Introduction to Greek Theater

1. Introduction to Greek Theater World Literature and Composition

2. Overview of Greek Theatre • The myths • The land • The stage

3. The Land

4. The Great Age of Athens • Athens was a dominant military power and enjoyed its resultant wealth. • The 5th Century BC experienced an outburst of creative energy in all fields of thought. • Political theory – the birth of democracy • Philosophical thought • Architecture • Performing Arts

5. The Land Located in Europe in the Aegean Sea

6. The Land • Greece has thousands of inhabited islands and dramatic mountain ranges • Greece has a rich culture and old history • Shipping and trade were important and influential. • Patriarchal (male dominated) society • Philosophy, as a practice, began in Greece (Birth place of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle)

7. The Stage

8. The Stage Three Main Portions of Greek Theatre: Skene – Portion of stage where actors performed (included 1-3 doors in and out) Orchestra – “Dancing Place” where chorus sang to the audience Theatron – Seating for audience

9. The Stage

10. Greek Theater Orchestra: Dancing Place Usually round 60 feet diameter in Athens Level space where the chorus would dance, sing and interact with actors. Theatron: Viewing Place Usually part of a hillside. Up to 15,000 spectators http://academic.reed.edu/humanities/110Tech/Theater.html

11. Greek Theater Skene: Tent Directly behind the stage (“Proskenion”). This is where the actors stood Elevated several feet, about 10 X 25 feet in size. Usually decorated as a temple, palace or whatever the play mandated. Actors could emerge from “back-stage” Parados: Passageways Chorus and some actors used this for entrances & exits. Used by spectators. http://academic.reed.edu/humanities/110Tech/Theater.html

12. Evolution of Theatre • Dramatic narrative: • First created by Thespis who added the speech of an actor. • Hypocrites (Greek name for first actor) • “To Answer” (Answered the chorus)

13. Evolution of Theatre • Dramatic relationship: Aeschylus added a 2nd actor allowing interaction between two actors possibly conflict.

14. Evolution of Theatre • Multiple relationships: • Sophocles adds a 3rd actor. • The role of the chorus is reduced to commentator.

15. Elements of Greek Tragic Theater • Chorus: • Singers and dancers in festivals • Originally 50 people, Sophocles used 15 and had it interact with actors • Provided background info for audience • Represented the people • Sophocles allowed Chorus to interact with Actors • Seems a form of “narrative” • commentary

16. Elements of Greek Tragic Theatre • Protagonist: • A person of high status and great talent. Not a common person. • He has achieved arete, excellence. • Still fallible Oedipus has killed the Sphinx • Human / Lion / Bird • Oedipus is a master at solving puzzles / riddles / detection • Greatest strength is greatest weakness

17. Basic Structure of Greek Plays • Prologue: Spoken by one or two characters before the chorus appears. Gives the mythological background necessary for understanding the play. • See Oedipus • Interaction between Oedipus and Priest • Oedipus: My Sons! Newest generation of this ancient city of Thebes! Why are you here? Why are you seated at the altar, with these branches of supplication? • Priest: You can see for yourself—the city is like a ship rolling dangerously; it has lost the power to right itself and raise its head up out of the waves of death. Thebes is dying.

18. Basic Structure of Greek Plays • Parodos: The song sung by the chorus as it first enters the orchestra and dances. • Action after the Prologue • Think of “Parade” • Enter the Chorus

19. Structure of Greek Plays • First Episode: The first of many "episodes", when the characters and chorus talk. • First Stasimon: At the end of each episode, the other characters usually leave the stage and the chorus dances and sings a stasimon, or choral ode. • The ode (formal lyric poem) usually reflects on the things said and done in the episodes, and puts it into some kind of larger mythological framework.

20. Basic Structure of Greek Tragedy • There is alternation between episodes and stasima, until the final scene, called the... • Exodos: At the end of play, the chorus exits singing a processional song which usually offers words of wisdom related to the actions and outcome of the play.

21. Greek god of drama • Dionysus was the god of wine, agriculture, and fertility of nature, who is also the patron god of the Greek stage.

22. Festival of Dionysus • Believed to be in April (Spring) • A Religious Occasion in honor of Dionysus • Performances for three days • Banks 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 • Tragedy means “goat song” (relates to Dionysian rituals

23. Festival of Dionysus THE CONTEST • 3 dramatists present their plays on 3 successive days. • One poet would stage Three Tragedies and one Satyr play on the same day • Satyr play would have chorus of half-bestial creatures • Cash prizes awarded but amount unknown. • The First prize was a crown of ivy • Sophocles won first place 18 times and never took less than second.

24. The great playwrightSophocles • Lived 496 BC – 406 BC • Ancient sources credit him with 123 plays, but only 7 survived intact. • Antigone – 442 BC • Oedipus the King – 430 BC • Oedipus at Colonus – after Sophocles death

25. Copy Only The Boxed Portion!

26. Theater of Dionysus in Athens academic.reed.edu/.../graphics/thdionysus2.JPG

27. Casts and Costumes • Casts were all male. Masks enabled women characters. • Actors were so far away, they were hard to see. • Boots added to height • Gloves exaggerated hand movements • Masks depicting comedy and/or tragedy worn. • Masks suggest “types” more than complex character

28. The Classical Myths – • Polytheistic (more than one god) • Centered around the twelve Olympians (primary Greek gods) • Explained the unexplainable • Were the center of Greek religious ceremonies • Gave credibility to leaders • Gave hope

29. The ancient citizens of Greece would sacrifice and pray to an ORACLE. An oracle was a priest or priestess who would send a message to the gods from mortals who brought their requests. Oracle Which classical myth DID hope come from? After unleashing suffering, famine, disease, and many other evils, the last thing Pandora let out was HOPE.

30. In conclusion: Where and how were the dramas performed? …In an amphitheatre …With a chorus who described most of the action. …With masks …With all the fighting and movement going on off stage.….With tragedy first, then comedy later.

31. The End

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33. Homework • Put your vocabulary words on notecards, with the definitions on back. • Write a sentence for each word on back.