Introduction to Introduction to Greek DramaGreek Drama

Origin of DramaOrigin of Drama Drama was developed by the Drama was developed by the

ancient Greeks during ancient Greeks during celebrations honoring celebrations honoring Dionysus.Dionysus.

Dionysus is the god of the Dionysus is the god of the vine, which produces grapes vine, which produces grapes for wine. Wine was associated for wine. Wine was associated with resurrection and with resurrection and suffering.suffering.

With the inclusion of many With the inclusion of many choral songs, the early Greek choral songs, the early Greek plays resembled what we call plays resembled what we call opera today.opera today.

Festival of DionysusFestival of Dionysus The Festival of Dionysus took place in Athens over five days in The Festival of Dionysus took place in Athens over five days in

March or April. March or April.

During the first day, their was a procession honoring Dionysus - all During the first day, their was a procession honoring Dionysus - all citizens participated.citizens participated.

During the festival’s second day, the choral songs were performed.During the festival’s second day, the choral songs were performed.

On the last three days of the festival, the actors performed three On the last three days of the festival, the actors performed three tragedies, one satyr (satire – mock heroic tragedies) play, and one tragedies, one satyr (satire – mock heroic tragedies) play, and one comedy. comedy.

Festival of DionysusFestival of Dionysus

The choregus, a wealthy, prominent citizen of The choregus, a wealthy, prominent citizen of Athens, was required by law to pay for the cost of Athens, was required by law to pay for the cost of training and costumes for the chorus. training and costumes for the chorus.

The playwright served as a sort of teacher, The playwright served as a sort of teacher, offering plays for the ethical and moral offering plays for the ethical and moral improvement of his fellow citizens to insure the improvement of his fellow citizens to insure the spiritual survival of the community.spiritual survival of the community.

The Greek TheatreThe Greek Theatre Theatron Theatron = area of seats for the audience hollowed = area of seats for the audience hollowed

out from the hillsideout from the hillside

Orchestra Orchestra = large area in front of the stage where the = large area in front of the stage where the chorus sang and dancedchorus sang and danced

ThymeleThymele = the altar centered in the orchestra used for = the altar centered in the orchestra used for sacrifices to Dionysussacrifices to Dionysus

ParadosParados = walled walkway used by the chorus to enter = walled walkway used by the chorus to enter and exit the stageand exit the stage

Pro-sceniumPro-scenium = a long, low stage behind the orchestra = a long, low stage behind the orchestra

SkeneSkene = building that contained the actors’ dressing = building that contained the actors’ dressing roomsrooms

The Greek TheatreThe Greek Theatre

The Greek Theatre was similar to an outdoor stadium that could hold between 15,000 – 20,000 people.

Greek TheaterGreek Theater

Greek TheaterGreek Theater

Greek TheaterGreek Theater

Greeks’ Special EffectsGreeks’ Special Effects There were no curtains, intermissions, lights, There were no curtains, intermissions, lights,

or microphones. or microphones.

Consequently, all scenes took place in Consequently, all scenes took place in daylight settingsdaylight settings

All scene changes built into the actor’s All scene changes built into the actor’s dialoguedialogue

The chorus and actors had to have strong The chorus and actors had to have strong voicesvoices

Greeks’ Special EffectsGreeks’ Special Effects

The ActorsThe Actors The Greek name for an actor was “hypocrite.” The Greek name for an actor was “hypocrite.”

Only 3 actors, they wore masks to play multiple parts.Only 3 actors, they wore masks to play multiple parts.

All actors were men, considered undignified for women All actors were men, considered undignified for women to appear on stageto appear on stage

Actors wore padded costumes, wigs, and high-heeled Actors wore padded costumes, wigs, and high-heeled boots to make them taller and give them added dignity boots to make them taller and give them added dignity and power.and power.

Actors had to be able to speak in poetic language and Actors had to be able to speak in poetic language and sing using a loud and clear voice.sing using a loud and clear voice.

Acting was more Acting was more Expressive than realisticExpressive than realistic

The ChorusThe ChorusThe chorus was led by a conductor and The chorus was led by a conductor and

consisted of singers and dancers who consisted of singers and dancers who moved and sang together, acting as one moved and sang together, acting as one character.character.

A Choral Ode was chanted or sung in A Choral Ode was chanted or sung in unison.unison.

Originally, they Chorus started out with Originally, they Chorus started out with 50 people, but Sophocles fixed the 50 people, but Sophocles fixed the number at 15. number at 15.

The ChorusThe Chorus The playwright used the chorus and their songs The playwright used the chorus and their songs

to: to: Add the beauty of song and dance.Add the beauty of song and dance.Set the mood or express the main themes of Set the mood or express the main themes of

the play by commenting on the action.the play by commenting on the action.Create a bridge between the actors and the Create a bridge between the actors and the

audience.audience.Converse with and give advice to the actors.Converse with and give advice to the actors.Tell about events that have already happened Tell about events that have already happened

in the past. (narrator)in the past. (narrator)Foretell the future by interpreting the actions Foretell the future by interpreting the actions

of the actors.of the actors.

