Post on 22-Dec-2015
Tragedy and Theater
Introduction to Drama
Drama as an ‘imitation of an action’, or MIMESIS
Theater derives from Theatron – ‘a place for viewing’ or ‘to view as spectators’
Introduction:Drama and Tragedy
Intended as a communal affair.Public genre, like poetryUse of open-air auditorium; audience part of drama not mere spectators.
Use of Chorus
Origins of Drama
Rooted in Festival of Dionysus, City Dionysia, in honor of the god of fertility, wine and religious festival
Contest among playwrights, in which each entered a tragic trilogy and a short comedy or satire.
Origins...
Evolved from religious worship – choral hymnsDithyramb – detailed heroic
action/stories; sung and danced by chorus of about 50 men.
Thespis added a speaker who addressed the chorus
Transformation from pure storytelling (dithyramb) to drama
Origins (con’t)
Theater of Dionysus – auditorium, with most of the performances taking place during the day.
Night scenes were suggested by dialogue and imagination.
Theater Overview
Theater Overview:ConventionsMost action takes
place in front of temples, palaces, and other outdoor settings
No violence on stage
No women and limited number of actors (3)
Material is already known/familiar and therefore no suspense
Use masks
Theatron – ‘viewing place’ for audience
Orchestra – ‘dancing space’ for chorus
Skene – ‘tent’, slightly raised platform with painted scenery, hence the word ‘scene’
Parodos – ‘passageways’ for chorus and actors
Theater Structure:
Parts of a Greek Theater:
AESCHYLUS (524-456 B.C.)Won 13 first place victoriesAdded a second speaker to
Thespis’ firstOresteia, The Seven Against
Thebes, Prometheus Bound
The Great Three of Tragedy
SOPHOCLES – (496-406 B.C.)Won 24 first place victoriesAdded a third speaker and fixed
chorus at 15 membersOedipus Trilogy, Ajax, Electra, The
Women of Trachis
The Great Three of Tragedy
Euripides- (484-406 B.C.)Most modern of the Great Three;
radical and ahead of timesUsed mechanical devices to enable
gods to appear and disappear.Helen, The Kyclops, The Trojan
Women
The Great Three of Tragedy
Basic parts of a Greek TragedyPrologueParodosFirst EpisodeFirst Stasimon(alternation between episodes and stasima)Exodos
Dramatic Form
12-15 membersUsually has a leader, Coryphaeus ,
who spoke the dialogue lines to characters.
Involving singing/chanting and dancing as well as character interaction
Non-professionals who were talented and trained by poets
Chorus
Provides poetic interludesActs as spokesperson for public
opinionsOccasionally expositoryHelps set mood and point to
universal significance of events
Chorus: Functions
Paid professionals assigned to poetsRoles
Protagonist (first actor)Deuteragonist (second actor)Tritagonist (third actor)
Multiple Roles
Actors
DescriptionVariety of masks to designate age,
gender, social status, etc.Exaggerated expressions
Masks: Description
Used to represent men and womenActed as megaphones to amplify
voices
Masks: Function
A literary composition that deals with reversals of fortune and eventual downfall of a royal figure whose suffering is unjust but not wholly innocent.
Tragedy (Tragic Drama)
Stresses the vulnerability of human beings whose suffering is caused by human and divine actions.
Such suffering is usually undeserved with regard to harshness of punishment (concept of Hamartia)
Tragedy: Nature
Arouse pity and fear for the purpose of proper purgation of emotions (catharsis)
Audience feels pity (compassion/empathy) and at the same time fear (dread)
Tragedy: Purpose
6 Elements of DramaPlotCharactersThoughts/ThemeLanguageMusicSpectacle
Plot: Soul of TragedyEmphasis on
ORDEREmphasis on UNITY
PlaceTimeAction
CharacterGOODAPPROPRIATEREALISTIC
CONSISTENT
Introduction and Background
One of few surviving trilogies (with Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone) but is nevertheless self-contained
Based on an old familiar mythPlay starts in medias res
Background
Two Important Greek Precepts:Know ThyselfNothing in Excess
Truth is better than ignorancePride is admirable except when you behave like a god and abuse the weaker.
The Greek World:Key Concepts
Hamartia- error in judgment or moral flaw. Sometimes translated as tragic flaw but this may be misinterpreted.
Hubris – overweening pride; one of the common reasons for hamartia.
Hamartia and Hubris
Family Tree of OedipusLabdacus
Laius JOcasta Creon
Oedipus Jocasta
Eteocles Polynices Ismene Antigone
What walks on four legs in the morning, two at noon, and three at night?
Answer: MAN
Riddle of Sphinx
Solves riddle, marries Jocasta and becomes King of Thebes
Oedipus Rex opens years after when another plague comes to Thebes.
Oedipus