Tragedy and Theater

Introduction to Drama

Drama as an ‘imitation of an action’, or MIMESIS

Theater derives from Theatron – ‘a place for viewing’ or ‘to view as spectators’

Introduction:Drama and Tragedy

Intended as a communal affair.Public genre, like poetryUse of open-air auditorium; audience part of drama not mere spectators.

Use of Chorus

Origins of Drama

Rooted in Festival of Dionysus, City Dionysia, in honor of the god of fertility, wine and religious festival

Contest among playwrights, in which each entered a tragic trilogy and a short comedy or satire.

Origins...

Evolved from religious worship – choral hymnsDithyramb – detailed heroic

action/stories; sung and danced by chorus of about 50 men.

Thespis added a speaker who addressed the chorus

Transformation from pure storytelling (dithyramb) to drama

Origins (con’t)

Theater of Dionysus – auditorium, with most of the performances taking place during the day.

Night scenes were suggested by dialogue and imagination.

Theater Overview

Theater Overview:ConventionsMost action takes

place in front of temples, palaces, and other outdoor settings

No violence on stage

No women and limited number of actors (3)

Material is already known/familiar and therefore no suspense

Use masks

Theatron – ‘viewing place’ for audience

Orchestra – ‘dancing space’ for chorus

Skene – ‘tent’, slightly raised platform with painted scenery, hence the word ‘scene’

Parodos – ‘passageways’ for chorus and actors

Theater Structure:

Parts of a Greek Theater:

AESCHYLUS (524-456 B.C.)Won 13 first place victoriesAdded a second speaker to

Thespis’ firstOresteia, The Seven Against

Thebes, Prometheus Bound

The Great Three of Tragedy

SOPHOCLES – (496-406 B.C.)Won 24 first place victoriesAdded a third speaker and fixed

chorus at 15 membersOedipus Trilogy, Ajax, Electra, The

Women of Trachis

The Great Three of Tragedy

Euripides- (484-406 B.C.)Most modern of the Great Three;

radical and ahead of timesUsed mechanical devices to enable

gods to appear and disappear.Helen, The Kyclops, The Trojan

Women

The Great Three of Tragedy

Basic parts of a Greek TragedyPrologueParodosFirst EpisodeFirst Stasimon(alternation between episodes and stasima)Exodos

Dramatic Form

12-15 membersUsually has a leader, Coryphaeus ,

who spoke the dialogue lines to characters.

Involving singing/chanting and dancing as well as character interaction

Non-professionals who were talented and trained by poets

Chorus

Provides poetic interludesActs as spokesperson for public

opinionsOccasionally expositoryHelps set mood and point to

universal significance of events

Chorus: Functions

Paid professionals assigned to poetsRoles

Protagonist (first actor)Deuteragonist (second actor)Tritagonist (third actor)

Multiple Roles

Actors

DescriptionVariety of masks to designate age,

gender, social status, etc.Exaggerated expressions

Masks: Description

Used to represent men and womenActed as megaphones to amplify

voices

Masks: Function

A literary composition that deals with reversals of fortune and eventual downfall of a royal figure whose suffering is unjust but not wholly innocent.

Tragedy (Tragic Drama)

Stresses the vulnerability of human beings whose suffering is caused by human and divine actions.

Such suffering is usually undeserved with regard to harshness of punishment (concept of Hamartia)

Tragedy: Nature

Arouse pity and fear for the purpose of proper purgation of emotions (catharsis)

Audience feels pity (compassion/empathy) and at the same time fear (dread)

Tragedy: Purpose

6 Elements of DramaPlotCharactersThoughts/ThemeLanguageMusicSpectacle

Plot: Soul of TragedyEmphasis on

ORDEREmphasis on UNITY

PlaceTimeAction

CharacterGOODAPPROPRIATEREALISTIC

CONSISTENT

Introduction and Background

One of few surviving trilogies (with Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone) but is nevertheless self-contained

Based on an old familiar mythPlay starts in medias res

Background

Two Important Greek Precepts:Know ThyselfNothing in Excess

Truth is better than ignorancePride is admirable except when you behave like a god and abuse the weaker.

The Greek World:Key Concepts

Hamartia- error in judgment or moral flaw. Sometimes translated as tragic flaw but this may be misinterpreted.

Hubris – overweening pride; one of the common reasons for hamartia.

Hamartia and Hubris

Family Tree of OedipusLabdacus

Laius JOcasta Creon

Oedipus Jocasta

Eteocles Polynices Ismene Antigone

What walks on four legs in the morning, two at noon, and three at night?

Answer: MAN

Riddle of Sphinx

Solves riddle, marries Jocasta and becomes King of Thebes

Oedipus Rex opens years after when another plague comes to Thebes.

Oedipus