Greek Tragedy Unit Notes Tragedy A play in

Tragedy • A play in which a main character, or tragic hero, suffers a

Tragedy cont’d • Sources of plots were myths and everyday life • Function was

Thespis – father of drama • First to use an actor in his productions

Three Important Writers of Greek Tragic Drama • Aeschylus – Established true dialogue by

Important Writers cont’d • Sophocles – Introduced a third actor – Introduced painted sets

Important Writers cont’d • Euripides – Used the chorus as commentator and an ornament

Purposes of chorus • Create a psychological and emotional background through its odes •

Main divisions of a typical tragedy • Prologue – opening scene to establish background

Main divisions cont’d • Stasimon – choral ode; comes at the end of each

Conventions of Greek Theater • • Limited number of actors All male actors Broad

Conventions cont’d • Boots with built-up soles • Elaborate and colorful costumes • Minimal

Elements of Tragedy • Reversal of situation – a change by which the action

Traits of a Tragic Hero In tragedy, the central character: • Passes from happiness

Unities of Greek Theater • Action – one basic story • Time – within

Slides: 15

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Greek Tragedy Unit Notes

Tragedy • A play in which a main character, or tragic hero, suffers a downfall • Came into being during the 5 th century • A blending of poetry, drama, music, and dance • First performed in honor of Dionysos, the god of wine and fertility

Tragedy cont’d • Sources of plots were myths and everyday life • Function was to arouse pity and fear in the audience to purge or cleanse them of these unsettling emotions

Thespis – father of drama • First to use an actor in his productions • Performed first tragedy at the festival of Dionysos in 534 B. C.

Three Important Writers of Greek Tragic Drama • Aeschylus – Established true dialogue by adding a second actor

Important Writers cont’d • Sophocles – Introduced a third actor – Introduced painted sets – Expanded the size of the chorus to 15 – Changed the kinds of music used by chorus

Important Writers cont’d • Euripides – Used the chorus as commentator and an ornament to main dialogue

Purposes of chorus • Create a psychological and emotional background through its odes • Introduce and question new characters • Point out the significance of events • Establish facts and affirm the outlook of society • Cover the passage of time between events • Separate episodes

Main divisions of a typical tragedy • Prologue – opening scene to establish background of story • Parados – entrance of the chorus (usually chanting a lyric) • Episode – counterpart of the modern act or scene

Main divisions cont’d • Stasimon – choral ode; comes at the end of each episode • Exodus – final action after last stasimon; ended by ceremonial exit of all players

Conventions of Greek Theater • • Limited number of actors All male actors Broad stage movements Elongated masks to denote character played, amplify sound, allow same character to play several parts

Conventions cont’d • Boots with built-up soles • Elaborate and colorful costumes • Minimal scenery because there was no curtain • Altar to Dionysos at center stage ensuring some reference to gods • Prohibition against violence on stage

Elements of Tragedy • Reversal of situation – a change by which the action veers around to its opposite • Scene of recognition – a change from ignorance to knowledge • Scene of suffering – a scene of destructive or painful action • A tragic hero initiates his own downfall

Traits of a Tragic Hero In tragedy, the central character: • Passes from happiness to misery • Must not be perfectly virtuous and just • Must initiate his own downfall by a flaw of character (tragic flaw) or by an error in judgment

Unities of Greek Theater • Action – one basic story • Time – within 24 hours • Place – few scene changes