Introduction to Greek Drama English II Mrs. Crawford.

Introduction to Introduction to Greek DramaGreek Drama

English IIEnglish II

Mrs. CrawfordMrs. Crawford

SOPHOCLESSOPHOCLES

Born in Colonus, Greece in 497 Born in Colonus, Greece in 497 B.C. B.C.

Died in 406 B. C. at Died in 406 B. C. at approximately 90 years oldapproximately 90 years old

Lived during the Lived during the ““Golden AgeGolden Age”” of of GreeceGreece

He was a successful musician, He was a successful musician, athlete and respected playwrightathlete and respected playwright

He was also active in social and He was also active in social and political life. He held several political life. He held several priesthoods, was imperial priesthoods, was imperial treasurer in 443 B.C., and a treasurer in 443 B.C., and a general in 440 B.C.general in 440 B.C.

Sophocles as a Playwright Sophocles as a Playwright

In the drama festivals of his day, he In the drama festivals of his day, he won the first place prize for best play won the first place prize for best play twenty-four times.twenty-four times.

He wrote more than a hundred plays He wrote more than a hundred plays but only seven remain. but only seven remain.

The most famous of his plays being: The most famous of his plays being: Oedipus Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone the King, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone and and Electra.Electra.

Was only 28 when he won his first Was only 28 when he won his first drama competitiondrama competition

SophoclesSophocles’’ Impact on Drama Impact on Drama

Expanded its format by adding a Expanded its format by adding a third actorthird actor

Increased dialogueIncreased dialogueDecreased the importance of the Decreased the importance of the

chorus by fixing its number at 15chorus by fixing its number at 15 Invented painted scenery and added Invented painted scenery and added

flute music in the backgroundflute music in the backgroundMade each play of a trilogy stand by Made each play of a trilogy stand by

itself as a separate storyitself as a separate story

Greek TragedyGreek TragedyThe Greeks transformed The Greeks transformed

tragedy into an art.tragedy into an art. It involves the downfall of a It involves the downfall of a

hero, usually ending with hero, usually ending with his or her destruction or his or her destruction or deathdeath

Involves intense emotion Involves intense emotion (pity, fear, wonder, and (pity, fear, wonder, and awe) awe)

There is usually a horrible There is usually a horrible truth that leads to release truth that leads to release ((catharsiscatharsis))

Greek Tragic HeroGreek Tragic HeroMust be a man or Must be a man or

woman capable woman capable of great sufferingof great suffering

Hero is brought Hero is brought to disaster by to disaster by hamartiahamartia (single (single flaw in character)flaw in character)Hubris- the fatal Hubris- the fatal

flaw of prideflaw of prideOdysseusOdysseusCreonCreon

Structure of a Greek TragedyStructure of a Greek Tragedy

1.1. Prologue – the actors present the Prologue – the actors present the opening situation on stageopening situation on stage

2.2. Parados – the entering song and Parados – the entering song and dance of the chorusdance of the chorus

3.3. Episodes – periods of more action Episodes – periods of more action by the actorsby the actors

4.4. Stasima/Stasimon – choral ode or Stasima/Stasimon – choral ode or song commenting on the actionsong commenting on the action

5.5. Exodus – the last action of the playExodus – the last action of the play

The Greek TheatreThe Greek Theatre

*like an outdoor stadium that could hold from 15,000 – 20,000 people

The Greek TheatreThe Greek Theatre

Semi-circular in shapeSemi-circular in shape Theatron = area of seats for the audience hollowed Theatron = area of seats for the audience hollowed

out from the hillsideout from the hillside Orchestra = large area in front of the stage where Orchestra = large area in front of the stage where

the chorus sang and dancedthe chorus sang and danced Thymele = the altar centered in the orchestra used Thymele = the altar centered in the orchestra used

for sacrifices to Dionysusfor sacrifices to Dionysus Parados = walled walkway used by the chorus to Parados = walled walkway used by the chorus to

enter and exit the stageenter and exit the stage Pro-scenium = a long, low stage behind the Pro-scenium = a long, low stage behind the

orchestraorchestra Skene = building that contained the actorsSkene = building that contained the actors’’

dressing roomsdressing rooms

GreeksGreeks’’ Special Effects Special Effectsdeus ex machinadeus ex machina ( (““god from the god from the

machinemachine””) = type of crane used for ) = type of crane used for suspending figures who portrayed suspending figures who portrayed godsgods

eccylemaeccylema = moveable or revolving = moveable or revolving platformplatform

Special Effects Cont…Special Effects Cont…

No curtains, intermissions, lights, or No curtains, intermissions, lights, or microphones. Because of this, all microphones. Because of this, all scenes took place in daylight settingsscenes took place in daylight settings

All scenes changes had to be built All scenes changes had to be built into the dialogue of the actors and into the dialogue of the actors and the chorus the chorus

Actors had to have strong voicesActors had to have strong voices

The ActorsThe Actors Hypocrite- Greek name for Hypocrite- Greek name for

ActorActor Only Only 3 3 actors that wore actors that wore

masks to play multiple partsmasks to play multiple parts All actors were All actors were menmen

because it was considered because it was considered undignified for women to undignified for women to appear on stageappear on stage

Wore platform shoes and Wore platform shoes and masks with megaphonesmasks with megaphones

Actors had to be able to Actors had to be able to speak in poetic language speak in poetic language and sing using a loud and and sing using a loud and clear voiceclear voice

The ChorusThe Chorus

Group of actors that moved and sang together, acting as Group of actors that moved and sang together, acting as one character.one character.

