Greek Theater

THEATER

Reflects what is going on at the given moment

Is about the age and culture

First came out of rituals and religious ceremonies

Has developed into a genre of artistic work in which actors impersonate characters in a scripted work (much like movies too)

Theater as Ritual

Greek theatre was born from a ritual to honor Dionysus.

Originally, rituals of dancing and poetry morphed into plays to honor Dionysus.

Poems about Dionysus were at first recited by Chorus.

The Thespis method grew in popularity, and a theatre competition in the festivals began.

After Thespis, other playwrights began to expand on the use of characters; dialogue became possible. Sophocles and Aescholus are credited with this.

The plays were expanded to honor more than just Dionysus and to incorporate the entire body of mythology.

The Chorus

Usually 12 to 15 people would dance and sing as well as interact with the actors on stage through unison speech.

All actors and choral members on stage would be male.

The leaders of the chorus generally spoke to the actors and represented the general audience.

All dialogue was set to music and chanted.

The actors

All players were male. Players wore masks and

long robes. Actors were revered and

respected. The poet would chose the

chorus except its lead member, but the others were professional and hired.

Most props were merely suggested, with actions pantomimed.

The competition

As theatre became more popular, the festival to Dionysus grew into an important competition between three playwrights.

Each writer would submit three tragedies and on satyr (a comic or irreverent version of a mythological subject).

In the 430 B.C., competitions for comedy was also held.

The Theater

Theatres were large, open air and performed in daylight.

The theatre included the audience, “orchestra” and skene, a hut where changes could be made.

Play Structure

Prologue sets the scene before the chorus enters.

Pardos is when the chorus enters signing an ode (poem).

The plot develops with episodes, and the chorus comes in and sings between episodes.

The chorus ends with the play with the exodus.

ARISTOTLE’S POETICS Art was man’s attempt

to play god – not bad because man is reaching for something higher

Theater is not an imitation of life, it is a strive for self improvement

The tragedy occurs in the play when man tries to be like a god

SIX ELEMENTS OF DRAMA

Plot: what is done that reveals intent

Character: how people habitually act

Thought: for of character development that reveals more purpose to character motivation (theme)

Diction: how it is said

Music: special form with thought and diction

Spectacle: the overall production (special effects)

TRAGIC HERO Someone who is highly renowned and

prosperous.

The tragic hero has a harmartia, or flaw which is a fundamental character weakness.

This excessive flaw causes his downfall and the downfall of others.

The tragic hero is humbled/enlightened by the tragedy.

As the audience, we feel that the hero’s punishment exceeds the crime and we recognize that same flaw in ourselves, and what could occur if we allow our flaw to go to extremes.

Sophocles Was a popular and aristocratic member of

Athenian society who achieved the rank of general in Athenian army.

Increased the number of actors

from 2 to 3 in Greek theater.

Lived from 497-405 B.C.

He wrote 123 dramas,

only seven of which have survived.

Dramatic Devices

Simile

Assonance

Verbal irony

Oxymoron

Metaphor

Dramatic irony

Apostrophe

Alliteration

Foreshadowing

Rhetorical questions