Background to Greek Tragedy AP English Language and Composition Mr. Eugene.

Background to Greek Background to Greek TragedyTragedy

AP English Language and CompositionAP English Language and Composition

Mr. EugeneMr. Eugene

What is Tragedy?What is Tragedy?Tragedy, then, is an imitation of an action that is Tragedy, then, is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not of parts of the play; in the form of action, not of narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions. purgation of these emotions.

-- Aristotle, from Book VI of the -- Aristotle, from Book VI of the PoeticsPoetics

Analysis of definition:Analysis of definition:1.1. Based on Based on imitationimitation of action that is of action that is seriousserious, ,

completecomplete, and , and elevatedelevated2.2. Uses Uses embellishedembellished language language3.3. Presented in Presented in dramaticdramatic form form4.4. Effects Effects purgation (catharsis)purgation (catharsis), through experience of , through experience of

pitypity and and fearfear in audience in audience

Drama: A mimetic art formDrama: A mimetic art form► Imitation of action is not a superficial pursuit, Imitation of action is not a superficial pursuit,

but one grounded in the but one grounded in the primitiveprimitive human human need to exercise the need to exercise the orderingordering capacity of the capacity of the mind on the external world.mind on the external world.

► Mimesis often involved Mimesis often involved dancedance and the wearing and the wearing of of costumescostumes

► Mimesis aims at Mimesis aims at inspirationinspiration and and autosuggestionautosuggestion

► Consider these examples of artistic mimesis:Consider these examples of artistic mimesis: Cave paintingCave painting Hopi rain danceHopi rain dance Medieval joustMedieval joust What others can you think of?What others can you think of?

History of Greek Tragedy: The History of Greek Tragedy: The roots of dramatic performanceroots of dramatic performance►Greek drama was originally in Greek drama was originally in

dancedance form and for form and for religiousreligious purposespurposes

►Religious dances were called Religious dances were called dithyrambsdithyrambs, or , or ““goat songsgoat songs”” leapingleaping dances of abandonment ending in dances of abandonment ending in

sacrificesacrifice of animal, usually a goat of animal, usually a goat►Drama transitioned from religious Drama transitioned from religious

practice to practice to art formart form in the in the 5th5th century century BCEBCE

The Greek Theater: Architecture and The Greek Theater: Architecture and StagingStaging

A. TheatronA. TheatronA. Theatron F. Parados

E. Proskenion

D. Skene

B. Orchestra

C. Thymele

History of Greek Tragedy: The History of Greek Tragedy: The Introduction of DialogueIntroduction of Dialogue► Thespis (a director of a famous chorus)Thespis (a director of a famous chorus)

Known as the first Known as the first actoractor Stood on the sacrificial table and addressed Stood on the sacrificial table and addressed

the leader of the chorusthe leader of the chorus

► Aeschylus (the Father of Tragedy)Aeschylus (the Father of Tragedy) Introduced second Introduced second actoractor Diminished the importance of Diminished the importance of the chorusthe chorus Made Made dialoguedialogue the body of the drama the body of the drama Made actors as impressive as possible by Made actors as impressive as possible by

developing developing cothurnicothurni and and painted maskspainted masks

Sophocles: The happy Sophocles: The happy playwrightplaywright► Introduced Introduced second actorsecond actor, , scene (skene) scene (skene)

paintingpainting, and the play within a trilogy as an , and the play within a trilogy as an independentindependent entity entity

► Raised number of chorus from Raised number of chorus from 12 to 1512 to 15► First tragedian to use First tragedian to use phrygianphrygian music music►Modified purpose of chorus:Modified purpose of chorus:

Represented the Represented the common peoplecommon people Set the mood for Set the mood for each episodeeach episode Follow the dramatic action closelyFollow the dramatic action closely React to the dramatic action React to the dramatic action emotionallyemotionally Separate Separate episodesepisodes, creating rhythmic flow , creating rhythmic flow

of of actionaction and and reflectionreflection

EuripedesEuripedes► About a dozen years younger than About a dozen years younger than

