Live from Antiquity

By the end of this unit, you will be able to:

I. Appreciate ancient Greek drama through the study of Sophocles play, Antigone

II.Evaluate the cultural and historical context of Greek drama and its role in Greek society

III.Reconstruct the experience of seeing a Greek drama performed and share that experience in an imaginative presentation, performance, and report

How does Greek drama compare to our modern theater?

How do themes in plays from other times and cultures relate to issues of today?

Tragedies and comedies of fifth and fourth centuries B.C. were written to perform in the Theatre of Dionysus at Athens

The price of a ticket to the Theatre of Dionysus was two obols, as much as a laborer earned in a day.

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Because Greek tragedy and comedy originated with the chorus, the most important part of the performance space was the orchestra, which means 'a place for dancing' (orchesis). A tragic chorus consisted of 12 or 15 dancers (choreuts), who may have been young men just about to enter military service after some years of training.

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The large size of the theatre dictated a non-naturalistic approach to acting.

All gestures had to be large and definite so as to 'read' from the back rows.

The masks of tragedy were of an ordinary, face-fitting size, with wigs attached, and open mouths to allow clear speech.http://www.alyssaravenwood.com/Images/press-photos/Greek-

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Aeschylus—best known for play, Prometheus Bound, unknown if ever performed

Euripides—wrote about women and mythological themes; enhanced the importance of intrigue in tragedy

Sophocles

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Born in Athens, 496 B.C.

Work is considered the epitome of Greek tragedy

Matured during the Persian Wars

Talented and handsome

Could not pursue his dream of acting because of voice problems

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Antigone was written at a time of national fervor.

The chorus in Antigone is interesting—composed of old men who are largely unwilling to see civil disobedience in a positive light.

Antigone deals with two main questions:1. whether Polyneices ought to be given burial

rituals;2. whether someone who buried him in defiance of

state ought to be punished.

State controlNatural lawCivil disobedience

CitizenshipFamilyPortrayal of the gods

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After reading Antigone, we will explore in small groups the following conflicts:

• Men and women;

• Age and youth;

• Society and the individual;

• Human justice and divine law;

• The obligation we owe to the living and the

dead

Does Antigone’s choice demonstrate a tragic pride and inflexibility or an heroic dedication to virtue?

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When in recent history have individuals been forced to choose between the law and human rights?

When in your own lives have you faced a choice like Antigone? The choice between obedience to authority and remaining true to one’s conscience.

We are traveling back in time to the opening night of Antigone.

To better understand the play, we need to find out more about the Athenian people.

Each group will take a different aspect of Greek culture and report back to the class how it influences the drama.

The four cultural small groups will be: family life, politics, the arts, and religion.

Each group needs to address the following questions:

• Where were Greek tragedies staged?• What did the stage look like?• What kinds of props and scenery were used?• When during the year were plays performed? When

during the day?• Who performed them? What costumes did they wear?• Who came to the plays? How did they behave? What

were they looking for—entertainment, knowledge, or enlightenment?

• What kinds of issues were addressed in plays?• What was the playwright’s role in the performance?

Once you compile your research and answers, your group will create either a newsletter or an entertainment news program promoting Sophocles’ new drama, Antigone . The projects will be shared with the class.

Have fun and be creative!

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Compare the setting of the play to those of modern plays and how its limitations affect staging.

Consider what happens in key episodes ; motivations and actions of characters when in a public setting with the chorus always present, hearing and seeing all.

Speculate how dialogue and intensity would change with a private setting verses public.http://www.aug.edu/~cshotwel/GReek.theater2.jpg

What are the important functions of the chorus? Cite examples.

Discuss modern plays which incorporate a chorus.

Similarity or differences between modern and ancient choruses?

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Discuss the importance of the audience’s prior knowledge of the events in the plot and its impact on the audience’s experience and appreciation of the performance.

How does foreshadowing and dramatic irony affect the audience?

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What is a tragic hero?

Compare and contrast Creon and Antigone; attributes, epiphany, lack of epiphany.

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Recreate and perform key episodes for Antigone; using gestures, blocking, and acting style you “observed” during opening night.

Discuss how play in enriched by seeing it in performance and recognizing its connections to Greek culture and society as well as the world today.

What would have Antigone meant to the women of Athens?

What did Antigone say about the role of women in society?

What can Antigone say about the relationship between men and women in society today?

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