Introduction to Greek Introduction to Greek DramaDrama

Ms. M. JacksonMs. M. Jackson

1010thth Grade Literature Grade Literature

Language Arts DepartmentLanguage Arts Department

Standards CoveredStandards Covered

ELAWLRL1 ELAWLRL1 The student demonstrates The student demonstrates comprehension by identifying evidence in a comprehension by identifying evidence in a variety of texts representative of different variety of texts representative of different genres and using this evidence as the basis genres and using this evidence as the basis for interpretation. for interpretation.

ELAWLRL3 ELAWLRL3 The student deepens The student deepens understanding of literary works from around understanding of literary works from around the world by relating them to their the world by relating them to their contemporary context or historical contemporary context or historical background, as well as to works from other background, as well as to works from other time periods.time periods.

ELAWLRL1ELAWLRL1

The student identifies, analyzes, and applies knowledge of The student identifies, analyzes, and applies knowledge of the themes, structures, and elements of dramatic the themes, structures, and elements of dramatic literature from around the world and provides evidence literature from around the world and provides evidence from the text to support understanding; the student: from the text to support understanding; the student:

a. Identifies and analyzes types of dramatic literature (i.e., a. Identifies and analyzes types of dramatic literature (i.e., classical tragedy and culturally specific forms such as classical tragedy and culturally specific forms such as commedia dell’arte). commedia dell’arte).

b. Analyzes the characters, structures, and themes of b. Analyzes the characters, structures, and themes of dramatic literature. dramatic literature.

c. Identifies and analyzes dramatic elements, (i.e., unity of c. Identifies and analyzes dramatic elements, (i.e., unity of time, place, and action; tragic hero; deus ex machina; time, place, and action; tragic hero; deus ex machina; recognition; reversal; chorus; aside; dramatic irony). recognition; reversal; chorus; aside; dramatic irony).

d. Identifies and analyzes how dramatic elements support d. Identifies and analyzes how dramatic elements support and enhance the interpretation of dramatic literature. and enhance the interpretation of dramatic literature.

ELAWLRL3ELAWLRL3a. Relates a literary work to primary source documents of its a. Relates a literary work to primary source documents of its

literary period or historical setting. literary period or historical setting. b. Relates a literary work to the seminal ideas of the time and b. Relates a literary work to the seminal ideas of the time and

place in which it is set or the time and place of its composition. place in which it is set or the time and place of its composition. i. Greek i. Greek ii. Roman ii. Roman iii. Classical Multicultural iii. Classical Multicultural iv. Western European iv. Western European v. Contemporary Multicultural v. Contemporary Multicultural

c. Compares and contrasts specific characteristics of different c. Compares and contrasts specific characteristics of different genres as these genres develop and change over time and genres as these genres develop and change over time and across cultures (i.e., classical multicultural with contemporary across cultures (i.e., classical multicultural with contemporary multicultural, Western with Eastern European). multicultural, Western with Eastern European).

d. Analyzes a variety of cross-cultural works representing different d. Analyzes a variety of cross-cultural works representing different genres within the same specific time period in order to identify genres within the same specific time period in order to identify types of discourse (i.e., satire, parody, allegory, pastoral) that types of discourse (i.e., satire, parody, allegory, pastoral) that cross the lines of genre classifications. cross the lines of genre classifications.

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions

How do individuals develop values and How do individuals develop values and beliefs?beliefs?

What happens when belief systems of What happens when belief systems of societies and individuals come into societies and individuals come into conflict?conflict?

How is comprehension of literary text How is comprehension of literary text enhanced when the reader relates the enhanced when the reader relates the work to contemporary contexts and work to contemporary contexts and historical events?historical events?

Classical DramaClassical Drama

Classical Drama began in ancient Classical Drama began in ancient Greece in sixth century B.C. (599-500)Greece in sixth century B.C. (599-500)

Religious festivals took place in Athens Religious festivals took place in Athens each spring in honor of Dionysus, the each spring in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine and fertilitygod of wine and fertility

A chorus of masked dancers performed A chorus of masked dancers performed on a circular stage singing hymns to on a circular stage singing hymns to Dionysus.Dionysus.

