The study of ancient world literature

When we use the term ancient Greece we refer to the periods of Greek history lasting from 750 BC (the archaic period) to 146 BC (the Roman conquest). It is generally considered to be the culture which provided the foundation of Western Civilization.

The civilization of the ancient Greeks influenced the language, politics, educational systems, philosophy, science and arts, in Western Europe.

GreekGreek Mythology Mythology

Is aIs a set of diverse traditional tales told by set of diverse traditional tales told by the ancient Greeks about the exploits of the ancient Greeks about the exploits of Gods and heroes and their relationship Gods and heroes and their relationship

w/ordinary mortals.w/ordinary mortals.

Formation of Greek Formation of Greek MythologyMythology• 3 civilizations that are known for the formation of 3 civilizations that are known for the formation of

Greek Mythology include:Greek Mythology include:HebrewsHebrewsRomansRomansGreeksGreeks

• Two things that shaped Greek civilization and the Two things that shaped Greek civilization and the remarkable mythology that arose from it:remarkable mythology that arose from it:

Landscape and LanguageLandscape and Language

LandscapeLandscapeThe mountains and broken coastline of Greece divided up the mainland into areas which became small kingdoms, each enclosed by natural barriers, therefore creating mini city-states all throughout Greece.

The aristocratic families of these city-states constructed genealogies that linked them with legendary heroes associated with their respected cities.

Landscape, then, had the effect of creating a number of separate myths linked to earlier settlements. As a results, some of the oldest city-states such as Sparta, Athens, Thebes, Corinth, and Argos appear in story after story.

Athens today…Athens today…

Ruins of the Temple of Apollo in Corinth. Photo © www.HolyLandPhotos.org

Corinth today…

Parthenon - temple of Athena Parthenos ("Virgin"), Greek goddess of wisdom, on the Acropolis in Athens.

LanguageLanguageGreek language was highly advanced.

The Ancient Greeks were the first Europeans to read and write with an Alphabet, which eventually led to all modern European languages.

There were three major dialects in ancient Greece1. Aeolic2. Doric3. Ionic *Homer's poetry of the Iliad and Odyssey was written in

Ionic

*Ionic became the first literary language of ancient Greece

*Greek lyrical poetry and Ancient Greek Tragedy was written in Doric.

Greek Alphabet

Landscape + Language = Landscape + Language = LiteratureLiterature

MythologyMythology

What’s a myth and why theGods

Traditional tale concerning some being or hero (event) with or without determinable facts

Greek Gods: The Greeks believe in multiple God’s overseeing their

world.They believe that the God’s resemble human beings in

theirform and in their emotions and that they lived in a society

likeours; full of social structure,authority, and power.

ZEUS—King of the Olympian Gods--Ruler of the Sky/Weather

GREEK ROMAN

Aphrodite Venus

Apollo Apollo

Ares Mars

Artemis Diana

Athena Minerva

Demeter Ceres

Dionysus Liber

Hephaestus Vulcan

Hera Juno

Hermes Mercury

Poseidon Neptune

Zeus Jupiter

In Greek and Roman mythology the twelve gods of Olympus ruled the world after the defeat of the Titans. They were to believed to have lived on Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece, whose peaks were high in the clouds and therefore hidden from mortal sight. Zeus was believed to be their leader.

Where’s Hades??

?

Principal Greek Gods (Gods of Olympus)

The God Chaos existed before all creation, at a time when the elements of the Earth were still without order. Out of Chaos were born Nyx (Night), Erebus (Underground Darkness), and Gaea (Earth). From Gaea’s union with her son Uranus (Sky) came the mighty Titan Gods. The last remaining Titan God, Cronus, was eventually over-taken by his son Zeus, and the next generation of gods—the Olympians—ruled the skies.

Greek Gods and ReligionGreek Gods and Religion• The Greeks believed in hundreds of deitiesThe Greeks believed in hundreds of deities

• The most familiar are the Titan gods and Olympian The most familiar are the Titan gods and Olympian gods.gods.

• The gods, while immortal and powerful, were The gods, while immortal and powerful, were subject to fate and to each other’s will.subject to fate and to each other’s will.

• They were also subject to—and bound to enforce—They were also subject to—and bound to enforce—a body of laws and traditions so ancient that their a body of laws and traditions so ancient that their origins lay beyond even the oldest myths. origins lay beyond even the oldest myths. – Among those laws and traditions were laws governing the Among those laws and traditions were laws governing the

treatment of blood relationstreatment of blood relations, acceptance of , acceptance of free will free will and and its cosmic consequences and the power of its cosmic consequences and the power of DestinyDestiny. .

• Fifth Century BCE—Athens will make Fifth Century BCE—Athens will make tremendous advances in philosophy, tremendous advances in philosophy, rhetoric, literature and the visual arts.rhetoric, literature and the visual arts.

