The Golden Age of Ancient Greek Theatre

The Golden Age of Ancient Greek

Theatrethe origins of drama

The Origins Of Drama Plays were created

to celebrate ________, the ancient Greek god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, and ritual madness and ecstasy. 

He was also known as Bacchus, the name adopted by the Romans

Your notes Plays created to celebrate

Dionysus), Greek God of wine and revelry (Bacchus- Roman equivalent)

drama The term comes from a Greek word dran meaning "action," which is derived from “to do.”

Your notes Drama=Greek Dran (Action) from

(To do)

Thespian from the name Thespis, the first person ever to appear on stage as an actor playing a character in a play

YouR Notes Thespian=actor from first actor

Thespis.

the chorus15 menSang lyric poetryPerforming was regarded as a civic dutyWore robes and masks

Functions of the chorus

Functions of the chorus

Agent: Ideal spectator: Atmosphere: “Flair”: Rhythmical

function: Establishes

ethical framework:

Functions of the chorus agent: gives advice, asks

questions, takes part ideal spectator: reacts as

playwright hopes audience would Atmosphere: sets mood and

heightens dramatic effects “Flair”: adds movement,

spectacle, song, and dance rhythmical function: pauses /

paces the action so that the audience can reflect.

establishes ethical framework, sets up standard by which action will be judged

The Theatre

ofDionysus

The first plays were performed in the Theatre of Dionysus, built in the shadow of the Acropolis in Athens at the beginning of the 5th century

These theatres proved to be so popular they soon spread all over Greece.

Your Notes The Theatre of Dionysus— 1st

Theater; built in shadow of acropolis(big hill in Rome); 5th century

Amphitheatres

Plays were performed out-of-doors.

The side of the mountain was scooped out into a bowl shape, something like our amphitheatres today, and tiers of stone seats in concentric semi-circles were built on the hill.

These theatres often seated as many as 20,000 spectators, with a special first row being reserved for dignitaries.

Amphitheatres Outside on side of mountain, bowl

shape, like a stadium sort of. Up to 20,000 1st row--dignitaries

proskenion

Theatron The theatron (literally,

"viewing-place") is where the spectators sat. The theatron was usually part of hillside overlooking the orchestra and often wrapped around a large portion of the orchestra.

Orchestra The orchestra (literally, "dancing

space") was normally circular. It was a level space where the chorus would dance, sing, and interact with the actors who were on the stage

(called the Proskenion - proh-SKAY-nee-on) in front of the skene. In the center of the orchestra there was often an altar.

Skene

The skene - SKAY-nay (literally, “tent") was the building directly behind the stage in which costumes were stored, and was usually decorated as a palace or building, depending on the needs of the play. It had at least one set of doors, and actors could make entrances and exits through them. Origination of the word “scene.”

Skene (Skay-Nay) buidling behind stage

(ProSKene) for costume changes and prop—a castle or whatever needed.

The Actors All of the actors were

men. No girls allowed.

The actors played multiple roles, so a wooden, cork, or linen mask was used to show the change in character or mood.

The masks were worn for many reasons :

1. Visibility2. Acoustic Assistance3. Few Actors, Many Roles4. Characterization

Making the Mask

http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/Cathy-Greek.htm

Example MAsks

Example Masks

Bad Masks!Hair is good, but The Masks aren’t 3-d!

Modern-day replicas

Hero-King

Comedy (Servant or Herald )

Tragedy (Weeping Chorus)

Working in the Space Because of the distance

between actors and the audience, the actors used broad gestures and histrionic speech.

The actor made himself taller by wearing thick-soled shoes and a high head piece.

The masks assisted in projecting the actor’s voice through a type of inside megaphone.

Myths played a key rolein Greek drama

The Myths – Why they were written

1. Explained the unexplainable2. Justified religious practices3. Gave credibility to leaders4. Gave hope5. Polytheistic (more than one god)6. Centered around the twelve

Olympians (primary Greek gods)

Explained the Unexplainable When Echo tried to get

Narcissus to love her, she was denied.

Saddened, she shriveled to nothing, her existence melting into a rock.

Only her voice remained. Hence, the echo!

To give hope The ancient citizens of

Greece would sacrifice and pray to an ORACLE.

An oracle was a priest or priestess who would send a message to the gods from mortals who brought their requests.

What is the origin of hope?

After unleashing suffering, famine, disease, and many other evils, the

last thing Pandora let out was HOPE.

Mask Update

Tragedy The word

tragedy came to be derived from the Greek tragos (goat) and ode (poem). Tragedy literally means goat song or goat poem.

Why read Tragedy?

Why read Tragedy? Strength of

character Perseverance Courage Inspiration Catharsis

Traits of the central character of a tragedy

– tragic hero

• of the Elite Class / mighty figure• suffers a Downfall / reversal of fortune• Neither Wholly good nor wholly evil• Downfall is the result of a Fatal Flaw• Endures uncommon suffering• Recognizes the consequences of his actions

Traits of the central character of a tragedy – tragic hero

• Misfortunes involve characters who are related or who are friends

• Tragic actions take place offstage• Central Character has a moment of recognition – “Oh, now I get it!”• Audience experiences pity and fear• Pity and Fear leads to a catharsis• Stories based on myth or history, • Focus was on psychological and ethical

attributes of characters, rather than physical and sociological

Traits of the a tragedy

SophoclesThe Greatest of

the Greek playwrights

Contrasts & Symbols Sight vs. Blindness Fate vs. Free Will Action vs. Reflection Knowledge VS. Ignorance Innocence VS. Guilt Abuse of Power VS. Wise Use of Power High Station and Great Fall Crossroads Swollen foot