GREEK TRAGEDY Greek Theater l Theaters were built
GREEK TRAGEDY
Greek Theater l Theaters were built into natural hillsides. l The seats closest to the center of the amphitheater where the actors performed were reserved for statesmen and dignitaries. l Greek actors were all men. l The actors wore larger-than-life masks, which indicated the nature of the character to the audience. l Each mask also contained a megaphone, so that those farthest away in the amphitheater could hear the actors and chorus speak.
Dionysus l Dionysus is the god of wine and vegetation. l Dionysus was worshiped by the Maenads or Bacchnates—a group of female devotees who left their homes to roam the wilderness in devotion to Dionysus. l Dionysus was believed to die each winter and was reborn in the spring. l This cyclical revival, accompanied by the seasonal renewal of the fruits of the earth, embodied the promise of resurrection.
l Description. English: Statue of Dionysus wearing a laurel wreath in the en: British Museum in en: London. The marble is a Roman copy c. AD 40 - 60 of a Greek original c. 350 - 325 BC. From the Naples area. Photograph taken by me February 2 2008 Source. Transferred from en. wikipedia. Date 2008 -02 -03 (original upload date)Author. Original uploader was Jack 1956 at en. wikipedia. Permission (Reusing this image)Licensed under the GFDL by the author; GFDL-SELFNO-DISCLAIMERS; Released under the GNU Free Documentation License.
The Dionysian Festival l Yearly rights to Dionysus evolved into the structured form of Greek drama. l The Greater Dionysia was held for five days during the spring. l Each writer would present three tragedies and a satyr play. l A satyr play is a farcical, often bawdy parody of the gods and their myths. l 15, 000 people would sit through the plays in the Dionysian Theatre and would vote for their favorite plays by casting stone
l http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Image: Laurelwreath. DK. JPG
The Theatre of Dionysus http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Image: Dionysius. Theater. jpg
As seen from the performance area…
As seen from lower seating…
As seen from the Acropolis…
As seen from the pathway…
Greek Performance, Stagecraft, etc. l The orchestra is a round or semi-circular paved area where the chorus sings and dances. The word itself means ‘place for dancing’. The center of the orchestra was a sacrificial altar. l Theatron ('a viewing area') is that part of the ancient theater from which the audience views the drama. l Parodos is a gangway leading into the orchestra over which chorus and actors made their entrances. There are two parodoi, one on each side of the orchestra. Parodos is also the name of the song chanted by the chorus as they entered the orchestra at the beginning of the play. http: //depthome. brooklyn. cuny. edu/classics/dunkle/comedy/intro 8. htm
Greek Performance, Stagecraft, etc. l Skene (‘tent’, ‘stage building’) is a wooden construction with a flat roof in front of which actors acted out their roles. The skene usually represented a palace (sometimes a temple), although the occasional play that required a natural setting could be accommodated with a set representing rocks. The skene was also used as a dressing room and storage area for props. The actors performed on a shallow apron in front of the skene which was connected with the orchestra by stairs only a few feet high. These stairs allowed the actors to join the chorus in the orchestra when necessary. l http: //depthome. brooklyn. cuny. edu/classics/dunkle/comedy/intro 14. htm
Deus ex Machina “god in the machine” or “god from a machine” an improbable contrivance in a story characterized by a sudden unexpected solution to a seemingly unsolvable problem
Greek Theater History l Deus ex machina: "god on machine, " which lowered gods down from the top of theater to wrap up a storyline l Chorus: The voice of the citizens in a tragedy. They became less important as playwrights began to use actors. l Protagonists/Antagonists: the protagonist is the hero (who the story is about) and the antagonist is the person or thing that is working against the protagonist (like an enemy or weakness of character. ) l Thespis: credited with being the first actor; he stepped out of the chorus and spoke alone
Aristotle and Greek Drama l Aristotle's Definition of a tragic hero: l Comes from nobility l Tragic Flaw (caused by a simple mistake or a character flaw) maybe pride or hubris l Undergoes a Reversal of Fortune (Falls from high to low) l Has a Downfall l Recognizes his mistakes (in a catharsis or purgation of pity and fear)
Aristotle and Greek Drama l Play Structure: l. Exposition l. Rising Action l. Climax l. Falling Action l. Denouement/Resolution http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Image: Aristoteles_Louvre. jpg
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Aristotle's Six Elements of Drama Plot (the incidents or story line) Character (physical, social, psychological, moral-people represented in the play) Thought/Theme (insights into humanity and life Music (all sound) Spectacle (scenery and other visual elements) Diction/language (the dialogue and poetry)
Aristotle and Greek Drama l The Unities: a way of providing a central focus to a play: Aristotle believed that perfect tragedies had… 1) Unity of Time: The play takes place in a 24 hour time period. 2) Unity of Place: The play has only one setting. 3) Unity of Action: The play has one plot and no mixture of tragedy and comedy.
Aristotle's Perfect Tragic Hero la member of the nobility l. Tragic flaw (Hamartia) consisting of a simple mistake or a weakness of character which causes them to suffer
Characters in Oedipus Rex l l l Oedipus Jocasta Antigone Polynices Tiresias l l l Haemon Ismene Theseus Eurydice Chorus l. Oedipus: play by Sophocles which demonstrates the perfect tragic hero. Story of a man who unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother because of a simple mistake. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Image: Ingres. Odipus. And. Sphinx. jpg
Characters in Medea l l l Medea Jason Children Chorus Creon l l l http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Medea Glauce Aegeus Messenger Nurse Tutor
Works Consulted l “Characters. ” Spark Notes: Medea. http: //www. sparknotes. com/lit/medea/characters. html l “Characters. ” Spark Notes: The Oedipus Plays. http: //www. sparknotes. com/drama/oedipus/characters. html l “Deus ex machina. ” http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina. l “Greek Theater History Notes. “ l “Introduction to Greek and Roman Comedy. ” http: //depthome. brooklyn. cuny. edu/classics/dunkle/comedy/ intro 7. htm. http: //www. krucli. com/greek_drama_notes. htm#Tragedy.
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