Athens, Sophocles, and the Greek Theater

Athens of Classical Greece

I. Brief Historic OverviewA. Self-governing city-state (polis)B. During the 5th Century B.C., Athens was the richest and most advanced of all city- statesC. Great wealth led to the support and promotion of arts and entertainment, especially the Festival of Dionysus, where Sophocles produced his tragedies

Athens of Classical Greece

D. Lack of farmland led to frequent

battles with neighboring city-states; by end of 5th century B.C., Sparta had starved Athens

into submission and Athenian Power ended.

II. Importance and Emphasis of the Arts

A. Public Unity - The theatrical experience was an all encom-passing public experience. Attending the theater was social, political, and religious.

A. Public Unity (Cont’d) - Ancient Greek myth—the theme of most dramatic tragedies—touched the individual and the universal heart and drew the audience together, especially in times of hardship.

II. Importance and Emphasis of the Arts

II. Importance and Emphasis of the Arts

B. Sacred Art - Dramatic tradition began as choral performance celebrations to Dionysus (Roman god Bacchus), god of wine, pleasure, and fertility

C. Civic Duty - Because the Festival of Dionysus served as a ritual to honor the god, attending the theater was a religious duty and responsibility of all pious citizens.

II. Importance and Emphasis of the Arts

Sophocles (496-406 B.C.)Although information about the Greek playwright Sophocles is vagueand incomplete, there are some important details about his life thatremain. He is considered one of the most influential writers uponWestern culture and one of the most tragic playwrights of all time.Sophocles lived during the Classical Period (500 to 400 B.C.), a time ofimportant transition for Greece, when political and cultural eventswere changing and shaping the Athenian culture.

A. Birth - Born about 496 B.C. at Colonus near Athens, Greece.B. Family - His father was a wealthy weapons-maker and a leading citizen, which prepared the way for Sophocles to play an important role in Athenian society.

Sophocles (496-406 B.C.)I. Early Years and Education

Sophocles (496-406 B.C.)I. Early Years and Education

C. Education - Sophocles studied poetry, music, dancing, and gymnastics-allof which were considered to form a well-rounded education for citizens.

Sophocles (496-406 B.C.)I. Early Years and Education

D. Awards - By age 15, he won the honor of leading the boys' chorus in thevictory paean celebrating the Athenian naval victory over thePersians at Salamis in 480.

Sophocles (496-406 B.C.)I. Early Years and Education

E. Influences - Sophocles read and studied the ancient traditions and first epic poetry of Greece, written by Homer.

F. Teacher - Studied under the Greek playwright Aeschylus

Sophocles (496-406 B.C.)II. Adult Years and Public Service

A. Served as a diplomat, a general, and as a priest of Alscepius, aminor god of healing.

B. In 443 B.C., the great Athenian leader Pericles chose Sophocles to be treasurer of the Delian Confederation.

C. Won first prize for dramatic writing at the Festival of Dionysus18 times

Sophocles (496-406 B.C.)III. Contributions to Literature and

DramaA. Wrote over 120

plays

B. Credited for pioneering the use of on-stage scene paintings

Sophocles (496-406 B.C.)III. Contributions to Literature and

DramaC. Created more complexity in drama by adding a third actor tothe traditional pair; increased the Greek chorus from twelve tofifteen, and began to integrate chorus into the action.

Sophocles (496-406 B.C.)III. Contributions to Literature and Drama

D. Aristotle, Greek philosopher, said, “The purpose of tragedy is to arouse pity and fear in the audience, and so create a catharsis, or cleansing of emotions—that will enlighten people about life and fate.” Sophocles' entire Oedipus Trilogy achieves catharsis!

E. Oedipus Rex (Oedipus the King) (430 B.C.) is regarded as his masterpiece.

The Greek TheaterI. History

A. Began when writer Thespis separated one man from the chorus and gave individual lines to speak

B. In 534 B.C., Thespis produced the first tragedy at the Festival of Dinoysus

The Greek TheaterII. PerformanceA.

Theater: Actors performed in an open-air theater with audiences of up to 15,000!

B. Staqe: Bare floor

with wooden

skene behind ithttp://gigapan.org/gigapans/78096/

The Greek TheaterII. Performance

C. Costume: Actors wore long robes with masks that depicted their characters; they also often wore cothurni, platformed shoes, to give the illusion of great height when playing the parts of gods, goddesses, and mythical heroes.

The Greek TheaterII. Performance

D. Declamatory script: Because over-sized costumes made movement difficult, the script relied heavily upon the actor's dramatic delivery of lines, which is seen in lengthy monologues and stichomythic dialogue between two debating characters.

ISMENE: And what life is dear to me, bereft of thee?ANTIGONE: Ask Creon; all thy care is for him.ISMENE: Why vex me thus, when it avails thee nought?ANTIGONE: Indeed, if I mock, 'tis with pain that I mock thee.ISMENE: Tell me,—how can I serve thee, even now?ANTIGONE: Save thyself: I grudge not thy escape.ISMENE: Ah, woe is me! And shall I have no share in thy fate?

The Structure of the Greek Drama

Historians believe that the structure of the Greek tragedy influenced the

eventual division of a play into acts and scenes. Given the study of Greek and

Roman manuscripts, it is reasonable to assume that this is

true.

The Structure of the Greek DramaThe Greek tragedy is divided into five distinct sections:

1. The Prologos (Prologue) - The opening portion of the play, which sets the scene and contains the exposition (introduces the theme and main characters)2. The Parados - The entrance song of the chorus, named after the broad aisles on either side of the theater and in front of the orchestra along which the chorus entered or exited.3. The Episodes (Scenes) The scenes in the action of the drama performed by the actors. The episodes alternate with and are distinguished from the stasimons, which are performed by the chorus.

The Structure of the Greek Drama4. The Stasimons (Odes)- A choral passage (ode) alternating with the episodes of the plot. The odes (lyrical poems) use exalted and dignified language created for the choral passages. The chorus often sang and danced the tragic odes, accompanied by musicalinstruments (usually flute and harp). The tragic ode consisted of strophes and antistrophes, essentially stanzas of the poems.

5. Exodos (Epilogue) - The concluding section of the tragedy. The exodus ends with the chorus singing their final lines as they exit.

The Structure of the Greek DramaThe Chorus

The chorus of the Greek tragedy served several purposes:

1.Created odes, which contained music and dancing

2.Introduced and questioned new characters

3. Pointed out significant events

4. Established facts

5. Affirmed society's outlook and expressed societalattitude toward developments in the story

6. Covered passages of time between events

7. Separated the Scenes (Episodes)

ASSIGNMENT – DUE WEDS., 11/2ASSIGNMENT – DUE WEDS., 11/2Create a collage, Voice Thread, Prezi, or PowerPoint Create a collage, Voice Thread, Prezi, or PowerPoint

describing your “life’s quest” and addressing the describing your “life’s quest” and addressing the following:following:

Who are you? Where do you come from? What Who are you? Where do you come from? What makes YOU you?makes YOU you?

What is your purpose in life?What is your purpose in life? Where do you hope to go in life? What is your goal?Where do you hope to go in life? What is your goal? What are some of the potential roadblocks or What are some of the potential roadblocks or

dangers to getting there?dangers to getting there? What universal question(s) are you seeking to What universal question(s) are you seeking to

answer at this point in life?answer at this point in life?

Include photos, clip art, objects, etc. that help Include photos, clip art, objects, etc. that help represent who you are and your life’s quest.represent who you are and your life’s quest.

THEBES CORINTH

Agenor

Cadmus

Polydorus

Labdacus

Laius & JocastaPolybus & Merope

Oedipus [Oedipus]