Introduction to Greek Introduction to Greek TheaterTheater

A.P. LiteratureA.P. Literature

The Great Age The Great Age of Athensof Athens

Athens was a dominant military power and Athens was a dominant military power and enjoyed its resultant wealth.enjoyed its resultant wealth.

The 5The 5thth Century BC experienced an Century BC experienced an outburst of creative energy in all fields of outburst of creative energy in all fields of thought.thought. Political theory – the advent of democracyPolitical theory – the advent of democracy Philosophical thoughtPhilosophical thought ArchitectureArchitecture Performing ArtsPerforming Arts

Evolution of TheaterEvolution of Theater

Choral performances came first.Choral performances came first. Worship the godsWorship the gods Celebrate victoryCelebrate victory

Dramatic narrative: first created by Dramatic narrative: first created by Thespis who added the speech of an Thespis who added the speech of an actor.actor.

Dramatic relationship: Aeschylus added Dramatic relationship: Aeschylus added a 2a 2ndnd actor allowing interaction between actor allowing interaction between two actors, possibly conflict.two actors, possibly conflict.

Multiple relationships: Sophocles adds a Multiple relationships: Sophocles adds a 33rdrd actor. The role of the chorus is actor. The role of the chorus is reduced to commentator. reduced to commentator.

Elements of Greek Tragic Elements of Greek Tragic TheaterTheater

Chorus: Chorus: Singers and dancers in festivalsSingers and dancers in festivals Originally 50 people, Sophocles used 15 and had it Originally 50 people, Sophocles used 15 and had it

interact with actorsinteract with actors Provided background info for audienceProvided background info for audience Represented the peopleRepresented the people

Protagonist:Protagonist: A person of high status and great talent. Not a common A person of high status and great talent. Not a common

person.person. He has achieved arete, excellence.He has achieved arete, excellence.

Supporting cast:Supporting cast: Another actorAnother actor Sophocles increased this to 2.Sophocles increased this to 2.

Basic Structure of Greek Basic Structure of Greek PlaysPlays

ProloguePrologue: Spoken by one or two characters before the chorus : Spoken by one or two characters before the chorus appears. Gives the mythological background necessary for appears. Gives the mythological background necessary for understanding the play. understanding the play.

ParodosParodos: The song sung by the chorus as it first enters the : The song sung by the chorus as it first enters the orchestra and dances.orchestra and dances.

c. c. First EpisodeFirst Episode: The first of many "episodes", when the : The first of many "episodes", when the characters and chorus talk.characters and chorus talk.

d. d. First StasimonFirst Stasimon: At the end of each episode, the other : At the end of each episode, the other characters usually leave the stage and the chorus dances and characters usually leave the stage and the chorus dances and sings a stasimon, or choral ode. The ode usually reflects on the sings a stasimon, or choral ode. The ode usually reflects on the things said and done in the episodes, and puts it into some kind of things said and done in the episodes, and puts it into some kind of larger mythological framework.larger mythological framework.

For the rest of the play, there is alternation between episodes and For the rest of the play, there is alternation between episodes and stasima, until the final scene, called the...stasima, until the final scene, called the...

e. e. ExodosExodos: At the end of play, the chorus exits singing a : At the end of play, the chorus exits singing a processional song which usually offers words of wisdom related to processional song which usually offers words of wisdom related to the actions and outcome of the play.the actions and outcome of the play.

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DionysusDionysus

Dionysus was the god of wine, agriculture, and fertility of Dionysus was the god of wine, agriculture, and fertility of

nature, who is also the patron god of the Greek stage.nature, who is also the patron god of the Greek stage.

Festival of DionysusFestival of Dionysus

Multi-day FestivalMulti-day Festival Tribute form subject cities was put on Tribute form subject cities was put on

display.display. Orphaned children of fallen soldiers, Orphaned children of fallen soldiers,

who were cared for and educated by the who were cared for and educated by the city, were paraded in full armor when city, were paraded in full armor when they were men.they were men.

Honors & distinctions awarded to foreign Honors & distinctions awarded to foreign dignitaries and leading citizens.dignitaries and leading citizens.

Festival of DionysusFestival of Dionysus

Each day begins with drama and there is a a contest.Each day begins with drama and there is a a contest. 3 dramatists present their plays on 3 successive days.3 dramatists present their plays on 3 successive days. Cash prizes awarded but amount unknown.Cash prizes awarded but amount unknown. True prize was the admiration of fellow citizens.True prize was the admiration of fellow citizens. Sophocles won first place 18 times and never took less Sophocles won first place 18 times and never took less

than second.than second. Comedy at the end of the dayComedy at the end of the day

Anything goes. Politicians and independent citizens were Anything goes. Politicians and independent citizens were ridiculed.ridiculed.

The no-holds-barred style was something few states even The no-holds-barred style was something few states even today allow.today allow.

Sponsors were appointed by the citySponsors were appointed by the city Pay for costumes, etc.Pay for costumes, etc. Enlightened taxation.Enlightened taxation.

SophoclesSophocles

Lived 496 BC – 406 BCLived 496 BC – 406 BC Ancient sources credit him with 123 plays, Ancient sources credit him with 123 plays,

but only 7 survived intact.but only 7 survived intact. Antigone – 442 BCAntigone – 442 BC Oedipus the King – 430 BCOedipus the King – 430 BC Oedipus at Colonus – after Sophocles deathOedipus at Colonus – after Sophocles death

Deeply involved in public affairs.Deeply involved in public affairs. Treasurer for the League against PersiaTreasurer for the League against Persia 1 of 10 generals at the revolt of Samos1 of 10 generals at the revolt of Samos At age of 85, was appointed to a special board At age of 85, was appointed to a special board

to respond to the Sicilian crisis.to respond to the Sicilian crisis.