The StoriesThe StoriesOriginally, the Originally, the

stories were hymns stories were hymns and prayers and prayers honoring the gods, honoring the gods, especially Dionysus.especially Dionysus.

Over time, the Over time, the content of the content of the stories changed to stories changed to legends of Greek legends of Greek leaders and heroes.leaders and heroes.

TragedyTragedy In a tragedy, the plot revealed what In a tragedy, the plot revealed what

happened to a person who went against the happened to a person who went against the laws of the gods or who was too proudlaws of the gods or who was too proud

This stems from the Greek belief that man This stems from the Greek belief that man was subject to the whims of the gods and was subject to the whims of the gods and fate.fate.

The root of Greek tragedy is that man can The root of Greek tragedy is that man can not avoid suffering.not avoid suffering.

In nearly all tragedies, man’s biggest fault is In nearly all tragedies, man’s biggest fault is excessive pride – a mistaken belief that he excessive pride – a mistaken belief that he could somehow avoid fate or the will of the could somehow avoid fate or the will of the gods. gods.

Greek Tragic HeroGreek Tragic Hero The Greek tragic hero had to be a man or The Greek tragic hero had to be a man or

woman capable of great sufferingwoman capable of great suffering

The tragic hero is brought to disaster by The tragic hero is brought to disaster by hamartiahamartia, or a single flaw in a person’s , or a single flaw in a person’s character.character.

HubrisHubris Hubris is defined as excessive pride. Hubris is defined as excessive pride.

Think of at least three modern examples of characters Think of at least three modern examples of characters whose downfall is caused by their hubris. whose downfall is caused by their hubris.

Hubris leaves leads to suffering and then to an Hubris leaves leads to suffering and then to an understanding (catharsis) of man’s place in the understanding (catharsis) of man’s place in the system of life.system of life. Catharsis is an emotional release caused by an intense Catharsis is an emotional release caused by an intense

emotional experience. emotional experience.

The purpose of a Greek tragedy is to learn a The purpose of a Greek tragedy is to learn a lesson through the catastrophes that befall the lesson through the catastrophes that befall the characters on stage and to understand that their characters on stage and to understand that their misfortunes are a result of not following the will misfortunes are a result of not following the will of the Gods or trying to avoid their own destinies of the Gods or trying to avoid their own destinies because of hubris. because of hubris.

Structure of a Greek TragedyStructure of a Greek Tragedy1.1. ProloguePrologue – the actors present the opening – the actors present the opening

situation on stagesituation on stage

2. Parados – the entering song and dance of the – the entering song and dance of the choruschorus

3.3. EpisodesEpisodes – periods of more action by the actors – periods of more action by the actors

4.4. Stasima/StasimonStasima/Stasimon – choral ode or song – choral ode or song commenting on the actioncommenting on the action

5.5. ExodusExodus – the last action of the play – the last action of the play

SOPHOCLESSOPHOCLES

Sophocles was born in Colonus, Greece Sophocles was born in Colonus, Greece in 497 BCEin 497 BCE

He died in 406 BCE at approximately 90 He died in 406 BCE at approximately 90 years of age. years of age.

He Lived during the Golden Age ofl He Lived during the Golden Age ofl Greece Greece (The Golden Age of Greece was from (The Golden Age of Greece was from

approximately 800 BCE to 300 BCE)approximately 800 BCE to 300 BCE)

He was a successful musician, athlete, He was a successful musician, athlete, and respected playwright.and respected playwright.

He was also active in social and political He was also active in social and political life.life.

He held several priesthoods, was He held several priesthoods, was

imperial treasurer in 443 BCE, and a imperial treasurer in 443 BCE, and a general in 440 BCEgeneral in 440 BCE

Sophocles as a Playwright Sophocles as a Playwright

He wrote more than a hundred plays but He wrote more than a hundred plays but only seven remain. only seven remain.

The most famous of his plays are: The most famous of his plays are: Oedipus Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone, the King, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone, and and Electra.Electra.

Sophocles’ Impact on DramaSophocles’ Impact on Drama Sophocles expanded the Sophocles expanded the

format of drama by format of drama by adding a adding a third actorthird actor..

He increased the amount of He increased the amount of dialoguedialogue within a play. within a play.

He He decreased the importance decreased the importance of the chorusof the chorus by fixing its by fixing its number at 15.number at 15.

He invented painted scenery He invented painted scenery and added flute music in the and added flute music in the background of his plays.background of his plays.

He made each play of a He made each play of a trilogy stand by itself as a trilogy stand by itself as a separate story.separate story.

ActorsActors

No tragedy used more No tragedy used more than 3 actorsthan 3 actorsCostumes included Costumes included character masks, and character masks, and in later years, raised bootsin later years, raised boots

Tragic StructureTragic Structure

PROLOGOS:PROLOGOS: Introductory scene Introductory scene PARADOS:PARADOS: Entry of chorus Entry of chorusEPISODEION – EPISODEION – ScenesScenesExodus - Exodus - Final SceneFinal SceneEpode-Epode-Final OdeFinal Ode