OedipusOedipus

Background InformationBackground Information

I. Social and Political-Athens, 5I. Social and Political-Athens, 5thth century B.C.century B.C.

A.A. Sophocles-born in Athens in 497 Sophocles-born in Athens in 497 B.C.B.C.

B.B. People had a strong sense of People had a strong sense of patriotism.patriotism.

C.C. DemocracyDemocracy

II. Religious IdeasII. Religious Ideas

A.A. Many godsMany gods

B.B. Believed in Fate as a divine forceBelieved in Fate as a divine force

C.C. Lived moderatelyLived moderately

D.D. Religious duty was to bury the deadReligious duty was to bury the dead

III. Origins of Greek Drama III. Origins of Greek Drama (Tragedy)(Tragedy)

A.A. Religious festivals in honor of DionysusReligious festivals in honor of Dionysus1.1. Dithyramb-hymn sung in honor of the godDithyramb-hymn sung in honor of the god2.2. Chorus-group of about 50 who sang and Chorus-group of about 50 who sang and

danceddanced3.3. ThespisThespis4.4. AeschylusAeschylus5.5. SophoclesSophocles6.6. EuripidesEuripides

B.B. Tragedy (see later slide)Tragedy (see later slide)1.1. Tragic heroTragic hero2.2. First theaterFirst theater

First TheaterFirst Theater

The first theater was on The first theater was on the slopes of the the slopes of the Acropolis. People sat in Acropolis. People sat in the open air on benches, the open air on benches, which surrounded the which surrounded the stage on three sides. stage on three sides. Because it was a Because it was a religious ceremony, the religious ceremony, the performance was performance was dignified and serious. dignified and serious. People expected to be People expected to be awakened to truth, and awakened to truth, and to experience a to experience a discussion on life’s most discussion on life’s most serious issues.serious issues.

IV. Structure of TheaterIV. Structure of Theater

A.A. Theatron-seeing place Theatron-seeing place where audience satwhere audience sat

B.B. Orchestra-circular Orchestra-circular dancing place where dancing place where actors and Chorus actors and Chorus performedperformed

C.C. Thymele-altar to Thymele-altar to Dionysus in center of Dionysus in center of orchestraorchestra

D.D. Skene-building used Skene-building used as dressing roomas dressing room

E.E. Proskenion-façade of Proskenion-façade of skene building which skene building which served as backdropserved as backdrop

F.F. Parodos-entrance to Parodos-entrance to the theater used by the theater used by ChorusChorus

V. Stage Conventions of the V. Stage Conventions of the Greek TheaterGreek Theater

A.A. Use of dramatic ironyUse of dramatic ironyB.B. All actors were maleAll actors were maleC.C. Never have more than three actors on Never have more than three actors on

stagestageD.D. Performed in the daytimePerformed in the daytimeE.E. Written in poetic verseWritten in poetic verseF.F. Observed the “three unities”Observed the “three unities”

1.1. Unity of timeUnity of time2.2. Unity of placeUnity of place3.3. Unity of subjectUnity of subject

G.G. Use of MessengersUse of Messengers

VI. ChorusVI. Chorus

A.A. 15-20 men 15-20 men B.B. Function was to:Function was to:

1.1. Set the toneSet the tone2.2. Give background informationGive background information3.3. Recall events of the pastRecall events of the past4.4. Interpret and summarize eventsInterpret and summarize events5.5. Ask questionsAsk questions6.6. At times, give opinionsAt times, give opinions7.7. Give advice, if askedGive advice, if asked8.8. Stay objective, in the sense that it did not disagree Stay objective, in the sense that it did not disagree

with the leading characterwith the leading character9.9. Act like a jury of elders or wise men, who listened to Act like a jury of elders or wise men, who listened to

the evidence in the play and reached a moralistic the evidence in the play and reached a moralistic conclusion at the endconclusion at the end

VII. Elements of a TragedyVII. Elements of a Tragedy

A.A. plot-how the action is arrangedplot-how the action is arranged1.1. TragedyTragedy: a play with a serious theme that usually : a play with a serious theme that usually

ends unhappily for the main character sent in motion ends unhappily for the main character sent in motion by some tragic flaw in his/her personality (by some tragic flaw in his/her personality (harmartiaharmartia))

2.2. HubrisHubris: arrogance demonstrated by a character as a : arrogance demonstrated by a character as a result of his/her pride or passionresult of his/her pride or passion

3.3. ForeshadowingForeshadowing: clues as to what will probably : clues as to what will probably happen later in the playhappen later in the play

4.4. ClimaxClimax: the highest point of emotional tension or the : the highest point of emotional tension or the turning point of the plotturning point of the plot

5.5. CatharsisCatharsis: the purification of character’s emotions : the purification of character’s emotions and/or the relief of emotional tensionand/or the relief of emotional tension

6.6. DenouementDenouement: the resolution of the main conflict (not : the resolution of the main conflict (not usually a happy outcome for the main character)usually a happy outcome for the main character)

B. CharactersB. Characters

C. Theme-the main idea or message as C. Theme-the main idea or message as the central focusthe central focus

D. Language/dictionD. Language/diction

E. Music-the odes sung by the chorus E. Music-the odes sung by the chorus and choragusand choragus

F. Spectacle-the scenes, props, F. Spectacle-the scenes, props, costumes, masks…anything visualcostumes, masks…anything visual

VIII. Greek Tragedy Structure VIII. Greek Tragedy Structure

A.A. Prologue: spoken by one or two charactersPrologue: spoken by one or two charactersB.B. Parodos: sung by the chorusParodos: sung by the chorusC.C. Episodes/Scenes: main action of the playEpisodes/Scenes: main action of the playD.D. Odes: songs and often dance that reflect the Odes: songs and often dance that reflect the

events of episodesevents of episodes1.1. Choragos: leader of the chorus who often interacts Choragos: leader of the chorus who often interacts

with the characters with the characters 2.2. Chorus: singers and dancers who remark the actionChorus: singers and dancers who remark the action

a.a. strophe: the movement of the chorus from right to leftstrophe: the movement of the chorus from right to leftb.b. Antistrophe: the reaction to the strophe, which moves Antistrophe: the reaction to the strophe, which moves

from left to rightfrom left to right

E.E. Paean: prayer of thanksgiving to DionysusPaean: prayer of thanksgiving to DionysusF.F. Exodos: sung by the chorus as it makes its final Exodos: sung by the chorus as it makes its final

exitexit