Greek DramaGreek DramaBackground for Oedipus rex

A greek play by Sophocles

Background for Oedipus rex A greek play by Sophocles

The BasicsThe Basics Greek drama occurred during the “Golden Age” of Greece: 500 to

300 B.C.E Tragedies were produced as part of a religious festival for

Dionysus (god of wine , fertility, and Theater) every year in Athens. Awards were given to the playwright who presented the best

series of three dramas (we still have festivals like this! Sundance Film Festival, for example)

Greek drama occurred during the “Golden Age” of Greece: 500 to 300 B.C.E

Tragedies were produced as part of a religious festival for Dionysus (god of wine , fertility, and Theater) every year in Athens.

Awards were given to the playwright who presented the best series of three dramas (we still have festivals like this! Sundance Film Festival, for example)

The Festival of Dionysus (Dionysia)

The Festival of Dionysus (Dionysia)

A festival thrown every year in Athens, Greece to honor one of their favorite Gods Dionysus: God of Wine and Theatrical Performances.

A festival thrown every year in Athens, Greece to honor one of their favorite Gods Dionysus: God of Wine and Theatrical Performances.

Civic DutyCivic Duty

It was every citizen’s CIVIC DUTY to attend the festival.

Everything shut down for 5 days

It was every citizen’s CIVIC DUTY to attend the festival.

Everything shut down for 5 days

Playwrights would write tragedies and compete every year to claim a prize.

3 playwrights would compete each year.

Playwrights would write tragedies and compete every year to claim a prize.

3 playwrights would compete each year.

Civic Duty: CatharsisCivic Duty: CatharsisIt was believed that people became sick because they had “bad emotions” stuck in their bodies and it “poisoned” their blood and made them sick.

It was believed that people became sick because they had “bad emotions” stuck in their bodies and it “poisoned” their blood and made them sick.

Citizens had to “purge” these bad emotions: Fear Anxiety Anger

Citizens had to “purge” these bad emotions: Fear Anxiety Anger

Civic Duty: CatharsisCivic Duty: Catharsis Citizens could

safely cleanse or “purge” these bad emotions at a play by feeling sad, angry, etc and letting everything go. Part of their Health Care.

Citizens could safely cleanse or “purge” these bad emotions at a play by feeling sad, angry, etc and letting everything go. Part of their Health Care.

Catharsis

Greek TragedyGreek Tragedy

Involves intense emotion, a horrible truth that leads to catharsis – the cleansing or getting rid of bad emptions

The tragic flaw is also called hamartia, the error in judgment or the critical mistake

Hubris=excessive pride (sound familiar?)

Involves intense emotion, a horrible truth that leads to catharsis – the cleansing or getting rid of bad emptions

The tragic flaw is also called hamartia, the error in judgment or the critical mistake

Hubris=excessive pride (sound familiar?)

Greek comedy vs. TragedyGreek comedy vs. Tragedy

Comedies Always involves a happy ending where things are resolved

tragedies always have a very sad ending

Comedies Always involves a happy ending where things are resolved

tragedies always have a very sad ending

The tragic HeroThe tragic Hero

Oedipus is our tragic heroes – we feel sorry for him because he suffers

The tragic hero usually ends in death or destruction (He is virtually unrecognizable.)

Oedipus is our tragic heroes – we feel sorry for him because he suffers

The tragic hero usually ends in death or destruction (He is virtually unrecognizable.)

Dramatic ironyDramatic irony

One of the most important elements in this play is dramatic irony – where the audience knows something that the characters don’t

Watch for this as we read!

One of the most important elements in this play is dramatic irony – where the audience knows something that the characters don’t

Watch for this as we read!

(Irony is a contrast between what is expected, and what actually happens)

(Irony is a contrast between what is expected, and what actually happens)

So Who is this Sophocles guy?

So Who is this Sophocles guy?

Sophocles was one of 3 great Greek tragic playwrights (b. 496 B.C.)

Wrote over 100 plays Awarded first prize

about 20 times…never lower than second place

First to add a third actor to cast

Sophocles was one of 3 great Greek tragic playwrights (b. 496 B.C.)

Wrote over 100 plays Awarded first prize

about 20 times…never lower than second place

First to add a third actor to cast

Quick notes on oedipus rexQuick notes on oedipus rex First in a series of

three plays (Antigone & Oedipus at colonus)

Takes place in Thebes (greece)

depict the curse of Oedipus Sophocles did not

come up with the story on his own, it was an ancient greek myth

First in a series of three plays (Antigone & Oedipus at colonus)

Takes place in Thebes (greece)

depict the curse of Oedipus Sophocles did not

come up with the story on his own, it was an ancient greek myth

Oedipus CastOedipus Cast Oedipus (King)

Jocasta (wife)

Tiresias (prophet)

Creon (brother)

Senators Messenger Old man

Oedipus (King)

Jocasta (wife)

Tiresias (prophet)

Creon (brother)

Senators Messenger Old man

Structure of Greek Tragedy and the

Role of the Chorus

Structure of Greek Tragedy and the

Role of the ChorusWhat you need to know when

reading Oedipus RexWhat you need to know when

reading Oedipus Rex

The awesome amphitheaterThe awesome amphitheater

Plays were performed in HUGE outdoor amphitheatres that could seat 40,000 people (Yankee Stadium seats 52, 325)

No microphones! But you can hear a penny drop from all the way at the top!

Plays were performed in HUGE outdoor amphitheatres that could seat 40,000 people (Yankee Stadium seats 52, 325)

No microphones! But you can hear a penny drop from all the way at the top!

