reek Traged An overview of Ancient Greek Theatre
Feb 23, 2016
Greek TragedyAn overview of
Ancient Greek Theatre
Ancient Greece
“theater” -derived from Greek word theatron, “to view as spectators”
drama --Greek word meaning “action”
hypokrites - the Greek word for “actor”
First actor to dance was Thespis
It’s all Greek to Me!Origin of Greek Vocabulary
Quick Facts!Theater began in 5th Century
Athens. It began as a dance, much like tribal
dances elsewhere.Performances began with one actor,
then two. Sophocles was the first to add three actors to any performance.
All actors wore masks to show emotions.
City of Dionysia (Festival of Dionysus)
Seven days of the year 4 in Spring
(Tragedy) 3 in Winter
(Comedy) Each playwright
presented 3 plays and a satyr play
Performances dedicated to god Dionysus
Greek Theaters Orchestra Theatron Skene Parados
The Chorus
In Greek, choros means “dance” not “song” as it does today.
The chorus in Greek plays was a group of dancers originally.
Standard chorus was 12. Sophocles raised it to 15.
Main speaker (Choragus) even had dialogue with the actors
Greek Theaters Plays were
performed to worship the god Dionysus, the god of wine, fertility in nature, and agriculture.
Greek Theaters Dionysus, where
many of Sophocles’ plays were performed
Located in Athens
Greek Theaters, Continued
Ancient Theater of Epidarus, located in a small town near the city of Athens
Actors & Costumes Actors were male
3 or less on stage at one time
Women could watch plays, but could not participate
Costumes were usually simple
Masks showed identity
Clothing was simple, rarely specialized
Masks in Greek Drama Different masks for
different plays and roles Men / Women Old / Young Rich / Poor
28 for tragedy plays 44 for comedy plays Some realistic, some
caricatured
Actors & Costumes
Mosaic of actors from 5th Century – Pompeii, Italy
Music in TheaterMusic created mood effect
SuspenseRomanceSurpriseWrath
Several Key InstrumentsFluteTrumpetLyrePercussion
Comparative to Oriental sounds
Famous Playwrights
5th Century BC (499-401)
Aeschylus – tragedy celebrated people
rising above anarchy into civilized society
Euripides – tragedy (deus ex machina
endings)
Sophocles – tragedy Wrote Theban cycle Poetic writing
Aristophanes – comedy First to write
satirical political commentary
Four Qualities of Greek Drama
1. Performed for special occasions (festivals)
2. Competitive (prizes awarded)
3. Choral (singing was highly valued)
4. Closely associated with religion
Tragedy: Basic Structure
Prologue: Spoken by 1 or 2 characters before chorus appears.
Parodos: Song sung by chorus as it first enters the orchestra & dances.
First Episode: First of many "episodes," when characters & chorus talk.
First Stasimon: At the end of each episode, other characters usually leave stage, & chorus dances & sings a stasimon, or choral ode. The rest of the play alternates between episodes & stasima, until the final scene...
Exodos: At the play’s end, chorus exits singing a processional song which usually offers words of wisdom related to the play’s actions and outcome.
Elements of The Tragic Hero
1, Born of nobility 2. Responsible for their own
fate3. Accept death with honor4. Meets a tragic death6. Endowed with a tragic
flaw7. Doomed to make a
serious error in judgment that leads to their downfall.
Tragic Hero VocabularyAnagoris – Tragic
recognition or insight moment of clarity in the mind of the
tragic hero as he suddenly realizes the web of fate he is entangled
Tragic Hero VocabularyHubris– Exaggerated self-
pride or self confidence Often results in a fatal retribution and
ultimately the tragic hero’s downfall
Tragic Hero VocabularyPeripateia– Plot reversal
Pivotal or crucial action on the part of the protagonist that changes the situation from seemingly secure to vulnerable
Tragic Hero VocabularyHamartia– Tragic Error
Fatal error or simple mistake on the part of the protagonist that eventually leads to the final catastrophe. “A shot that misses the bull’s eye.”
Characteristics of Sophocles’ Plays
emphasis on individual characters reduced role of chorus complex characters, psychologically well-
motivated characters subjected to crisis leading to
suffering and self-recognition - including a higher law above man
exposition carefully motivated scenes suspensefully climactic action clear and logical poetry clear and beautiful few elaborate visual effects theme emphasized: the choices of
people
Tragedy: Never Ending!
Kommos: emotional song of sorrowPaean: a hymn appealing to the
gods for assistance
Greek Mythological Characters
Zeus: supreme deity (god) of Greeks, storm god w/thunderbolt, promiscuous
Athena: virgin goddess of wisdom, warrior, goddess of the arts and of Athens
Apollo: Zeus’s son; god of light, intelligence, healing, the arts; shrine at Delphi
Artemis: Apollo’s twin sister & daughter of Zeus, goddess of chastity
Pan: son of Hermes, god of flocks, head of man & hindquarters & horns of a goat, musician
Hermes: cleverest of gods, ruled with wealth and good fortune, messenger of the gods
Riddle of the Sphinx Q: What goes on four legs in the
morning, on two legs at noon, and on three legs in the
evening?
A: Man
Riddle of the Sphinx Q: What goes on four legs in the morning,
on two legs at noon, and on three legs in the evening?