Greek Theatre

1. Greek Theatre Overview The Stage Dramatists Tragedy

2. 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 tragic plays performed first and the one comic play last to lighten the mood.

3. The Stage

4. The Stage

5. The Stage The Main Parts of The Greek Theatre: Skene – Raised Portion of stage where actors performed Orchestra – Circular patch of dirt “Dancing Place” where chorus sang to the audience Theatron – Seating for audience: usually carved into a hillside and looking out over natural scenes of beauty Parodos - Entry way on the sides of the skene Thymele - Alter to Dionysus: Located in the center of the orchestra Ekkyklema - Plank rolled out from the Skene building Mechrone - Crane used to elevate actors above the stage Theatron Thymele Orchestra Parodos Parodos Ekkyklema Skene

6. The Stage • Greek plays were performed during religious ceremonies held in honor of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and revelry (altars generally on stage) • 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

7. Greek Tragedy • Plot of the Play • Tragedy and the Tragic Hero • Aristotle • General Definition • Recognition & Reversal • Tragic Hero • Tragic Play Structure • Greek Drama: Features of Greek Tragedy • Playwrights

8. Plot of the Play • Completeness Vs Size • Unity of the Plot • Unity of Time: All action takes place in a single day • Unity of Place: All action takes place in one location • Unity of Action: Play has one main action that it follows, with no or few subplots • Parts of a Play Prologue, Episode, Exodos, Choral Odes, Parodos, Stasimon, Strophe, Antistophe • Dramatic Techniques -Dramatic Irony -Use of Pity & Fear to create Catharsis (emotional release)

9. Aristotle (384-322 BC) • Student of the philosopher Plato • Teacher to Alexander the Great • Wrote Poetics defining comedy & tragedy

10. 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 (usually death) that arouses pity or fear in the audience(catharsis).

11. 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 “fatal flaw” • Ultimately recognizes his error and accepts the consequences • Arouses the audience’s pity and fear

12. Structure of Greek Drama

13. Features of Greek Tragedy • Action very compressed • Offstage events told through messengers • Chorus as citizens and commentators on the action • Clearly delineated characters • Structure: • Prologue (characters) • Parodos (chorus) • Episodes (characters) • Stasimon (choral odes) • Exodos (chorus)

14. Prologue • Greek drama begins with the Prologue. • The Prologue’s purpose is to give background information to situate the conflict.

15. Parodos – first ode • Choral song chanted by the chorus as they enter the area in front of the stage.

16. Serves to separate one scene from another (since there were no curtains in Greek theaters). Also allowed for the chorus’ response to the preceding scene. An Ode follows each scene

17. Strophe – part of the ode that the chorus chants as it moves from right to left across the stage. Antistrophe – part of the ode chanted as the chorus moves back across the stage from left to right. Parts of the Ode

18. 5 Functions of the Chorus • Expression of opinions, moral advice, or intervention 2. Representation of the author’s point of view: Sometimes presented a moral precedent against which the characters could be judged. 3. The Ideal Spectator: Reacting to events as they occur onstage in order to instruct an audience how they should react. 4. Establish and Heighten Dramatic Action 5. Spectacle: Adding some visual or aural effect such as: color, movement, dance, singing, music.

19. First Episode • Following the Parodos, the first scene presents the conflict of the play.

20. Exodos • Final scene of the play.

21. Costuming: The Dramatis Personae: Cast of Characters wore elevated shoes (kothurnoi), elaborate head dresses (onkos), and a long colorful gown (himation) or a common greek dressing gown (chiton), and a tunic over it (chlamys).

22. All performers wore masks made of lightweight wood, cork, or linen. A Distinct Greek Device. Masks were used for several purposes: • Rapid change of Roles • Gender Change (All parts were played by males) • Indication of Physical or Character Difference (Age/Race) • Communication of the Character: The masks captured the essential qualities of the character and allowed them to be picked up on from a distance.

23. The MythsWhy they were written Myths were common knowledge for all Greek citizens. The playwrights used these stories as a foundation for their plays. • Explained the unexplainable • Justified religious practices / Gave credibility to leaders • Gave hope • Polytheistic (more than one god) • Centered around the twelve Olympians (primary Greek gods)

24. The Twelve Olympians Greek / Roman Name • Zeus / Jupiter - King of Gods; sky, thunder; eagle, lightning bolt • Hera / Juno - Queen of Gods; marriage, family; cow, • Poseidon / Neptune - God of sea, earthquakes; the trident, Amphitrite • Demeter / Ceres - Goddess of harvest, fertility; wheat • Athena / Minerva - Goddess of wisdom, war strategy; owl, olive tree • Apollo / Phoebus - God of light, healing, music, prophesy; sun, lyre • Artemis / Diana - Goddess of the hunt, virginity; moon, deer • Ares / Mars - God of War, violence; serpent, dog, spear • Aphrodite / Venus - Goddess of love, desire; • Hephaestus / Vulcan - Blacksmith, craftsman of gods; fire and forge • Hermes / Mercury - Messenger God, god of thieves; winged sandals • Dionysus / Bacchus - God of wine, ecstasy, theatre; grapevine, tiger • Hades / Pluto - God of underworld, the dead;

25. The Oracle at Delphi • Most famous oracle in Greek mythology. • An oracle was a priest or priestess who would send a message to the gods from mortals who brought their requests.

26. Sophocles • 494-406 BCE • Athenian statesman, was treasurer, general, priest • 7 of 123 plays remain • Antigone (441 BC) • Oedipus the King (429 BC) • Oedipus at Colonus (406 BC • Oedipus was most likely never performed as a trilogy in competition. All the plays were written in different years (decades apart). • Fixed the number of the chorus at 15