Sophocles, the Great Sophocles, the Great InnovatorInnovator

Made each play a complete story Made each play a complete story itself, denser action.itself, denser action. Previous model was a trilogy of plays Previous model was a trilogy of plays

made up the tragic story.made up the tragic story. Developed the tragic hero by focusing Developed the tragic hero by focusing

on a single dominating character.on a single dominating character. 6 of his 7 surviving plays are named after 6 of his 7 surviving plays are named after

the protagonist.the protagonist. 1st to add a 31st to add a 3rdrd character to the cast. character to the cast.

Theater of Dionysus in Theater of Dionysus in AthensAthens

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Greek TheaterGreek Theater

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Greek TheaterGreek Theater

Orchestra: Dancing PlaceOrchestra: Dancing Place Usually roundUsually round

60 feet diameter in Athens60 feet diameter in Athens Level space where the chorus would Level space where the chorus would

dance, sing and interact with actors.dance, sing and interact with actors. Theatron: Viewing PlaceTheatron: Viewing Place

Usually part of a hillside.Usually part of a hillside. Up to 15,000 spectatorsUp to 15,000 spectators

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Greek TheaterGreek Theater

Skene: TentSkene: Tent Directly behind the stage.Directly behind the stage. This is where the actors stoodThis is where the actors stood

Elevated several feet, 10 X 25 feet in size.Elevated several feet, 10 X 25 feet in size. Usually decorated as a temple, palace or whatever Usually decorated as a temple, palace or whatever

the play mandated.the play mandated. One door for actors and access from the roof.One door for actors and access from the roof.

Parados: PassagewaysParados: Passageways Chorus and some actors used this for Chorus and some actors used this for

entrances & exits.entrances & exits. Used by spectators.Used by spectators.

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CostumesCostumes

Cast were all male. Masks enabled women Cast were all male. Masks enabled women characters.characters.

Actors were so far away, they were hard to see.Actors were so far away, they were hard to see. Boots added to heightBoots added to height Gloves exaggerated hand movementsGloves exaggerated hand movements Masks depicting comedy and/or tragedy were Masks depicting comedy and/or tragedy were

word.word.

Greek Literary TermsGreek Literary Terms

Demos: The common manDemos: The common man Hamartia: describes what many people refer Hamartia: describes what many people refer

to as the "tragic flaw" of the hero of Greek to as the "tragic flaw" of the hero of Greek tragedy, tragedy, hamartiahamartia has a complex meaning has a complex meaning which includes "sin," "error," "trespass," and which includes "sin," "error," "trespass," and "missing the mark" (as in archery–missing "missing the mark" (as in archery–missing the bull's-eye). The "mistake" of the hero has the bull's-eye). The "mistake" of the hero has an integral place in the plot of the tragedy an integral place in the plot of the tragedy

http://www.english.hawaii.edu/criticalink/aristotle/terms/hamartia.html

Greek Literary TermsGreek Literary Terms

Anagnorisis: the recognition by the tragic hero Anagnorisis: the recognition by the tragic hero of some truth about their identity or actions of some truth about their identity or actions that lead to the reversal of their situation.that lead to the reversal of their situation.

Peripeteia: The reversal of the situation in the Peripeteia: The reversal of the situation in the plot of a tragedyplot of a tragedy

Catharsis: purging of the emotions of pity and Catharsis: purging of the emotions of pity and fear that are aroused in the viewer of a fear that are aroused in the viewer of a tragedy tragedy

Pathos: the powerful emotions of pity and fear Pathos: the powerful emotions of pity and fear aroused in the audience aroused in the audience

www.english.hawaii.edu/criticalink/aristotle/terms/hamartia.html

Evolution of TragedyEvolution of Tragedy

Aeschylus et alAeschylus et al 3 plays, chronological 3 plays, chronological

account of fate. Today account of fate. Today as a part of a chain of as a part of a chain of events.events.

Men’s destinies are Men’s destinies are controlled by their controlled by their fates.fates.

Characters often guided Characters often guided by the gods.by the gods.

SophoclesSophocles 1 play, chain of cause 1 play, chain of cause

and effect of individual and effect of individual characters.characters.

Men’s destinies are a Men’s destinies are a result of their actions.result of their actions.

Unsupported by gods, Unsupported by gods, they make decisions they make decisions driven by their natures.driven by their natures.

They fiercely defend They fiercely defend their and stick by their their and stick by their decisions.decisions.

Evolution of TragedyEvolution of Tragedy

Sophocles characters have free will Sophocles characters have free will and are responsible for their actions.and are responsible for their actions.

Great individuals refuse to accept the Great individuals refuse to accept the limitations on human stature.limitations on human stature.

Gods: guardians of the very limits the Gods: guardians of the very limits the hero defies.hero defies. They bear no responsibility but their They bear no responsibility but their

presence is felt.presence is felt.

Evolution of TragedyEvolution of Tragedy

Tragic heroes are stubborn.Tragic heroes are stubborn. They are advised to retreat form their They are advised to retreat form their

passionate temper.passionate temper. An appeal to reason not emotions.An appeal to reason not emotions. The opinions of others is irrelevant.The opinions of others is irrelevant. Heroes refuse and are usually angry.Heroes refuse and are usually angry.

They remain true to their characters They remain true to their characters and may triumph or fail.and may triumph or fail.

Evolution of TragedyEvolution of Tragedy

They fall from great heights or They fall from great heights or esteemesteem

They realize they made an They realize they made an irreversible errorirreversible error

Face and accept death with honorFace and accept death with honor The audience is affected by pity or The audience is affected by pity or

fearfear