Introduction to Greek Theater The instinct of imitation is
implanted in man from childhood, one difference between him and
other animals is that he is the most imitative of living creatures,
and through imitation learns his earliest lessons. -Aristotle
Europe/Greece Greek Theater First playwright: Thespis (origin of
the word thespian First playwright: Thespis (origin of the word
thespian Greek literature boasts three great writers of tragedy :
Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripedes. Greek literature boasts three
great writers of tragedy : Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripedes.
Sophocles Sophocles ( B.C.) wrote more than 120 plays, of which
only seven have survived. Sophocles ( B.C.) wrote more than 120
plays, of which only seven have survived. Sophocles His
contributions to the theater included: The addition of a third
actor The addition of a third actor Fixing the number of Chorus to
fifteen people Fixing the number of Chorus to fifteen people The
introduction of painted scenery The introduction of painted scenery
Separation of plays in a trilogy to be unique in theme Separation
of plays in a trilogy to be unique in theme Sophocles The Tragedy
of Antigone (441 B.C.) is the last play of the Oedipus Cycle, the
first being Oedipus Rex (430 B.C.) and the middle play Oedipus at
Colonus (401 B.C.). The Tragedy of Antigone (441 B.C.) is the last
play of the Oedipus Cycle, the first being Oedipus Rex (430 B.C.)
and the middle play Oedipus at Colonus (401 B.C.). Theater of
Dionysus Tragedy "In general, Tragedy concerns itself with the
effort to exemplify what has been called "the tragic sense of
life"; that is, the sense that human beings are inevitably doomed,
through their own failures or errors, or even the ironic action of
their virtues, or through the nature of fate, destiny, or the human
condition to suffer, fail, and die. And that a person's life is to
be measured by how he or she faces that inevitable failure. The
tragic impulse celebrates courage and dignity in the face of defeat
and attempts to portray the grandeur of the human spirit." [Harmon,
Holman. A Handbook to Literature. Seventh Edition.] "In general,
Tragedy concerns itself with the effort to exemplify what has been
called "the tragic sense of life"; that is, the sense that human
beings are inevitably doomed, through their own failures or errors,
or even the ironic action of their virtues, or through the nature
of fate, destiny, or the human condition to suffer, fail, and die.
And that a person's life is to be measured by how he or she faces
that inevitable failure. The tragic impulse celebrates courage and
dignity in the face of defeat and attempts to portray the grandeur
of the human spirit." [Harmon, Holman. A Handbook to Literature.
Seventh Edition.] Aristotles Rules for Tragedy 1. The scope or
magnitude of a tragedy should allow the tragic figure to pass
through a series of probable or necessary stages from fortune to
misfortune. Plus, the events of the play must be closely connected
and lead to a logical conclusion. 1. The scope or magnitude of a
tragedy should allow the tragic figure to pass through a series of
probable or necessary stages from fortune to misfortune. Plus, the
events of the play must be closely connected and lead to a logical
conclusion. Tragedy Rules 2. The tragic figure should possess many
admirable qualities (even if he or she is unlikable), with at least
one fatal flaw. 2. The tragic figure should possess many admirable
qualities (even if he or she is unlikable), with at least one fatal
flaw. 3. The tragic figure must discover his or her flaw and accept
responsibility for the suffering his actions have caused. 3. The
tragic figure must discover his or her flaw and accept
responsibility for the suffering his actions have caused. Tragedy
Rules 4. The tragedy should produce a catharsis, or purging, of
some kind of emotion in the audience, (fear, pity, shame, pride,
etc.). In other words, the audience should emotionally connect with
the characters in the play in some way. 4. The tragedy should
produce a catharsis, or purging, of some kind of emotion in the
audience, (fear, pity, shame, pride, etc.). In other words, the
audience should emotionally connect with the characters in the play
in some way. Theater Seats The Greek Theater Comedy Masks
