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GREEK DRAMA

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Page 1: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

GREEK DRAMA

Page 2: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

How did drama begin? Traveling groups sang about myths and

legends. Playwrights decided to write down the

stories in a form that could be acted out.

Playwright acts out the play by himself 1st actor- Thespis 534 B.C.

Aeschylus (525-456 B.C.), added the second actor, so there was interaction.

Sophocles added a third actor.

Page 3: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Sophocles (496-406 B.C.)

Abolished the “trilogic form”

Each play could be a complete entity in itself

Responsible for the invention of scene painting and “periaktoi”- a three-sided revolving apparatus painted with scenery and used at each side of the stage.

Page 4: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Sophocles

Wrote 100-120 plays; seven have survived in their entirety

Wrote the “Theben Plays” Oedipus the King (Rex) Oedipus at Colonus Antigone

Page 5: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

“DIONYSIA” Religious event held in the spring of

each year Festival honoring the Greek god,

Dionysus Play competitions held at the Theater of

Dionysus at Athens (TDA) Audience would cast stone

ballots to vote for the winner

Page 6: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Play competitions 3 playwrights chosen to perform three

tragedies and one satire each day Satire--humorous play about the three

tragedies just presented– A SATYR PLAY IS A FARCICAL, OFTEN BAWDY PARODY OF THE GODS

AND THEIR MYTHS.

Lasted three days, sunrise to sunset Each playwright presented on one day At the end of the third day, a laurel

wreath and a cash award was given to the winning playwright.

Page 7: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Winners Aeschylus and Sophocles won the most

competitions. Sophocles won at least 20 times.

Euripides (480-406 B.C.), while winning less competitions, foreshadowed the ultimate form of drama as we know it -- employing a far more naturalistic or human approach in his works, in contrast to the remote scale and formalized conventions used by his contemporaries.

Page 8: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Comedies Aristophanes (448-380 B.C.) and Menander

(342-292 B.C.) were the greatest comic writers.

A separate competition for comedy which, while also dedicated to Dionysus, took place at the smaller winter festival, rather than the major spring festival at which the tragedies were presented.

These were dependent on topical humor and satire for much of their content, and have not survived the ages as well as tragedies -- which deal with more universal themes.

Page 9: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

One of two gods of the earth along with Demeter

God of poetry, drama, the song, and wine

Son of Zeus and Semele (or Persephone)

Page 10: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Worshipped by a religious cult

Believed to be able to take the form of animals to be sacrificed

Worshipped during the festival and given credit for being able to have drama

He was believed to have died every winter and revived every spring.

Page 11: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

The Greek Theater

Page 12: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Amphitheatre-Outdoor stadium--3,000 spectators – the largest ultimately held twenty thousand people

Theatron--“the seeing place”-- was audience seating

Orchestra--circular area for the chorus Skene building--building used for

dressing, entering and exiting the performance area

Structure of the Greek theater--THEATER

Page 13: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Theatron Located on a sloped surface, usually a

hillside Half or semi-circle Contained wooden or stone benches

built into the hillside Patrons looked down onto the

performance area Segregated seating Patrons were from ALL classes

Page 14: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Orchestra

A flat, circular area where the chorus stood

Separated from the audience by a stone retaining wall

Contained a Thymele in the center of the circle (an altar to Dionysus)

Chorus proceeded to the orchestra by way of the paragos / parados

Page 15: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Skene

Flat-roofed scene building Temporary construction of wood, later

became permanent Located across the rear of the orchestra

circle Used as a dressing area for actors

Page 16: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

The Greek Theater

theatron

orchestra

skenethymele

paragos

Page 17: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could
Page 18: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

The Greek TheaterTheater of Dionysus in Athens, Greece

Page 19: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

The Greek Theater

Page 20: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

The Greek Theater

Page 21: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

The Greek Theater

Page 22: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

The Greek Theater

Page 23: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

The Greek Theater

Page 24: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Theater--Machinery used Trap door on the skene--divinities

could appear on the roof Mechane--a crane supported by a

large stone that allowed characters to “fly”

Ekkyklema--”thing which rolls out”--low rolling platform used to display dead bodies or to wheel out characters who were ill

Page 25: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Who acted out the plays?

“Hypocrits”=Actors, role players Actor and playwright were originally

the same Never have more than three

hypocrits All male performers--played female

roles also

Page 26: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Costumes Long flowing robes, often with

vertical stripes Oversized and well-padded High boots with raised soles or

stilts Colors were symbolic

Page 27: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Masks Made of linen, wood, or cork

“Larger than life” Identified age,

gender, emotion Exaggerated

features-large eyes, open mouth

Amplified sound

Page 28: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Masks Made of linen, wood, or cork

“Larger than life” Identified age,

gender, emotion Exaggerated

features-large eyes, open mouth

Amplified sound

Page 29: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Masks Made of linen, wood, or cork

“Larger than life” Identified age,

gender, emotion Exaggerated

features-large eyes, open mouth

Amplified sound

Page 30: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Masks Made of linen, wood, or cork

“Larger than life” Identified age,

gender, emotion Exaggerated

features-large eyes, open mouth

Amplified sound

Page 31: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Chorus

Contained 15 men who chanted and danced

Choragos--the spokesman or leader of the chorus

Commented on the action of the play and interpreted its meaning for the audience in chants and odes

Page 32: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Function of the Chorus Sets the overall mood and expresses

theme Adds beauty (theatrical effectiveness)

through song and expressive dance Gives background information Divides action and offers reflections on

events Questions, advises, expresses opinion

(choragos)

Page 33: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Chorus

Location of the chorus

Page 34: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Structure of a Greek TragedyI. Prologue – exposition – provides

background information to set up the conflict

II. Parados – entrance of the chorus with the opening choral ode

III. Episodes – scenesIV. Stasima – choral odesV. Paean– song to DionysusVI. Exodus – action after the last

stasimon, final scene

Page 35: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Odes Poems chanted that

were used to conclude each scene

Musical accompaniment--flute, lyre, percussion

Also called stasima (stasimon)

Epode-final stanza

Page 36: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Paean

Song/Poem of

thanksgiving to

Dionysus

Given just before the

exodus (final scene)

Page 37: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Conventions of Greek Drama

MESSENGER Tells news happenings away

from the scene Reports acts of violence not

allowed to be seen onstage

Page 38: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Conventions of Greek Drama

UNITIES – a way of providing a central focus to a play. Aristotle believed perfect tragedies had:

Unity of Action – simple plot with no mixture of tragedy and comedy

Unity of Time – single day

Unity of Place – one location of scenes

Page 39: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Conventions of Greek Drama

“STAGE DECENCIES” No violent action in

front of the audience Scenes of horror occur

off-stage and are reported to audience

Dialogue or messenger report

Page 40: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Limitations of the Theater

Continuous presence of the chorus “on-stage”

No intermissions, continuous flow of action and choral odes

No lighting no curtains

Page 41: GREEK DRAMA. How did drama begin? n Traveling groups sang about myths and legends. n Playwrights decided to write down the stories in a form that could

Aristotle's Six Elements of Drama

1. Plot (the incidents or story line) 2. Character (physical, social,

psychological, moral--people represented in the play)

3. Thought/Theme (insights into humanity and life)

4. Music (all sound) 5. Spectacle (scenery and other visual

elements) 6. Diction/language (the dialogue and

poetry)