Greek Theater Overview of Greek Theatre The land

Greek Theater

Overview of Greek Theatre The land The stage The myths

The Stage

Three Main Portions of Greek Theatre: Skene – Portion of stage where actors performed (included 1 -3 doors in and out) Orchestra – “Dancing Place” where chorus sang to the audience Theatron – Seating for audience The Stage

The Stage

The Stage Greek plays were performed during religious ceremonies held in honor of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and revelry (altars generally on stage) People would travel from all around to see the drama competitions—even prisoners were temporarily released to see the plays

The Stage

Where and how were the dramas performed? …In an amphitheatre …With a chorus who described most of the action. …With masks …With all the fighting and movement going on off stage. …. With tragedy first, then comedy later.

The Chorus (1) To explain the action (2) To interpret the action (3) To foreshadow the future (4) To serve as actors (5) To sing and/or dance (6) To give the author's views. (act as narrator).

The Catharsis Defined as to clean or purge Aristotle stated that its effect is to rid the audience of negative emotions A catharsis occurs as a result of the following reactions: (1) Audience members resolve to avoid conflicts of the main character (2) Audience members transfer their own pity and fear to the main character, thereby emptying themselves of these disquieting emotions. Ø In either case, the audience members leave theater as better persons intellectually, morally, or socially. Ø They have either been cleansed of fear of pity or have vowed to avoid situations that arouse fear and pity.

Masks of Greek Theater

The masks were worn for many reason including: 1. Visibility 2. Acoustic Assistance 3. Few Actors, Many Roles 4. Characterization

Some general categories of masks 1. OLD MEN 2. YOUNG MEN 3. SLAVES 4. WOMEN 5. SPECIALIST MASKS Some made for specific characters, others for: Mourning, Blindness, Deceit, Drunkenness. . . etc. (The comic masks, those especially of old comedy, were as like as possible to true persons they represented, or made to appear more ridiculous)

Masks of Greek Theater

Masks of Greek Theater

Modern-day replicas Hero-King Comedy (Servant or Herald ) Tragedy (Weeping Chorus)

Theater at Epidaurus

Theater at Epidaurus

Myths Played a Key Role in Greek Tragedy

The Myths – Why they were written 1. Explained the unexplainable 2. Justified religious practices 3. Gave credibility to leaders 4. Gave hope 5. Polytheistic (more than one god) 6. Centered around the twelve Olympians (primary Greek gods)

Explained the Unexplainable When Echo tried to get Narcissus to love her, she was denied. Saddened, she shriveled to nothing, her existence melting into a rock. Only her voice remained. Hence, the echo!

To justify religious practices Dionysian cults in ancient Greece were founded to worship Dionysus, god of grapes, vegetation, and wine.

Roots in Worship of Dionysus God of wine and revelry

Theater of Dionysus

Dionysus Theater in Athens

Dionysus Theater in Athens

Dionysus Theater in Athens

To give credibility to leaders Used myths to create family trees for their leaders

To give hope The ancient citizens of Greece would sacrifice and pray to an ORACLE. An oracle was a priest or priestess who would send a message to the gods from mortals who brought their requests. Where DID hope come from? After unleashing suffering, famine, disease, and many other evils, the last thing Pandora let out was HOPE.

Oracle of Delphi

Oracle of Delphi

Delphi

Delphi

Mount Olympus… …Where the Olympians lived. Who are the Olympians?

The Olympians Are the 12 Main Gods

The Olympians

Zeus King of gods Heaven Storms Thunder Lightning Bolt

Poseidon Zeus’s brother King of the sea Earthquakes Horses

Hades Brother to Zeus and Poseidon King of the Underworld (Tartarus) Husband of Persphone

Ares God of war

Hephaestus God of fire Craftspeople Metalworkers Artisans

Apollo God of the sun Music Poetry Fine arts Medicine

Hermes Messenger to the gods Trade Commerce Travelers Thieves & scoundrels

Dionysus God of Wine Partying (Revelry)

Hera Queen of gods Women Marriage Childbirth

Demeter Goddess of Harvest Agriculture Fertility Fruitfulness Mom to Persephone

Hestia Goddess of Hearth Home Community

Athena Goddess of wisdom Practical arts War

Aphrodite Goddess of love and beauty

Artemis Goddess of hunting and the moon.

The Basic Storyline and Structure of Greek Tragedy

STRUCTURE • Prologue Introduces the tragedy’s topic/issue • Parodos Chorus entry chant • Episodes Individual scenes; usually 3 -5 over the course of the play • Choral Ode (Stasimon) Each episode is culminated with a choral ode where the chorus comments on the preceding episode. The chorus will have a fixed movement either towards the altar (Strophe) or away from the altar (Antistrophe). These movements are often repeated several times over the course of the ode. • Exode (exit ode) The exit song of the chorus after the last episode often providing the catharsis.

Central Character is of the Elite Class

Central Character suffers a Downfall

Central Character is Neither Wholly good nor wholly evil

Downfall is the result of a Fatal Flaw (Hamartia)

Misfortunes involve characters who are related or who are friends

Tragic actions take place offstage

Central Character has a moment of recognition

Audience experiences pity and fear

Pity and Fear leads to a catharsis