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Quick Write. Please write a paragraph, or more, in response to the following question:. What are your preconceived ideas of Greek drama? What sort images or stories come to mind?. Introduction to Greek Drama. Where did drama come from?.
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Quick Write Please write a paragraph, or more, in response to the following question: What are your preconceived ideas of Greek drama? What sort images or stories come to mind?
Where did drama come from? • From religious festivals in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine and the changing seasons. • “City Dionysia”: religious festival where classical Greek drama was performed to celebrate the god Dionysus. The festival also featured competitions in music, singing, dance and poetry. • The first plays were performed in the Theatre of Dionysus, built in the shadow of the Acropolis in Athens at the beginning of the 5th century, but theatres proved to be so popular they soon spread all over Greece.
Three types/genres of drama Drama was classified according to three different types or genres: • comedy • tragedy • satyr plays Dramatic masks shown in a mosaic in Pompeii, Italy.
Tragedy • The word "tragedy" refers primarily to tragic drama: • The hero suffers some serious misfortune which is logically connected with the hero's actions. • Tragedy stresses the vulnerability of human beings whose suffering is brought on by a combination of human and divine actions. • Relationships between men and the gods plagued by problems. Can you think of an example of a tragedy?
Comedy • Greek comedy probably grew from the often satirical choruses of the feast of Dionysus. Aristophanes* targeted the abuses of politicians and the destructiveness of war in comedies of great wit. What is satire? How is it used today? What are some examples of modern satire? Satire: Writing or art which exposes the follies of its subject (for example, individuals, organizations, or states) to ridicule, often as an intended means of provoking or preventing change. *Aristophanes was the greatest comic writer of his day. (5th century BC)
Satyr Plays • Satyr* plays were short, slapstick pieces characterized by a chorus of satyrs (half men, half beasts) who act as a farcical backdrop to the traditional mythological heroes of tragedy. *Satyr is an uninhibited creature who is half goat, half man. Satyrs show "animal nature" and were forest dwellers associated with Dionysus, god of wine, procreation, and of drama. It was the custom to act a satyric drama after a set of three tragedies, thus the seriousness of the preceding plays was relieved.
A Greek Theatre This theatre is located next to the Parthenon in Athens. The theatre is still in use today!
On the stage: • The first "dramas" were choral and dance presentations • Eventually an actor was added to respond to the chorus. This was first done by the playwright and actor, Thespis. (We still call actors "thespians" today to honor him as the first actor.) A later playwright added a second actor. • Sophocles made even more changes. He added a third actor and reduced the chorus from 18 to 15.
On the stage continued … • The theater was in the open-air; there were no spotlights, curtains, microphones, or special effects. The audience had to use its imagination to fill in the scenes with detail. Performances were during the day and began at sunrise. • The focus of the performance was upon the language of the play, the poetry and song. Translations into English cannot fully capture the beauty of the original Greek poetry.
Who was on stage? • There were only three actors with speaking parts. • Only men would be actors, no women. • Masks were worn by the actors. When an actor went off stage, he would come back on in another role wearing a different mask. • There could only be three actors at a time delivering lines, plus the chorus (which often functioned as an additional character). • Part of the chorus would be sung and danced with the accompaniment of musical instruments like the double flute, drums, tambourine, and sometimes the kithara (something like a guitar).
Our study: Oedipus Rex • Written by Sophocles over 2,500 years ago • Considered one of the greatest tragedies ever written • Aristotle said that : • Tragedy cleansed the heart through pity and terror, purging us of our petty concerns and worries by making us aware that there can be nobility in suffering. • Thus, the audience would leave the theatre cleansed and as better people: morally, socially and intellectually. • Aristotle called this experience: Catharsis • Oedipus: Oedi= swollen, pus= foot • Example: Octopus…What does that mean? • Rex= King • Oedipus suffered from Hubris. • Hubris: pride likely to invoke the wrath of the Gods.
Reflect At the beginning of the period I asked you to write down your preconceived ideas of Greek drama. Now that you (hopefully) know a bit more about Greek drama, how or why has that idea changed? Please write a short paragraph in response to this question.