SophoclesSophocles► From a wealthy family; able to devote From a wealthy family; able to devote

himself to dramahimself to drama► Produced blends of dramatic forms, Produced blends of dramatic forms,

especially tragic-comedyespecially tragic-comedy► Continued innovations in music as lyrics Continued innovations in music as lyrics

become less important resulting in:become less important resulting in: Loose syntaxLoose syntax Polysyllabic vaguenessPolysyllabic vagueness

►Nondramatic prologue orients viewer to the Nondramatic prologue orients viewer to the point in the myth at which action is to beginpoint in the myth at which action is to begin

► Extensive use of Extensive use of deus ex machina deus ex machina endingsendings

Elements of Greek Tragedy: Elements of Greek Tragedy: Plot is the Plot is the ““Soul of TragedySoul of Tragedy””► Action moves through Action moves through emotion (pathos)emotion (pathos) to to

perceptionperception, resulting in , resulting in purgation (catharsis)purgation (catharsis)► Purpose of plot is to stage a Purpose of plot is to stage a completecomplete

working out of a single working out of a single motivationmotivation► Plot must observe three unities:Plot must observe three unities:

1.1. Action – no subplots or diversionsAction – no subplots or diversions2.2. Time – action occurs in the space of a single dayTime – action occurs in the space of a single day3.3. Place – no scene changes (messenger brings Place – no scene changes (messenger brings

news of other events)news of other events)► Plot was seldom invented; usually based on Plot was seldom invented; usually based on

known mythsknown myths► Subject is downfall of Subject is downfall of elevatedelevated figure figure

resulting in his resulting in his destructiondestruction or or deathdeath

Elements of Greek Tragedy: Elements of Greek Tragedy: Plot and the emergence of Plot and the emergence of perceptionperception►Action of the play reveals how man is Action of the play reveals how man is

brought to brought to destructiondestruction by a single by a single hamartiahamartia, or flaw in his character, or flaw in his character

►Perception emerges in the moment of Perception emerges in the moment of peripeteiaperipeteia, or reversal of action, or reversal of action

►Reversal occurs simultaneously with Reversal occurs simultaneously with the moment of the moment of anagnorisisanagnorisis, or , or recognition of the truth, producing a recognition of the truth, producing a change from change from ignoranceignorance to to insightinsight

Elements of Greek Tragedy: Elements of Greek Tragedy: Action, Perception, and its Action, Perception, and its OutcomeOutcome► Internal: Tragic protagonist comes to understand Internal: Tragic protagonist comes to understand

and acknowledgeand acknowledge

1.1. his/her place in the universal scheme of thingshis/her place in the universal scheme of things

2.2. the errors that have led to tragedythe errors that have led to tragedy

3.3. the degree to which s/he is responsible for his/her the degree to which s/he is responsible for his/her

destructiondestruction

► External: Emotional tension increases to a External: Emotional tension increases to a breaking point, arousing breaking point, arousing pity and fearpity and fear, , awe and awe and wonderwonder until, at moment of reversal, audience until, at moment of reversal, audience experiences experiences purgationpurgation

Audience, religious rite, and the Audience, religious rite, and the primitive psycheprimitive psyche►Audience Audience vicariouslyvicariously experiences experiences

tragic emotions in tragic emotions in extreme formextreme form►Conclusion of tragedy Conclusion of tragedy purgespurges these these

emotions from the psycheemotions from the psyche►Dramatic form, in this sense, merges Dramatic form, in this sense, merges

religiousreligious and and psychologicalpsychological rite rite►Dramatic art form is thus both inspired Dramatic art form is thus both inspired

by and intended to inspire by and intended to inspire the the primitive psyche primitive psyche (see handout on (see handout on Jung) of Jung) of the collective audiencethe collective audience