Cast And actionCast And action

All actors were men. They wore masks to depict which characters they were.

There were no scene changes (no backstage!) The audience knew the story ahead of time.

The emotion of the characters was what they came to see.

Violent action took place offstage (I.e. audience had to imagine it). Messengers then told the audience what happened.

All actors were men. They wore masks to depict which characters they were.

There were no scene changes (no backstage!) The audience knew the story ahead of time.

The emotion of the characters was what they came to see.

Violent action took place offstage (I.e. audience had to imagine it). Messengers then told the audience what happened.

Unity of Time, Place, and Action

Unity of Time, Place, and Action

Greek plays were much different from the films we are used to: The unity of action: unity of action: Play follows one main

storyline with no or few subplots. The unity of placeunity of place: : play occurs in a single

place and does not change setting (the stage represents one place)

The unity of timeunity of time: : the action in a play should take place over no more than 24 hours.

Greek plays were much different from the films we are used to: The unity of action: unity of action: Play follows one main

storyline with no or few subplots. The unity of placeunity of place: : play occurs in a single

place and does not change setting (the stage represents one place)

The unity of timeunity of time: : the action in a play should take place over no more than 24 hours.

So what is the chorus?So what is the chorus?

The chorus was a group of 12-15 men who sang and danced during the plays.

They often represent the community’s thoughts but not necessarily the poet’s thoughts.

In Oedipus Rex, the chorus is made of senators – wise old guys!

The chorus was a group of 12-15 men who sang and danced during the plays.

They often represent the community’s thoughts but not necessarily the poet’s thoughts.

In Oedipus Rex, the chorus is made of senators – wise old guys!

ChorusChorus

ChorusChorus

The Role of the ChorusThe Role of the Chorus

To set the mood of the play and tell us the themes

To interpret the action in relation to the law of the state and the law of the Olympian gods

To divide the action and offer reflection on events

To give background information (Think of it like you have all your

grandparents, aunts, and uncles sitting around commenting on your life)

To set the mood of the play and tell us the themes

To interpret the action in relation to the law of the state and the law of the Olympian gods

To divide the action and offer reflection on events

To give background information (Think of it like you have all your

grandparents, aunts, and uncles sitting around commenting on your life)

Structure of TragedyStructure of Tragedy

A Greek Tragedy alternates between odes and episodes

It goes: Ode-->Episode-->Ode-->Episode-->Ode….you get it

Odes are songs sung by the chorus to comment on the action

Episodes are when characters talk together (Dialogue)

A Greek Tragedy alternates between odes and episodes

It goes: Ode-->Episode-->Ode-->Episode-->Ode….you get it

Odes are songs sung by the chorus to comment on the action

Episodes are when characters talk together (Dialogue)

In more detail…In more detail… Prologue: The first part of the play that

give background information. Strophe: Chorus sings while walking

Right to Left Antistrophe: Chorus sings while

walking Left to Right Choral Ode: At the end of each

episode, the other characters leave the stage and the chorus sings!

Prologue: The first part of the play that give background information.

Strophe: Chorus sings while walking Right to Left

Antistrophe: Chorus sings while walking Left to Right

Choral Ode: At the end of each episode, the other characters leave the stage and the chorus sings!

The EndThe End

Exodos: At the end of play, the chorus exits singing a processional song which usually offers words of wisdom related to the actions and outcome of the play. This is the “moral” of the story where

the chorus tells us what we were have supposed to learn from the characters

Exodos: At the end of play, the chorus exits singing a processional song which usually offers words of wisdom related to the actions and outcome of the play. This is the “moral” of the story where

the chorus tells us what we were have supposed to learn from the characters

Oedipus Rex = Tragic HeroOedipus Rex = Tragic Hero

“Man of high standard who falls from that high because of a flaw that has affected many” - Aristotle

“Man of high standard who falls from that high because of a flaw that has affected many” - Aristotle

The Tragic HeroThe Tragic Hero

A dynamic (round) character others respect and admire

Nearly perfect

A dynamic (round) character others respect and admire

Nearly perfect

Tragic FlawTragic FlawThe hero is nearly

perfect- Has one weakness

Error in Judgment Critical Mistake (hamartia)

Error brings hero down

Reversal of fortune

The hero is nearly perfect-

Has one weakness Error in Judgment Critical Mistake (hamartia)

Error brings hero down

Reversal of fortune

Should I kill him NOW?

CatharsisCatharsis Audience’s

purging of emotions through pity and fear.

The spectator is purged as a result of watching the hero fall.

Audience’s purging of emotions through pity and fear.

The spectator is purged as a result of watching the hero fall.

The Oedipus Family TreeThe Oedipus Family Tree

More Like the Family Stick!More Like the Family Stick!

King Oedipus married Queen Jocasta

(his mother-ewww!)

King Oedipus married Queen Jocasta

(his mother-ewww!)They had 4 children (Eww):

-Eteocles -Antigone-Polynices -Ismene

/ /Sons Daughters (O’s brothers?) (O’s sisters?)Fight for Thebes Go back to ThebesCursed by dyingFather - Kill each other

They had 4 children (Eww):-Eteocles -Antigone-Polynices -Ismene

/ /Sons Daughters (O’s brothers?) (O’s sisters?)Fight for Thebes Go back to ThebesCursed by dyingFather - Kill each other

Exit Slip!Exit Slip! What is dramatic irony?

Who is our tragic hero?

What is Hubris?

what is catharsis?

What is hamartia?

What is dramatic irony?

Who is our tragic hero?

What is Hubris?

what is catharsis?

What is hamartia?