Greek Tragedy

Theatre Components

ActorsChorus

Greek Theatre: Main components

Theatron: literally, the “watching place”

Orchestra: literally, the “dancing place”

Skene: “scene,” or backdrop

Side By Side

William Randolph Hearst Greek Theatre in Berkley

Theatre Diagram turned to match replica

TheatronDaylightHoly placeWomenCapacitySound effects

OrchestraChallenges:SizeDistance from

audienceHolding

interest

SkeneBehind orchestraServed as

backdrop, houseDecorative in

later yearsHolds mechane

Other Theatre Components

Parados: passageways

Ekkykleme: “the thing that rolls”

Mechane: crane used for special effect

Actors3 Actors, all

menVarious rolesWore masksElaborate

gestures, “over-acting”

Chorus12-15 menSingingDancingStropheAntistrophe

Antigone: in context

DionysiaSophoclesOedipus Rex

Sophocles 495 B.C.E. :Born in

Colonus, in Attica 441: Writes Antigone 431-404:

Peloponnesian War (Athens v. Sparta)

429: Writes Oedipus Rex

406: Sophocles dies

Oedipus Rex Delphic Oracle,

prophecy Corinth Sphinx riddle Self-punishment Children: Eteocles,

Polyneices, Ismene, Antigone

Image and Textual References

Ancient Greek Theater. Retrieved July 20, 2007, Web site: http://academic.reed.edu/humanities/110tech/graphics/theaterdiagram.jpg

Damen, (2006). Classical Drama and Theatre. Retrieved July 20, 2007, Web site: www.usu.edu/.../11/vaseactorholdingmask.jpg

Greek Drama. Retrieved July 20, 2007, Web site: www.baylor.edu/~John_Thorburn/Attica2.GIF Hellenic World Staff (2007). The Greek Sphinx. Retrieved July 20, 2007, from The Hellenic World Web site:

www.ancientworlds.net/.../08/55/00085574_320.jpg Retrieved July 20, 2007, Web site:

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~tcf/pictures/electra.png&imgrefurl=http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~tcf/pastevents.html

Startz, A. (2006). Retrieved July 20, 2007, Web site: http://casweb.ou.edu/home/news/events/images/sophocles.jpg

The Classical Greek Chorus. Retrieved July 20, 2007, Web site: www2.selu.edu/.../classes/engl230/Chorus.jpg