Classical DramaClassical Drama

In 535 BC, Thespis of Icaria introduced the In 535 BC, Thespis of Icaria introduced the first actor on stage. (The word first actor on stage. (The word thespianthespian, which , which comes from his name, means actor)comes from his name, means actor)

The actor impersonated various characters by The actor impersonated various characters by wearing different masks and costumes and wearing different masks and costumes and took part in a dialogue with the leader of the took part in a dialogue with the leader of the chorus.chorus.

Throughout the sixth and fifth centuries, Throughout the sixth and fifth centuries, Greek plays kept their religious purpose. The Greek plays kept their religious purpose. The word word tragedytragedy reflects this purpose. Tragedy reflects this purpose. Tragedy comes from the Greek word for goat, which comes from the Greek word for goat, which was the sacrificial animal for Dionysus was the sacrificial animal for Dionysus

Greek Writers of TragedyGreek Writers of Tragedy

Greatest writers of Greek tragedy Greatest writers of Greek tragedy were Aeschylus, Sophocles, and were Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.Euripides.

These writers based their plays on These writers based their plays on familiar legends and myths. The familiar legends and myths. The audience knew the story behind the audience knew the story behind the play.play.

AeschylusAeschylus

The earliest of the three great The earliest of the three great dramatists, Aeschylus (c. 525-455 dramatists, Aeschylus (c. 525-455 BC) was born of a noble family near BC) was born of a noble family near AthensAthens

He wrote between 80 and 90 plays, He wrote between 80 and 90 plays, winning first prize at least 13 times winning first prize at least 13 times in dramatic competitionsin dramatic competitions

Known as the founder of Greek Known as the founder of Greek tragedy, he diminished the role of tragedy, he diminished the role of the chorus and added a second actorthe chorus and added a second actor

SophoclesSophocles

The son of a wealthy arms The son of a wealthy arms manufacturer, Sophocles (c. 496-406 manufacturer, Sophocles (c. 496-406 BC) was a beloved and highly BC) was a beloved and highly successful public figuresuccessful public figure

He wrote 123 dramas, winning 24 first He wrote 123 dramas, winning 24 first prizes and never finished lower than prizes and never finished lower than second in dramatic competitionssecond in dramatic competitions

He increased the number of chorus He increased the number of chorus members and added a third actormembers and added a third actor

SophoclesSophocles

Was born in Colonus, outside of Was born in Colonus, outside of Athens, Greece in 495 B. C.Athens, Greece in 495 B. C.

Schooled in poetry, music and dancingSchooled in poetry, music and dancing At fifteen, he earned a reputation as a At fifteen, he earned a reputation as a

performer, leading a chorus of boys in performer, leading a chorus of boys in the paean (hymn of victory and the paean (hymn of victory and thanksgiving to the godsthanksgiving to the gods

Established playwright, authored more Established playwright, authored more than 120 playsthan 120 plays

SophoclesSophocles

In 468 B.C., at age 28, he won first prize In 468 B.C., at age 28, he won first prize at the festival of Dionysus (Dionysia) at the festival of Dionysus (Dionysia) over Athens’ established playwright, over Athens’ established playwright, AeschylusAeschylus

Playwrights had to complete 3 tragedies Playwrights had to complete 3 tragedies and 1 satyr-play (tetralogy); means 4and 1 satyr-play (tetralogy); means 4

He won first place 24 times; he wrote He won first place 24 times; he wrote 96 first place award winning plays & 7 96 first place award winning plays & 7 second place awards out of 31 second place awards out of 31 competitions he enteredcompetitions he entered

SophoclesSophocles

Out of over 120 plays, only 7 still exist Out of over 120 plays, only 7 still exist in their entirety: Ajax, Antigone, in their entirety: Ajax, Antigone, Electra, Oedipus Rex, The Trachiniae, Electra, Oedipus Rex, The Trachiniae, Philoctetes, Oedipus at ColonusPhiloctetes, Oedipus at Colonus

The Oedipus plays are thought of as a The Oedipus plays are thought of as a trilogy, but they were not written as trilogy, but they were not written as suchsuch

Antigone (440 B.C.); Oedipus Rex (430 Antigone (440 B.C.); Oedipus Rex (430 B.C.); Oedipus at Colonus (401 B.C.)B.C.); Oedipus at Colonus (401 B.C.)

