Transcript Ancient Greek Drama

Unit Overview: Introduction
to Ancient Greek Tragedy
In this unit we will
learn about:
• life in ancient
Greece.
• ancient Greek
Tragedy.
• Tragic Hero
Archetype.
I. Life in Ancient Greece
• Greece
reached peak
- 6th and 5th
centuries
B.C.,
particularly in
Athens.
I. Life in Ancient Greece
Athens was the
place to be. It was:
• named for the
goddess, Athena.
• birthplace of
democracy.
• center of
commerce and the
arts.
I. Life in Ancient Greece
On the “cutting
edge,” achieving
excellence in:
• Philosophy
• Art
• History
• Politics
• Architecture
I. Life in Ancient Greece
• Excellence is remarkable because:
• Harsh environment and poverty, then
and now
• 1/3 of Greece is bare rock where
nothing can grow or graze.
I. Life in Ancient Greece
• Rock = Best
potters and
sculptors the
world has
ever seen.
I. Life in Ancient Greece
• Sculpture Realistic figures in
marble or bronze
• Perfect human
form
• Influences
sculpture and life
even today
I. Life in Ancient Greece
• Our desire to look
“perfect” has its
origins in Greek
culture.
• The next time you
hop on a treadmill,
or lift weights you
have Classical
Greek sculptors to
thank.
I. Life in Ancient Greece
• Emphasis on
physical training.
• Good idea! There
was hardly any
standing army.Any
man could become
an “instant”
soldier.
I. Life in Ancient Greece
• Physical
excellence was
appreciated in
the athletic
games held in
the city of
Olympia, the
Olympics.
I. Life in Ancient Greece
• Olive processing
was a major
industry.
• Olive trees are
symbols of peace.
• Winners in the
games in Olympia
received olive
wreaths.
II. Greek Tragedy
• Ancient Greeks
invented the art
of drama.
• Some of the
plays written at
the time are still
performed
today.
II. Greek Tragedy
• Modern words from
Greek words:
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Orchestra
Thespian
Drama
Dialogue
Scene
Comedy
Tragedy
Proscenium
II. Greek Tragedy
• Wealthy Athenian
citizens subsidized
the production of
the plays.
• Plays performed
annually at the
spring festival to
honor Dionysus.
II. Greek Tragedy
• The yearly
Dionysia festivals
were held in late
March or early
April.
• Festival disrupted
city life and could
not be contained –
Quite a party!
• Going to plays was
very popular.
• Performances
lasted all day.
• Theatre was a
sacrament, a form
of worship. (Think
of a highly
dramatic,
entertaining Mass.)
II. Greek Tragedy
• Theaters outdoor semicircular arenas called
amphitheaters built of stone or wood.
• 15,000 to 17,000 spectators (all male)
II. Greek Tragedy
• Three playwrights
each entered a
play in the tragedy
competition and
one comedy into
the satyr (risqué)
competition.
II.Greek Tragedy
• The three greatest
writers of tragedy
were:
• Aeschylus
(525-456 B.C.)
• Sophocles
(496-406 B.C.)
• Euripides
(485-406 B.C.)
II. Greek Tragedy
• The cast, all men,
included a chorus, or
group of men, who
chanted and danced.
• Chorus is the Greek
word for dance.
• One, two, or three
actors. For most of
the 5th century no
more than 3 actors
were used.
II. Greek Tragedy
• Chorus provided
emotional bridge
between actors
and audience
• Made of citizen
amateurs
II. Greek Tragedy
Five Functions of the Chorus
• Set the mood
• Represent common
people
• Take sides
• Warn a character
• Create a contrast
to the hero by
expressing itself in
common language
II.Greek Tragedy
Costumes and Scenery
• Minimal scenery and
props
• Actors wore masks,
platform shoes, and
elongated togas with
high waistbands.
• Masks stood for
characters (grief,
anger, happiness,
bearded king, old
man, young girl).
II.Greek Tragedy
Conventions
• Plays observed
Aritstotle’s 3
unities of time,
place, and action.
 Time–took place
during a single day.
 Place–one scene
 Action–no subplots
II.Greek Tragedy
Conventions
• All violent action took
place off stage.
• There was no
suspense.
• Plays emphasized
people, ideas, poetry.
• Emotions of characters
most important
element of any play.
II. Greek Tragedy
Characteristics:Plays
• Worthy protagonist
• Imperfect, yet
mature protagonist
• Inevitable disaster
• Hero fights for
noble cause
• Disequilibrium
(imbalance) rules
the world of Greek
tragedy.
II. Greek Tragedy
Characteristics:Tragic Hero
• Believes in his freedom to
make choices
• Has supreme pride, hubris.
• Large capacity for suffering
• Sense of commitment
• Vigorous protest
• Transfiguration, becomes
a better person.
• His tragedy cause for
reflection about life.
II. Greek Tragedy:Structure
Encroachment
• The hero bites off
more than he can
chew and brings
about his own
destruction.
II. Greek Tragedy:Structure
Complication
• Forces of
opposition build up
against the hero.
• Events become so
deeply involved
that no single
event can resolve
the disorder.
II. Greek Tragedy:Structure
Reversal
• Clear to audience
that hero’s
expectations are
mistaken.
• The hero may
dimly see where
his acts will lead
him.
II.Greek Tragedy:Structure
Catastrophe
• Moment hero
realizes his full
guilt.
• Hero realizes his
helplessness at
the hands of the
gods.
II.Greek Tragedy:Structure
Recognition
• Chorus expresses a larger
order and sense of
meaning to life exists
beyond the hero’s
downfall.
• Emotional rollercoaster
ride is eased by catharsis
occurs when the emotions
of the audience are
purged. Audience is
reassured “it’s only a
play.” Life goes on.