Choral Ode- Chanted or sung in unisonChoral Ode- Chanted or sung in unison Started out with 50 people but Sophocles fixed the number Started out with 50 people but Sophocles fixed the number

at 15at 15 The playwright used the chorus and their songs to: The playwright used the chorus and their songs to:

Add the beauty of song and danceAdd the beauty of song and dance Set the mood or express the main themes of the play Set the mood or express the main themes of the play

by commenting on the actionby commenting on the action Create a bridge between the actors and the audienceCreate a bridge between the actors and the audience Converse with and give advice to the actorsConverse with and give advice to the actors Tell about events that have already happened in the Tell about events that have already happened in the

pastpast Foretell the future by interpreting the actions of the Foretell the future by interpreting the actions of the

actorsactors

The StoriesThe Stories

Originally hymns and prayers Originally hymns and prayers honoring the gods, especially honoring the gods, especially Dionysus, in Athens.Dionysus, in Athens.

Over time, content changed to Over time, content changed to legends of Greek leaders and heroeslegends of Greek leaders and heroes

Tragedy = showed what happened to Tragedy = showed what happened to a person who went against the laws a person who went against the laws of the gods or who was too proudof the gods or who was too proud

AntigoneAntigone Third of SophoclesThird of Sophocles’’

Theban playsTheban plays Oedipus Rex Oedipus Rex and and

Oedipus at ColonusOedipus at Colonus Antigone is OedipusAntigone is Oedipus’’

daughter, princess of daughter, princess of ThebesThebes

Breaks the law to bury Breaks the law to bury her brother who has her brother who has been labeled a traitor been labeled a traitor by the king, her uncle. by the king, her uncle.

Oedipus BackgroundOedipus BackgroundOracle of Delphi prophecyOracle of Delphi prophecy

King Laios and Queen King Laios and Queen Jocasta are told that their Jocasta are told that their future son will kill his father future son will kill his father and marry his mother.and marry his mother.

So… when Oedipus was So… when Oedipus was born, he was left for dead born, he was left for dead but was found and raised but was found and raised by the King and Queen of by the King and Queen of CorinthCorinth

Oedipus cont…Oedipus cont…The prophecy fulfilledThe prophecy fulfilled

Years later, Oedipus meets a Years later, Oedipus meets a traveller on the road. An traveller on the road. An argument begins, and Oedipus argument begins, and Oedipus kills the traveller in his rage.kills the traveller in his rage.

Unbeknownst to him… he had Unbeknownst to him… he had just killed his birth father, the just killed his birth father, the King of Thebes.King of Thebes.

Shortly after, Oedipus defeated Shortly after, Oedipus defeated the Sphinx and was rewarded the Sphinx and was rewarded with the Kingdom of Thebes… with the Kingdom of Thebes… along with their Queen as his along with their Queen as his new wife.new wife.

OedipusOedipus

Oedipus and Jocasta Oedipus and Jocasta have 4 childrenhave 4 children Antigone, Ismene, Antigone, Ismene,

Eteocles, and PolyneicesEteocles, and Polyneices

When they discover When they discover the truth, Jocasta the truth, Jocasta hangs herself and hangs herself and Oedipus gouges out Oedipus gouges out his own eyes before his own eyes before exiling himself.exiling himself.

OedipusOedipus’’ Sons SonsBefore his death, Oedipus Before his death, Oedipus

leaves orders that his two leaves orders that his two sons share the kingshipsons share the kingship

Eteocles refuses to step Eteocles refuses to step downdown

Polyneices attacks Thebes Polyneices attacks Thebes with an armywith an army

Both brothers die in battleBoth brothers die in battleCreon (JocastaCreon (Jocasta’’s brother) s brother)

is declared King.is declared King.

Oedipus Family Tree

CADMUS Founder of Thebes

POLYDORUS King of Thebes

LABDACUS King of Thebes

LAIUS King of Thebes

JOCASTA

OEDIPUS

CREON

EURYDICE

MENOCEUS

POLYNICES ISMENE *ANTIGONE ETEOCLES HAEMON

indicates sibling relationship

Oedipus Family TreeOedipus Family Tree

King Creon of Thebes married King Creon of Thebes married Queen EurydiceQueen Eurydice

-Creon is Oedipus-Creon is Oedipus’’ uncle, Jocasta uncle, Jocasta’’s s brother (also Oedipusbrother (also Oedipus’’ brother-in-law) brother-in-law)

-They have two sons:-They have two sons:

Megareus Megareus Haemon Haemon

// //

dies during dies during betrothed to betrothed to Antigone,Antigone,

siege of Thebessiege of Thebes his cousinhis cousin

SourcesSources

Jessica Rammos – CHHS, Colleyville, Jessica Rammos – CHHS, Colleyville, TXTX

Stefanie Tziarri – Lawrence High Stefanie Tziarri – Lawrence High School, Mercer County, NJSchool, Mercer County, NJ

SpringBoard TextSpringBoard Text