• Tragedies were performed in an annual Tragedies were performed in an annual competition as a part of the Great competition as a part of the Great Dionysia.Dionysia.– Each playwright produced three tragedies and Each playwright produced three tragedies and

a satyr-play; all four plays were performed and a satyr-play; all four plays were performed and judged that day.judged that day.

– Sophocles (the author we will be studying) won Sophocles (the author we will be studying) won 20 of these competitions.20 of these competitions.

Origins of Greek DramaOrigins of Greek Drama

Greek LiteratureGreek Literature• Greek Tragedy:Greek Tragedy: drama that gives the audience drama that gives the audience

(reader) an experience of catharsis.(reader) an experience of catharsis.– Tragedies focus on the reversal of fortune (peripeteia) and downfall of the Tragedies focus on the reversal of fortune (peripeteia) and downfall of the

tragic hero and the events leading to that downfall. The audience tragic hero and the events leading to that downfall. The audience experiences a heightening of emotions, as they watch the hero suffer and experiences a heightening of emotions, as they watch the hero suffer and they identify with his/her problems…in the end, they feel purged or they identify with his/her problems…in the end, they feel purged or drained of their emotions and better able to understand life. (catharsis)drained of their emotions and better able to understand life. (catharsis)

• Greek PlayGreek Play: : Consists of 3 parts:Consists of 3 parts: Prologue, Prologue, Parados and Exodus.Parados and Exodus.– ProloguePrologue: : opening scene that introduces the conflict of opening scene that introduces the conflict of

the playthe play– ParadosParados:: entrance of the chorus; supply exposition, entrance of the chorus; supply exposition,

comment on actions and contributes to thematic comment on actions and contributes to thematic development. (plot)development. (plot)

– ExodusExodus: : final scene where the action accumulatesfinal scene where the action accumulates

Greek PlaysGreek Plays• Highly dependent upon DRAMATIC IRONYHighly dependent upon DRAMATIC IRONY

• Action was limited to a single setting w/no Action was limited to a single setting w/no violence shown on stage. A messenger would violence shown on stage. A messenger would be used to address any deaths or killingsbe used to address any deaths or killings

• Performed in the daytime, minimal sets and Performed in the daytime, minimal sets and props, action of the play took place within a props, action of the play took place within a 24hr period24hr period

• Plays had a single main plot that focused on Plays had a single main plot that focused on the main character. No sub-plots.the main character. No sub-plots.

• Chorus provided background infoChorus provided background info

• Actors all maleActors all male

                 

 

Greek Mythology revolves around the idea of fate—

Fate is an uncontrollable force that one cannot alter. The Greeks

believed that the God’s were in control and what was meant to be,

will be.

Mt. Delphi: site of the great oracle of Apollo. (Controller of prophecy and healing) The oracle was a place where one could go to seek the truth and hear your fate.

Greeks believed that the oracle was also the center of the universe.

THEM

E

THEM

E

SphinxSphinx

Symbol used Symbol used throughout G.M. It throughout G.M. It was thought to be a was thought to be a winged monster w/the winged monster w/the head and breasts of a head and breasts of a woman and the body woman and the body of a lion. of a lion.

In In Oedipus RexOedipus Rex the the sphinx is used as a sphinx is used as a destructive agent sent destructive agent sent by the goddess Hera by the goddess Hera to plague the city of to plague the city of Thebes. Those who Thebes. Those who failed to answer the failed to answer the riddle correctly were riddle correctly were devoured. devoured.

• What walks on 4 What walks on 4 legs, 2 legs and legs, 2 legs and 3legs during its 3legs during its lifetime?lifetime?

SYMBOL

SYMBOL

Principal settings throughout Greek Principal settings throughout Greek Mythology (Lit.)Mythology (Lit.)

• Thebes:Thebes: One of the oldest known cities in Ancient Greece. One of the oldest known cities in Ancient Greece. Where Where Oedipus RexOedipus Rex takes place. Oedipus’ birth home. takes place. Oedipus’ birth home.

• Corinth:Corinth: city in Ancient Greece full of wealth, commerce city in Ancient Greece full of wealth, commerce and shipbuilding. Adopted home of Oedipus. $$and shipbuilding. Adopted home of Oedipus. $$

• Olympus:Olympus: mountain home of the Greek Gods. Controlled mountain home of the Greek Gods. Controlled

by Zeus.by Zeus.

• Mt. Delphi:Mt. Delphi: site of the great oracle of Apollo.site of the great oracle of Apollo.

SophoclesSophoclesGreek Writer—author of Greek Writer—author of Oedipus RexOedipus Rex

Born 496 B.C.Born 496 B.C. in Athens, Greece-- died in 406 B.C. in Athens, Greece-- died in 406 B.C.

He saw the rise an fall of Athens…He saw the rise an fall of Athens…important b/c he was able to reflect important b/c he was able to reflect his experiences through his writings. his experiences through his writings.

