Unit Overview: Introduction to Ancient Greek Tragedy In this unit we will learn about: • life in ancient Greece. • ancient Greek Tragedy. • Tragic Hero Archetype.
Unit Overview: Introduction to Ancient
Greek TragedyIn this unit we will learn about:
• life in ancient Greece.
• ancient Greek Tragedy.
• Tragic Hero Archetype.
I. Life in Ancient Greece
• Greece reached peak - 6th and 5th centuries B.C., particularly in Athens.
I. Life in Ancient Greece
Athens was the place to be. It was:
• named for the goddess, Athena.
• birthplace of democracy.
• center of commerce and the arts.
I. Life in Ancient Greece
On the “cuttingedge,” achieving excellence in:• Philosophy• Art• History• Politics• Architecture
I. Life in Ancient Greece
• Excellence is remarkable because:• Harsh environment and poverty, then
and now• 1/3 of Greece is bare rock where
nothing can grow or graze.
I. Life in Ancient Greece
•Rock = Best potters and sculptors the world has ever seen.
I. Life in Ancient Greece
• Sculpture - Realistic figures in marble or bronze
• Perfect human form
• Influences sculpture and life even today
I. Life in Ancient Greece
• Our desire to look “perfect” has its origins in Greek culture.
• The next time you hop on a treadmill, or lift weights you have Classical Greek sculptors to thank.
I. Life in Ancient Greece
• Emphasis on physical training.
• Good idea! There was hardly any standing army.Any man could become an “instant” solider.
I. Life in Ancient Greece
• Physical excellence was appreciated in the athletic games held in the city of Olympia, the Olympics.
I. Life in Ancient Greece
• Olive processing was a major industry.
• Olive trees symbols of peace.
• Winners in the games in Olympia received olive wreaths.
II. Greek Tragedy
• Ancient Greeks invented the art of drama.
• Some of the plays written at the time are still performed today.
II. Greek Tragedy
• Modern words from Greek words:
• Orchestra• Thespian• Drama• Dialogue• Scene• Comedy• Tragedy• Proscenium
II. Greek Tragedy
• Wealthy Athenian citizens subsidized the production of the plays.
• Plays performed annually at the spring festival to honor Dionysus.
II. Greek Tragedy
• The yearly Dionysia festivals were held in late March or early April.
• Festival disrupted city life and could not be contained –Quite a party!
• Going to plays was very popular.
• Performances lasted all day.
• Theatre was a sacrament, a form of worship. (Think of a highly dramatic, entertaining Mass.)
II. Greek Tragedy
• Theaters outdoor semicircular arenas called amphitheaters built of stone or wood.
• 15,000 to 17,000 spectators (all male)
II. Greek Tragedy
• Three playwrights each entered a play in the tragedy competition and one comedy into the satyr (risqué) competition.
II.Greek Tragedy
• The three greatest writers of tragedy were:
• Aeschylus(525-456 B.C.)
• Sophocles (496-406 B.C.)
• Euripides(485-406 B.C.)
II. Greek Tragedy
• The cast, all men, included a chorus, or group of men, who chanted and danced.
• Chorus is the Greek word for dance.
• One, two, or three actors. For most of the 5th century no more than 3 actors were used.
II. Greek Tragedy
• Chorus provided emotional bridge between actors and audience
• Made of citizen amateurs
II. Greek TragedyFive Functions of the
Chorus• Set the mood• Represent
common people• Take sides• Warn a character• Create a contrast
to the hero by expressing itself in common language
II.Greek TragedyCostumes and Scenery
• Minimal scenery and props
• Actors wore masks, platform shoes, and elongated togas with high waistbands.
• Masks stood for characters (grief, anger, happiness, bearded king, old man, young girl).
II.Greek TragedyConventions
• Plays observed Aritstotle’s 3 unities of time, place, and action.
Time–took place during a single day.
Place–one sceneAction–no
subplots
II.Greek TragedyConventions
• All violent action took place off stage.
• There was no suspense.
• Plays emphasized people, ideas, poetry.
• Emotions of characters most important element of any play.
II. Greek TragedyCharacteristics:Plays
• Worthy protagonist
• Imperfect, yet mature protagonist
• Inevitable disaster• Hero fights for
noble cause • Disequilibrium
(imbalance) rules the world of Greek tragedy.
II. Greek TragedyCharacteristics:Tragic
Hero• Believes in his freedom
to make choices • Has supreme pride,
hubris. • Large capacity for
suffering• Sense of commitment• Vigorous protest • Transfiguration,
becomes a better person.
• His tragedy cause for reflection about life.
II. Greek Tragedy:Structure
Encroachment• The hero bites
off more than he can chew and brings about his own destruction.
II. Greek Tragedy:Structure
Complication• Forces of
opposition build up against the hero.
• Events become so deeply involved that no single event can resolve the disorder.
II. Greek Tragedy:Structure
Reversal• Clear to
audience that hero’s expectations are mistaken.
• The hero may dimly see where his acts will lead him.
II.Greek Tragedy:Structure
Catastrophe• Moment hero
realizes his full guilt.
• Hero realizes his helplessness at the hands of the gods.
II.Greek Tragedy:Structure
Recognition• Chorus expresses a
larger order and sense of meaning to life exists beyond the hero’s downfall.
• Emotional rollercoaster ride is eased by catharsis occurs when the emotions of the audience are purged. Audience is reassured “it’s only a play.” Life goes on.