Greek Tragedy

An Overview

One learns by doing a

thing; for though you

think you know it, you

have no certainty until

you try.

Sophocles

Greek Drama

Plays:

Use of dramatic irony

Written in poetic verse

Observed the “three unities”

Unity of Time

All action of the play took place

within 24 hours

Dialogue gave background

information

Unity of Place

Action limited to one

setting

Unity of Subject

Focus on the main

character

No sub-plots

Actors

Only three

Played multiple

characters

Changed masks

Messengers

Told about what

happened offstage

Religious intent and

dignified style

No violence shown

on stage

Messenger ran on

stage with news of

death or killings.

Messages were

sometimes quite

graphic.

The Chorus

15-20 men who represented the citizens

Always on stage; frequently sang and

danced

Always had a leader who carried on a

dialogue with the main characters or with

the rest of the chorus

The Chorus…

Sets the tone

Gives background info

Recalls past events

Interprets / summarizes events

Asks questions

At times, gives opinions

Gives advice, if asked

Stays objective (does

not disagree with the

main character)

Acts like a jury of

elders or wise men

Objectives for this Unit

Identify the ways in which this play demonstrates

the unity of time, the unity of place, and the unity

of subject

Discuss the function and give examples of the

following stage conventions of the Greek theater:

– The Greek chorus

– Use of messengers to report deaths

– Use of masks

CA Common Core Standards

Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to

support analysis of what the text says explicitly

as well as inferences drawn from the text

Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those

with multiple or conflicting motivations)

develop over the course of a text, interact with

other characters, and advance the plot or

develop the theme.

CA Common Core Standards

Determine a central idea of a text and

analyze its development over the course of

the text, including how it emerges and is

shaped and refined by specific details;

provide an objective summary of the text.

Draw evidence from literary or

informational texts to support analysis,

reflection, and research.

Literary Terms

Simile

Metaphor

Motif

Apostrophe

Foreshadowing

Irony

Characterization