Transcript Sophocles the Playwright - IB-English

Sophocles the Playwright
By: Emily, Nicole, Erin and Nolan
Who was Sophocles and what
did he write?
• Born 496 BC in Athens
• One of the greatest playwrights
during Greek Golden Age
• Wrote over 120 prize winning plays
• Oedipus the King was his most
famous work.
• Antigone was part III of his most
famous play.
Who were the three
tragedians?
• Aeschylus- Know as “Father of Tragedy” b/c he
was the earliest tragedianand expanded number
of characters to allow conflict within them.
• Euripides- Pacifist, free thinker, and
humanitarian, presented his first tragedy in
Dionysia (a tragedy festival competition) in 455
BC.
• Sophocles- Studied poetry, music and other arts.
In his first tragedy competition (468 BC), he beat
Aeschylus. Also expanded character number on
stage.
Tragedy Progression
• When tragedies first began they were like
animated poems with expressive dances.
• A chorus danced and exchanged dialogue
with a single actor.
• the playwright Aeschylus added a second
actor and Sophocles added a third
• Masks were used
Tragedy Progression
• Euripides used plot devices as long lost
children and scenes of recognition
• Orchestra was set up in a circle.
• Tragedies were written in order to teach
religious lessons, rights and wrongs.
• When performed, tragedies were followed
up by a comedy to lighten the mood
Questions
• 1) What was Sophocles’ most well known
play?
• 2) How many plays did he write?
• 3) Who were the other two famous Greek
tragedians?
• 4) State one reason masks were used in
the plays.
Works Cited
The Drama: Its History, Literature and Influence on Civilization, vol. 1. ed. Alfred Bates.
London: Historical Publishing Company, 1906. pp. 106-112. cited in “SOPHOCLES
AND HIS TRAGEDIES.” Theatrehistory. Web. Retrieved 17 March, 2011 from
http://www.com/ancient/sophocles001.html
Fonseca, Ruben. cited in “Ancient Greek Theater.” Historyforkids. Web. Retrieved 17
March, 2011 from
http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/arts/Architec/AncientArchitectural/GreekArchitec
ture/GreekBuilding/Theater.htm#Playwrights
Brokett, Oscar G and Franklin J. Hildy. History of the Theatre
Allyn and Bacon: Boston, 1999
Nardo, Don. The Ancient Greeks
Lucent Books: San Diego, 2001