Monday 3/7/2011

Plan for the day:

Discuss Tragic Hero/ Greek Theater notes

Read the myth of Oedipus.

Remember: Print Gods and

Goddesses notes off my website! You will need them for tomorrow!

Vocab

Wednesday!

Overview of Greek Theater The land The Theater Antigone The Gods

The land Greece has thousands of inhabited

islands and dramatic mountain ranges.

Greece has a rich culture and history. Democracy was founded in Greece. Philosophy, as a practice, began in

Greece (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle)

The Theater

Religious OriginsThe drama of ancient Greece and Rome is

referred to as classical drama.It arose in Athens from religious celebrations

in honor of the Greek god Dionysus. These celebrations included ritual chants and

songs performed by a group called the chorus.

Drama evolved from these celebrations during the 6th century B.C., when individual actors began entering into dialogue with the chorus to tell a story.

The Theater

Attended by thousands, plays were performed during the day in an outdoor theater with seats built into the hillside.

Business would shut down for days, people would travel from all around to see the drama competitions- even prisoners were temporarily released to see the plays.

The Theater

Actors

The actors Were all menThey wore elegant robes, huge masks

and often elevated shoesSophocles used three actors in his

plays- between scenes they changed costumes and masks when needed to portray different characters

The Chorus

The chorusA group of about 15They commented on the actionThe leader of the chorus= the choragusBetween scenes, the chorus sang and

danced to musical accompaniment in the orchestra, giving insights into the message of the play.

The Theater

During Sophocles's lifetime, three playwrights were chosen each year to enter a theatrical competition in the festival of Dionysus.Each playwright would produce three

tragedies, along with a satyr play (a short comic interlude).

Aristotle

Tragedy and the Tragic Hero

Aristotle’s Life

Student of the philosopher Plato

Teacher to Alexander the Great

Divided philosophical thought into ethics, physics, and logic

A General Definition of Tragedy

Any serious and dignified drama that describes a conflict between the hero(protagonist) and a superior force(antagonist), and reaches a sorrowful conclusion that arouses pity or fear in the audience(catharsis).

Aristotle’s Definition of Tragedy Tragedy is an imitation of an action that

is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not of narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions.

Basically a tragedy…

Literary form on a serious theme

Implies decision—a responsible choice is involved.

Basically a tragedy…

Involves destruction of a man who is basically good, but makes errors in judgment

Chain of events leads to destruction and death of protagonist.

Aristotle’s Poetics: Basic Concepts

Complex plots are better than simple ones

Suffering is to be included in a tragic plot which should end unhappily.

The pity and fear from which the tragedy evokes, should come from the events, not from the mere sight of something on stage.

Recognition and Reversal

Recognition is a change from ignorance to knowledge.

The new knowledge often identifies an unknown relative or dear one whom the hero should cherish but was about to harm or has just harmed.

Reversal is a change of a situation to its opposite.

Characteristics of the Tragic Hero. The Character…

Is not all good or bad

Is of the noble class or highly renowned and prosperous

Has a tragic flaw (error in judgment he could not see)

Characteristics of the Tragic Hero. The Character…

Actions involve the well-being of others in society

Plot of the play shows him working toward a goal dear to him

Actions involve him in choices

Characteristics of the Tragic Hero. The Character…

Attains self-knowledge or wisdom BUT Recognizes his error too late and accepts the consequences or downfall (usually of death)

Hero’s death releases him from his burden, the audience from tension (catharsis), and the hero’s society from disorder caused by his flaw.

Characteristics of the Tragic Hero. The Character…

Arouses the audience’s pity and fear

The audience knows more of the action than the hero and sees evil destiny at work.

TERMS to KNOW about TRAGEDY

Hamartia: “A tragic flaw or error that in ancient Greek tragedies leads to the hero’s reversal of fortune.”

Hubris: Excessive pride or arrogance. Often leads to the downfall of the major character in Greek tragedy.

More Terms…

Unity of Action- one of the three principles of dramatic structure having single plot with a beginning, middle and end. (Plot Structure)

Peripeteia- a sudden turn of events or an unexpected reversal.

More Terms…

Anagnorisis- the critical moment of recognition or discovery.

Catastrophe- the point at which the circumstances overcome the central motive, introducing the close or conclusion.

TRAGIC PLOT Must be action that could logically

happen Must be universal in theme Must arouse pity and fear (CATHARSIS) No contrivances of plot (no

coincidences) Tragic character cannot be flat—must

have good and bad within

GREATEST ELEMENT IN A TRAGEDY

The deed is done in ignorance, and the relationship is discovered later!

Tuesday 3/8/2011 Plan for the day: Remember:

Oedipus Family Tree

In groups of 3 create a family tree for Oedipus and his family.

Remember you need to show all marriages/ children and their relationship to one another.

You may decorate and create this however you wish, but the connections need to be clear.