SophoclesSophocles

Involved in the technical aspect of the Involved in the technical aspect of the Greek theatreGreek theatre

Introduced the idea of painted scenery, Introduced the idea of painted scenery, varied the types of music sung by the varied the types of music sung by the chorus, increased the size of the cast chorus, increased the size of the cast from 12 to 15, and the number of actors from 12 to 15, and the number of actors in a production from 2 to 3 (clarified plot in a production from 2 to 3 (clarified plot development and distinguished between development and distinguished between characters)characters)

Introduced elaborate costumes (esp. the Introduced elaborate costumes (esp. the masks)masks)

SophoclesSophocles

Involved in civic level of societyInvolved in civic level of society Served as a general under Pericles Served as a general under Pericles

and was a key negotiator in the and was a key negotiator in the Peloponnesian WarPeloponnesian War

In his role as priest, he was In his role as priest, he was concerned with an individual’s need concerned with an individual’s need to find his/her own place in the moral to find his/her own place in the moral and cosmic order of the universeand cosmic order of the universe

SophoclesSophoclesThemes of his PlaysThemes of his Plays

His plays contain moral lessons, His plays contain moral lessons, usually pertaining to man’s duty to usually pertaining to man’s duty to the gods and the avoidance of the gods and the avoidance of excessive prideexcessive pride

He was considered especially blessed He was considered especially blessed by the godsby the gods

Highly revered in societyHighly revered in society Died in 406 B. C.Died in 406 B. C. A shrine (A shrine (DexionDexion – the entertainer) – the entertainer)

was established in his honor; annual was established in his honor; annual sacrifices are offered in his memorysacrifices are offered in his memory

EuripidesEuripides

The youngest of the three great dramatists, The youngest of the three great dramatists, Euripides (c. 484-406 BC) was the least Euripides (c. 484-406 BC) was the least appreciated and the most controversial appreciated and the most controversial because he did not participate in the public because he did not participate in the public life of Athenslife of Athens

He wrote at least 88 plays, winning first prize He wrote at least 88 plays, winning first prize only 4 times in dramatic competitionsonly 4 times in dramatic competitions

He reduced the role of the chorus even He reduced the role of the chorus even further and questioned traditional religious further and questioned traditional religious beliefs and brought a psychological realism to beliefs and brought a psychological realism to the stagethe stage

Greek ComedyGreek Comedy

Comedy was not as popular to the GreeksComedy was not as popular to the Greeks The greatest of the Greek comic The greatest of the Greek comic

dramatists was Aristophanes (c. 445-385)dramatists was Aristophanes (c. 445-385) Not much is known about Aristophanes, Not much is known about Aristophanes,

but he incorporated the use of parody, but he incorporated the use of parody, exaggeration, and satire to mock exaggeration, and satire to mock prominent people and new ways of prominent people and new ways of thought thought

Greek DramaGreek Drama

Classical Drama is one of the Classical Drama is one of the greatest legacies left by the ancient greatest legacies left by the ancient GreeksGreeks

Many plays and their conventions Many plays and their conventions have influenced modern drama and have influenced modern drama and countless playwrightscountless playwrights

The Greeks are credited with The Greeks are credited with inventing drama inventing drama

Notable PlaysNotable Plays

The Oresteia – AeschylusThe Oresteia – Aeschylus Prometheus Bound – AeschylusPrometheus Bound – Aeschylus Antigone – SophoclesAntigone – Sophocles Oedipus Rex – Sophocles Oedipus at Colonus – SophoclesOedipus at Colonus – Sophocles Medea – EuripidesMedea – Euripides Lysistrata - AristophanesLysistrata - Aristophanes