Greek

Drama

Greek Tragedy

Characteristics:

The tragedy is communicated in the form of drama.

The story features the downfall of a dignified character.

The events of the story are

of great significance.

The Tragic Hero

The hero is neither completely good nor completely bad. &

He is decent but flawed.

He arouses pity and fear in the audience through identification.

Tragic Flaw

The hero shows weakness

or error in judgment.

Pride or arrogance are often typical of the

hero’s downfall.

Catastrophe

The hero realizes the outcome of his actions, but it is often too late. Different from a sad event, the catastrophe has major implications beyond those of just the hero. Often there is multiple deaths. If the hero doesn’t die, he suffers complete ruin.

Classical Greek Drama

•The drama has a religious origin, which dates back to the sixth century B. C.

•Celebrations were in honor of Dionysus (the god of wine, vegetation, pleasure and festivity)

The TheaterOutdoors, thousands attended the drama, which involved great spectacle and pageantry. The orchestra was seated between the skene (a building which served as the backdrop for the action and a dressing room for the actors) and the audience

Chorus

• The chorus (a large group) gave commentary on the actions of the actors, sang and danced; they were often responsible for communicating the values, beliefs, and ideals of the Athenian society.

– strophe: part of the ode chanted as chorus moves from right to left across stage

– antistrophe: part of ode chanted as the chorus moves back across stage from left to right.

• The choragus is the leader of the chorus and participates in the dialogue with the actors.

Chorus/Actors

• All tragedies were once performed by a chorus only.

–Thespis became the legendary first actor when he stepped from the chorus and began playing the part of a god, rather than just reciting the story (choragus).

• Sophocles was first tragedian to introduce the third actor.

Actors

• Actors were men, even female roles.

• They wore elaborate costumes, including elaborate masks.

The Role of Myth

• The birth of drama has its origins in myth.

• Subjects were familiar to the audience.

• Gods and goddesses are alluded to quite often in dialogue and for their influence.

• The foundation of most Greek drama is usually the characters’ struggle to live in honor and fear of the gods.

Myths, cont.

• Individuals such as the blind prophet Tiresias communicate the wishes of the gods.

• Dramatic irony is a common element because the audience is familiar with the outcome of the play.

Tiresias appears to Odysseus ---Johann Heinrich Füssli, c. 1780-85

Greek Drama Terms

• Parodos –

– a song sung by a Greek chorus as it first enters the theatre

– used mainly in presenting the information already given

• Paean - \pē-ən\

– Hymn that is an appeal to the gods for assistance

• Exodus –

– Last episode in the play

– Addresses the audience directly

Sophocles

• He wrote 123 plays, all appreciated and awarded in dramatic competitions. Only seven plays survive.

– Works: Ajax , Antigone, Oedipus the King, Trachiniae, Electra, Philoctetes and Oedipus at Colonus.

• Sophocles recognized three epochs in his own style

– first, the beginning inspired by Aeschylus

– second, with a more harsh expression

– third, the interest for describing human character.

Aristotle

• Aristotle (Poetics) thought that the two functions of art were:

1) to teach (instruct)

2) to delight (entertain)

• Aristotle describes catharsis as the purging of the emotions of pity and fear that are aroused in the viewer of a tragedy. Debate continues about what Aristotle actually means by catharsis, but the concept is linked to the positive social function of tragedy -the release of pent-up emotion or energy

Greek Tragedy

Oedipus, a legendary character, is the subject of one famous Greek trilogy dramatized by Sophocles.

–Oedipus Rex (The King), Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone

Oedipus Review

King Laius/Queen Jocasta of Thebes *King/Queen of Corinth

(raised Oedipus)

Oedipus m. Jocasta *Creon is Jocasta’s brother