(Rise of the Athenian empire, as well (Rise of the Athenian empire, as well as its collapse as a result of the as its collapse as a result of the Peloponnesian War (431-404) with Peloponnesian War (431-404) with Sparta.Sparta.

SophoclesSophocles

• Completed over 100 plays but only Completed over 100 plays but only 77 survive. survive. – Ajax, Ajax, AntigoneAntigone, , Oedipus RexOedipus Rex, Maidens of , Maidens of

Trachis, Electra, Philoctetes, and Trachis, Electra, Philoctetes, and Oedipus at Oedipus at ColonusColonus..

• Mastered the skillful art of Mastered the skillful art of interweaving past interweaving past events w/scenes of intense present conflict. events w/scenes of intense present conflict.

• Formulated the choral ode “chorus”. Formulated the choral ode “chorus”. Consisted of 12-15 members that represented Consisted of 12-15 members that represented a whole. (society…townspeople in a whole. (society…townspeople in OedipusOedipus))

Function of the ChorusFunction of the Chorus• Always on stage, “all-knowning”Always on stage, “all-knowning”

• Set the toneSet the tone

• Gave background info to the audienceGave background info to the audience

• Recalled past eventsRecalled past events

• Interpret and summarized events Interpret and summarized events (pre/post)(pre/post)

• Asked questions, offered adviceAsked questions, offered advice

• Stayed objectiveStayed objective

• Acted like a jury of elders or wise menActed like a jury of elders or wise men

SophoclesSophocles• Sophocles’ is known for asking philosophical Sophocles’ is known for asking philosophical

questions throughout his writing about the limits questions throughout his writing about the limits of man’s power and ambition.of man’s power and ambition.

• He uses a cast of vivid, dynamic characters.He uses a cast of vivid, dynamic characters.

• His plots focus on the fortunes of individual heroes His plots focus on the fortunes of individual heroes and heroines.and heroines.

• Constructed the Constructed the Tragic HeroTragic Hero --YOU NEED TO --YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS!KNOW THIS!

– Noble StatusNoble Status– Inner nobilityInner nobility– Free willFree will– Tragic FlawTragic Flaw

Tragic HeroTragic Hero

• Noble status Noble status —hero occupies a position —hero occupies a position of wealth, status, power in his/her society, of wealth, status, power in his/her society, royalty etc…royalty etc…

• Inner nobility Inner nobility —hero exemplifies the —hero exemplifies the traits of nobility and virtue as part of his traits of nobility and virtue as part of his innate character. The audience innate character. The audience understands that he/she is not perfect, but understands that he/she is not perfect, but greatness and virtue out weigh greatness and virtue out weigh imperfections. They see a hero who is imperfections. They see a hero who is much like themselves. much like themselves.

Tragic HeroTragic Hero

• Free Will--Free Will--the hero’s downfall is not a result of the hero’s downfall is not a result of an accident or another’s villainy, but rather, an an accident or another’s villainy, but rather, an error in judgment or character flaw that is error in judgment or character flaw that is integral to the hero’s imperfection. integral to the hero’s imperfection. HAMARTIAHAMARTIA——an error in judgment or perception, the hero’s an error in judgment or perception, the hero’s inability to see his flaw or to accurately foresee inability to see his flaw or to accurately foresee the consequences of his/her decisions or actions.the consequences of his/her decisions or actions.

• Tragic Flaw– Tragic Flaw– the hero’s imperfection. Although the hero’s imperfection. Although he is great, he is not perfect. The audience is able he is great, he is not perfect. The audience is able to sympathize with the tragic hero as a person to sympathize with the tragic hero as a person like them.like them.

Tragic HeroTragic Hero

• The character’s fall is not looked at The character’s fall is not looked at as a loss. There is some increase in as a loss. There is some increase in awareness, a gain in self-knowledge, awareness, a gain in self-knowledge, and a discovery on the part of the and a discovery on the part of the tragic hero that becomes a lesson to tragic hero that becomes a lesson to the audience. Thus, the character is the audience. Thus, the character is defined as a defined as a HEROHERO. .

SophoclesSophocles

Sophocles is known for his use of Sophocles is known for his use of AmbiguityAmbiguity: : two or two or more meaning to a passage, word etc…making things more meaning to a passage, word etc…making things unclear, uncertain and indefinite to the reader. (Vague)unclear, uncertain and indefinite to the reader. (Vague)

• Also known for his use of the 3 ironies:Also known for his use of the 3 ironies:

– Verbal—Verbal—say one thing mean anothersay one thing mean another– SituationalSituational—opposite of what is expected to —opposite of what is expected to

happenhappen– Dramatic—Dramatic—audience knows something important audience knows something important

that the characters in the play, usual main, does not that the characters in the play, usual main, does not know.know.