Antigone By Sophocles Drama A play or drama

Antigone By Sophocles

Drama • A play, or drama, is a story told mainly through the words and actions of characters and is intended to be performed by actors.

Elements of Drama • Stage directions – Help actors, directors, and readers to visualize what is happening on stage. • Characters – Know characters through dialogue and actions • Setting • Dialogue • Acts and Scenes – Indicates a change in time or location

Greece

Greek Drama • The Golden Age of Greece • 477 BC - 431 BC • Popular playwrights include: Sophocles, Aeschylus, and Euripedes • Ended with the Peloponnesian War

Elements of Greek Drama • Part of religion for the people of ancient Greece; Way to worship the gods • A way of displaying loyalty to their citystate • A method of honoring local heroes • Major social events, a thrilling competition, or a place to air philosophical issues • Celebrate important occasions

Beginnings. . . • An Athenian poet called Thespis is credited for inventing what we now call drama

The Theater

The Theaters • Hillsides • Wooden benches along lower sections for important spectators • Orchestra - or circular dancing area - might be paved with stone • Eventually evolved to include more modern innovations

Chorus, Actors, and Stage Sets Chorus. . . • Enters at the beginning of the drama and remains in the orchestra throughout the performance • Only men were allowed to perform • Comment on the action of the play and the plot with expressive, stylized dances

Other parts include. . . • A single musician playing an aulos (special type of pipe) • Choragos was the leader of the chorus - generally represented the typical responses of the ordinary citizen

The Performance • Actors wore masks • Masks were a realistic representation of human faces • Performances lacked scenery • Lightening was natural • Very few props

The Plays • Wrote in verse, based on familiar themes • Myths, history, or political satire • Three great playwrights were tragic poets…

Sophocles • Born 496 BC at Colonus, a village near Athens • Studied music and tragedy • Wrote 123 dramas, winning 24 of 30 competitions • Served on embassies to foreign states and was one of the ten military commanders • Died in Athens in 406 BC

Story of Oedipus, former King of Thebes

Tragedies • A tragedy is a drama that ends in the downfall of its main character • To find a purpose in life • To achieve a selfunderstanding

You must have a. . The main character, or tragic hero, who suffers this fate is usually a high ranking or respected person whose personality is marred by a fatal weakness or flaw, called a tragic flaw.

Bad Karma? • Fate, or bad luck, may work against this tragic hero, but usually his or her downfall is brought about by an error or character flaw. • Most tragic heroes are admirable individuals, and the audience regrets their loss.