Introduction Introduction to a Greek to a Greek TragedyTragedy

It’s all Greek to It’s all Greek to me.me.

Background of Greek Background of Greek TragedyTragedy OriginsOrigins

Tragedy is thought to have developed Tragedy is thought to have developed from the ancient choral lyric which was from the ancient choral lyric which was sung by a male chorus in honor of sung by a male chorus in honor of Dionysus, god of wine, at his annual Dionysus, god of wine, at his annual festivals.festivals.

The word “tragedy” comes from the The word “tragedy” comes from the Greek word “tragoidia” meaning “goat Greek word “tragoidia” meaning “goat song.” At these festivals the Greeks song.” At these festivals the Greeks sacrificed a goat on the altar to Dionysus sacrificed a goat on the altar to Dionysus while singing the choral lyrics.while singing the choral lyrics.

The lyric expanded from myths The lyric expanded from myths about Dionysus to stories from the about Dionysus to stories from the whole legendary tradition.whole legendary tradition.

The father of drama was said by the The father of drama was said by the Greeks to have been Thespis. In 534 Greeks to have been Thespis. In 534 B.C. Thespis put on the first tragedy B.C. Thespis put on the first tragedy at the festival of Dionysus in at the festival of Dionysus in Athens.Athens.

Plot of a Greek TragedyPlot of a Greek TragedyThe stories used in tragedy were taken The stories used in tragedy were taken

almost exclusively from mythology. almost exclusively from mythology. These ancient myths and heroic These ancient myths and heroic legends were important to the Greeks, legends were important to the Greeks, for they recorded what was thought to for they recorded what was thought to be the collective social, political, and be the collective social, political, and religious history of the people and religious history of the people and included many profound tales about included many profound tales about the problems of human life and the the problems of human life and the nature of the gods.nature of the gods.

The custom requiring the use of The custom requiring the use of these mythological stories in these mythological stories in tragedy satisfied an essential tragedy satisfied an essential requirement of the religious requirement of the religious function of drama, for it enabled function of drama, for it enabled the poets to deal with subjects of the poets to deal with subjects of great moral dignity and emotional great moral dignity and emotional significance. significance.

The audience then learned from The audience then learned from tragedy what personal motives and tragedy what personal motives and outside forces had driven the outside forces had driven the characters to act as they did. characters to act as they did. Because poets used plots familiar Because poets used plots familiar to their audience, they would have to their audience, they would have opportunities to use irony and opportunities to use irony and subtle allusions.subtle allusions.

Who wrote Oedipus Rex?Who wrote Oedipus Rex?

Sophocles (496 B.C. – 406 B.C.)Sophocles (496 B.C. – 406 B.C.)His life spanned the rise and decline of His life spanned the rise and decline of

the Athenian Empire, in which he was a the Athenian Empire, in which he was a playwright, government official, and playwright, government official, and warrior.warrior.

He preferred plays that dealt with the He preferred plays that dealt with the struggle of a strong individual against struggle of a strong individual against fate; portraying people as they should fate; portraying people as they should be. be.

The most memorable feature of The most memorable feature of Sophocles’ drama is his cast of vivid, Sophocles’ drama is his cast of vivid, dynamic characters.dynamic characters.

Greek TheatreGreek Theatre

The TheatreThe TheatrePerformances were held in daylight Performances were held in daylight

in enormous, open-air arenas. A in enormous, open-air arenas. A typical theatre was built on a hillside, typical theatre was built on a hillside, giving the seating area a natural rise giving the seating area a natural rise so thousands of spectators could so thousands of spectators could clearly view the action. clearly view the action.

The ActorsThe ActorsIn the vast outdoor theatre, actors In the vast outdoor theatre, actors

had to make themselves appear had to make themselves appear larger than life. larger than life.

Actors, cont.Actors, cont. Each actor wore a mask of linen, cork, or Each actor wore a mask of linen, cork, or

wood, on which was painted an exaggerated wood, on which was painted an exaggerated expression. For example, a sad face for a expression. For example, a sad face for a troubled kind, or a woman’s face to troubled kind, or a woman’s face to distinguish that the character was a woman distinguish that the character was a woman since all actors were male. Funnel-shaped since all actors were male. Funnel-shaped mouth openings helped actors project their mouth openings helped actors project their voices.voices.

