Greek DramaGreek Drama Plays performed in Plays performed in

religious festivals religious festivals to honour the god to honour the god Dionysus, god of Dionysus, god of wine and revelry.wine and revelry.

Performed in an Performed in an outdoor outdoor theatrontheatron carved out of a carved out of a hillside.hillside.

Panoramic view of the Greek theater at EpidaurusPanoramic view of the Greek theater at Epidaurus

History of History of OedipusOedipus Sophocles’ Sophocles’

Theban plays Theban plays include include Oedipus Oedipus RexRex, , Oedipus at Oedipus at ColonusColonus, and , and Antigone Antigone

Family curse Family curse passed generation passed generation to generation.to generation.

MythologyMythology Polytheistic. Polytheistic. Gods interact with humans and often Gods interact with humans and often

“play” with humans for their own “play” with humans for their own amusement. They are capricious and amusement. They are capricious and unpredictable.unpredictable.

Gods interbreed with humans. Gods interbreed with humans. The gods themselves are subject to The gods themselves are subject to

the Fates. the Fates. Apollo, the god of healing, prophecy Apollo, the god of healing, prophecy

(oracles), the arts -- especially music -- (oracles), the arts -- especially music -- and archery.and archery.

The Oracle of DelphiThe Oracle of Delphi

Delphi - the “centre of the world” or Omphalos

The Temple of Apollo at Delphi attracts pilgrims who come to seek the advice of the Pythia.

The prophecies must be decoded and interpreted.

Fate is inescapable.

The Riddle of the SphinxThe Riddle of the Sphinx

What goes on What goes on four legs in the four legs in the morning, on two morning, on two legs at noon legs at noon and on three and on three legs in the legs in the evening?evening?

The Double Edge of IronyThe Double Edge of Irony Knowledge of Knowledge of

background story background story creates DRAMATIC creates DRAMATIC IRONYIRONY

Note also, Note also, SITUATIONAL SITUATIONAL IRONYIRONY

TragedyTragedySome Features of Greek TragedySome Features of Greek Tragedy– Three Unities (time, place and action)Three Unities (time, place and action)– Violence and death offstage. Violence and death offstage. – Frequent use of messengers to relate Frequent use of messengers to relate

information. information. – Stories based on myth or history, but Stories based on myth or history, but

varied interpretations of events.varied interpretations of events.– Focus is on psychological and ethical Focus is on psychological and ethical

attributes of characters.attributes of characters.

ConventionsConventions Three actors on stageThree actors on stage MasksMasks All male castAll male cast ChorusChorus

– Offer background and summary material.Offer background and summary material.– Comment on the themes.Comment on the themes.– Express things the characters cannot say such Express things the characters cannot say such

as fears or secrets.as fears or secrets.– Interact with characters and offer advice.Interact with characters and offer advice.– ““Strophe” (movement) and “antistrophe” Strophe” (movement) and “antistrophe”

(countermovement).(countermovement).

Conventions cont. Conventions cont. FormForm

– The play opened with a The play opened with a prologue, prologue, the the action before the entrance of the action before the entrance of the chorus. chorus.

– Then came the Then came the paradosparados, the entering , the entering lyric of the chorus. lyric of the chorus.

– This was followed by the alternating This was followed by the alternating episodesepisodes, of the actors and the choral , of the actors and the choral odes. The play ended with the odes. The play ended with the exodosexodos, , the action after the last choral ode.the action after the last choral ode.

Aristotle’s DefinitionAristotle’s Definition Every tragedy must include Every tragedy must include

Plot, Character, Diction, Plot, Character, Diction, Thought, Spectacle and Thought, Spectacle and Melody.Melody.

The plot must be complex.The plot must be complex. The plot must represent what is The plot must represent what is

fearful or pitiful.fearful or pitiful. We must sympathize with the We must sympathize with the

character and realize that the character and realize that the character falls into misfortune character falls into misfortune due not to wickedness, but due due not to wickedness, but due to a tragic flaw.to a tragic flaw.

Important ConceptsImportant Concepts HubrisHubris HamartiaHamartia CatharsisCatharsis PeripeteiaPeripeteia AnagnorisisAnagnorisis