipus Rex, the In Oedipus Rex, the chorus acts like a chorus acts like a character as well as a character as well as a group of citizens. group of citizens.

They are used to set They are used to set the mood and heighten the mood and heighten the dramatic effects. the dramatic effects. The chorus adds The chorus adds movement, song, & movement, song, & dance. dance.

Chorus Con’tChorus Con’t

They usually entered just after the They usually entered just after the opening of the play and remained on opening of the play and remained on stage until the end.stage until the end.

During their part, they periodically During their part, they periodically stopped moving to allow the audience stopped moving to allow the audience to consider what they are saying.to consider what they are saying.

The ActorsThe Actors

The chorus usually wore similar masks to unify The chorus usually wore similar masks to unify them as a “group,” but actors wore them to them as a “group,” but actors wore them to distinguish between various characters. Since all distinguish between various characters. Since all Greek actors were men, it was necessary to wear Greek actors were men, it was necessary to wear masks in order to portray female characters. masks in order to portray female characters.

Since there were only three parts, masks Since there were only three parts, masks allowed for more characters to be allowed for more characters to be portrayed. portrayed.

Each character had a different mask, so Each character had a different mask, so the three actors had to be highly skilled the three actors had to be highly skilled individuals to portray each role individuals to portray each role appropriately.appropriately.

All performers were men, however, All performers were men, however, anyone could attend theatre productions.anyone could attend theatre productions.

Greek Dramatic StructureGreek Dramatic Structure

EXODUS:EXODUS: THE CONCLUDING SECTION OF THE CONCLUDING SECTION OF THE TRAGEDY. THE EXODUS ENDS WITH THE TRAGEDY. THE EXODUS ENDS WITH THE CHORUS SINGINGTHE CHORUS SINGING THEIR FINAL LINES THEIR FINAL LINES AS THEY EXIT.AS THEY EXIT.

Common in Greek Tragedy:Common in Greek Tragedy:Dramatic ironyDramatic irony: When the : When the audience knows audience knows something that the characters don’t knowsomething that the characters don’t knowFall of HubrisFall of Hubris: Hubris is : Hubris is excessiveexcessive pride pride. Many . Many tragedies deal with human pride leading to tragedies deal with human pride leading to arrogant behaviors that anger the godsarrogant behaviors that anger the gods. Thus, . Thus, man must be man must be punishedpunished..Fate vs. DestinyFate vs. Destiny: Many tragedies feature : Many tragedies feature characters who try to escape characters who try to escape unfavorable unfavorable propheciesprophecies. This is futile, however, as man does . This is futile, however, as man does not often have the power or luck to change not often have the power or luck to change his/her his/her fate as determined by cosmic forces or fate as determined by cosmic forces or gods/goddesses.gods/goddesses.

Characteristics of a Tragic HeroCharacteristics of a Tragic Hero

Must have a Must have a fall from greatnessfall from greatness (either power, (either power, wealth, or social standing)wealth, or social standing)

Must be an extraordinary person, yet have a Must be an extraordinary person, yet have a tragic flawtragic flaw

Tragic flaw: often a Tragic flaw: often a positive character traitpositive character trait that, that, when when taken to the extremetaken to the extreme, causes tragedy, causes tragedy

Must experience a Must experience a moment of realizationmoment of realization that that he/she has erredhe/she has erred

Must Must suffer greatlysuffer greatly due to his/her actions or flaw due to his/her actions or flaw (often, but not always, this means death)(often, but not always, this means death)

What have others said about What have others said about Tragedy?Tragedy?

"We participate in tragedy. At comedy we only look.“ --"We participate in tragedy. At comedy we only look.“ --Aldous HuxleyAldous Huxley

"I've never thought of my characters as being sad. On "I've never thought of my characters as being sad. On the contrary, they are full of life. They didn't choose the contrary, they are full of life. They didn't choose tragedy. Tragedy chose them.“ --Juliette Binochetragedy. Tragedy chose them.“ --Juliette Binoche

Do Now:Do Now:

"Tragedy is more important than love. Out "Tragedy is more important than love. Out of all human events, it is tragedy alone of all human events, it is tragedy alone that brings people out of their own petty that brings people out of their own petty desires and into awareness of other desires and into awareness of other humans‘ suffering. Tragedy occurs in humans‘ suffering. Tragedy occurs in human lives so that we will learn to reach human lives so that we will learn to reach out and comfort others“ --C. S. Lewisout and comfort others“ --C. S. Lewis