Costumes were used to identify a specific Costumes were used to identify a specific type of character. These came in different type of character. These came in different colors to represent different characters. For colors to represent different characters. For example, to represent royalty, Greek actors example, to represent royalty, Greek actors wore tunics with sleeves and actors playing wore tunics with sleeves and actors playing gods and goddesses usually had an gods and goddesses usually had an identifying symbol.identifying symbol.

Structure of a TragedyStructure of a Tragedy Greek tragedies were performed without Greek tragedies were performed without

intermissions or breaks.intermissions or breaks. ProloguePrologue – the opening scene, in which the – the opening scene, in which the

background of the story is established, background of the story is established, usually by a single actorusually by a single actor

ParodusParodus – the entrance of the chorus, – the entrance of the chorus, usually chanting a lyric which bears some usually chanting a lyric which bears some relation to the main theme of the playrelation to the main theme of the play

EpisodeEpisode – the counterpart of the modern – the counterpart of the modern act or scene, in which the plot is act or scene, in which the plot is developed through action and dialogue developed through action and dialogue between the actors, with the chorus between the actors, with the chorus sometimes playing a minor role.sometimes playing a minor role.

Structure of a Tragedy, Cont.Structure of a Tragedy, Cont.

StasimonStasimon – – the choral ode. A stasimon the choral ode. A stasimon comes at the end of each episode so that comes at the end of each episode so that the tragedy is a measured alternation the tragedy is a measured alternation between these two elements.between these two elements.

ExodusExodus – – the final action after the last the final action after the last stasimon, ended by the ceremonial exit of stasimon, ended by the ceremonial exit of all the playersall the players

StropheStrophe – – stanza that chorus sings as they stanza that chorus sings as they move from right to left across the stagemove from right to left across the stage

AntistropheAntistrophe – – countermovement; stanza countermovement; stanza that chorus sings as they move from left to that chorus sings as they move from left to right across the stageright across the stage

Define TragedyDefine Tragedy

A A tragedytragedy is an imitation of an is an imitation of an action that is serious, has action that is serious, has magnitude, and is complete in itself. magnitude, and is complete in itself. The incidents in the plot arouse pity The incidents in the plot arouse pity and fear on the part of the audience and fear on the part of the audience so the end of the tragedy brings so the end of the tragedy brings about a catharsis, an outlet or about a catharsis, an outlet or purging of emotions aroused in the purging of emotions aroused in the play. The audience then leaves the play. The audience then leaves the theatre cleansed and uplifted.theatre cleansed and uplifted.

Tragic HeroTragic Hero Since the aim of a tragedy is to arouse pity and Since the aim of a tragedy is to arouse pity and

fear through an alteration in the status of the fear through an alteration in the status of the central character, the tragic hero must be:central character, the tragic hero must be: A figure with whom the audience can A figure with whom the audience can

identify so his fate can trigger the identify so his fate can trigger the emotions of pity and fear on the part of emotions of pity and fear on the part of the audiencethe audience

True to life and consistentTrue to life and consistent Highly renowned and prosperous, but not Highly renowned and prosperous, but not

pre-eminently virtuous and justpre-eminently virtuous and just Possesses a flaw in his character that Possesses a flaw in his character that

inevitably causes his downfall; this flaw is inevitably causes his downfall; this flaw is not a vice but a weakness of characternot a vice but a weakness of character

Tragic FlawTragic Flaw

The tragic hero possesses a tragic flaw The tragic hero possesses a tragic flaw so he will not be a completely admirable so he will not be a completely admirable man, and thus a realistic character.man, and thus a realistic character.

The tragic flaw is The tragic flaw is HubrisHubris which means which means overwhelming pride in oneself.overwhelming pride in oneself.

Because he is so proud of himself, the Because he is so proud of himself, the tragic hero makes a mistake which is tragic hero makes a mistake which is called called AteAte..

This mistake leads to his down fall or This mistake leads to his down fall or retribution or punishment, retribution or punishment, NemesisNemesis..

The Legend and the PlayThe Legend and the Play

As with any Greek tragedy, As with any Greek tragedy, Oedipus Rex (the King), is based Oedipus Rex (the King), is based on a legend. The task of the on a legend. The task of the Greek playwright is to give the Greek playwright is to give the “continuing story” of the legend.“continuing story” of the legend.

So listen closely and you will So listen closely and you will hear the Legend of Oedipus. hear the Legend of Oedipus. (Introduction p. XL-XLII)(Introduction p. XL-XLII)