Top Banner
reek Traged An overview of Ancient Greek Theatre
27

Greek Tragedy

Feb 23, 2016

Download

Documents

Skyler

Greek Tragedy. An overview of Ancient Greek Theatre . Ancient Greece. It’s all Greek to Me! Origin of Greek Vocabulary. “theater” -derived from Greek word theatron , “to view as spectators” drama --Greek word meaning “action” hypokrites - the Greek word for “actor” - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Page 1: Greek Tragedy

Greek TragedyAn overview of

Ancient Greek Theatre

Page 2: Greek Tragedy

Ancient Greece

Page 3: Greek Tragedy

“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

Page 4: Greek Tragedy

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.

Page 5: Greek Tragedy

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

Page 6: Greek Tragedy

Greek Theaters Orchestra Theatron Skene Parados

Page 7: Greek Tragedy

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

Page 8: Greek Tragedy

Greek Theaters Plays were

performed to worship the god Dionysus, the god of wine, fertility in nature, and agriculture.

Page 9: Greek Tragedy

Greek Theaters Dionysus, where

many of Sophocles’ plays were performed

Located in Athens

Page 10: Greek Tragedy

Greek Theaters, Continued

Ancient Theater of Epidarus, located in a small town near the city of Athens

Page 12: Greek Tragedy

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

Page 13: Greek Tragedy

Actors & Costumes

Mosaic of actors from 5th Century – Pompeii, Italy

Page 14: Greek Tragedy

Music in TheaterMusic created mood effect

SuspenseRomanceSurpriseWrath

Several Key InstrumentsFluteTrumpetLyrePercussion

Comparative to Oriental sounds

Page 15: Greek Tragedy

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

Page 16: Greek Tragedy

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

Page 17: Greek Tragedy

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.

Page 18: Greek Tragedy

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.

Page 19: Greek Tragedy

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

Page 20: Greek Tragedy

Tragic Hero VocabularyHubris– Exaggerated self-

pride or self confidence Often results in a fatal retribution and

ultimately the tragic hero’s downfall

Page 21: Greek Tragedy

Tragic Hero VocabularyPeripateia– Plot reversal

Pivotal or crucial action on the part of the protagonist that changes the situation from seemingly secure to vulnerable

Page 22: Greek Tragedy

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.”

Page 23: Greek Tragedy

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

Page 24: Greek Tragedy

Tragedy: Never Ending!

Kommos: emotional song of sorrowPaean: a hymn appealing to the

gods for assistance

Page 25: Greek Tragedy

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

Page 26: Greek Tragedy

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

Page 27: Greek Tragedy

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?