Exploring Destiny and Truth: Greek Theater Insights

1. Warm-up 10/19/12 • If you could know anything about your future, what would it be? Why? • If you could choose to know your entire future, would you want to? • Do you believe people’s futures are mapped out for them and that there is nothing they can do to change them?

2. Warm-up 10/19 • It is often said that “the truth will set you free.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why? • Are there times that a person is better off not knowing the truth about something? Explain. • When is a time you found out a truth about something you wish you hadn’t known?

3. Greek Theater

4. Greek Drama • Tragedy • Serious drama • Tragic hero (main character) • Noble and dignified • Tries to achieve something • Ultimately defeated • Tragic flaw • Weakness of the main character

5. The Theater • Amphitheater • a level area of oval or circular shape surrounded by rising ground. • Orchestra • Rounded performance area where the chorus sings and dances

6. The Theater

7. The Theater

8. The Masks • Suggest character types (king, prophet, woman, etc.) • Made of linen, wood, or leather. • marble or stone face used as a mold for mask • Human or animal hair was also used • Eyes fully drawn, but in the place of the pupil of the eye was a small hole so that the actor could see.

9. Theater Masks

10. Conventions of Greek Theater • Prologue • Opening scene • Exodus • Concluding scene • Catharsis • “cleansing” of emotions; like a “good cry” • Audience members empathize with characters

11. Conventions of Greek Theater • Prior knowledge of story • Audience better appreciates the tragedy • Understands irony • No violence on stage

12. Conventions of Greek Theater • Chorus • Onlookers who comment on and interpret the actions of the play • Choragos (chorus leader) • Spokesman for the chorus • Often interacts with other characters

13. Conventions of Greek Theater • Parodos • An ode sung by the chorus at their entrance • Ode • A poem meant to be sung

14. The Oedipus Cycle • Oedipus Rex • Oedipus at Colonus • Antigone

15. Oedipus Rex • King Laius and Queen Jocasta of Thebes have a child • Oracle says that child will “kill his father and marry his mother” • Jocasta sends baby Oedipus with a shepherd to be killed at Mt. Cithaeron • Meanwhile…

16. Oedipus Rex • King Labdacus and Queen Merope of Corinth adopt a baby and name him “Oedipus” –swollen ankles • As the child grows, he learns from the Oracle: “You will kill your father and marry your mother” • Oedipus makes haste to leave Corinth • On the road…

17. Oedipus Rex • King Laius and his entourage are attacked by a traveler; Laius dies • Oedipus encounters the Sphinx and solves her riddle • Oedipus becomes King of Thebes—the wife of the widow Jocasta • Thebes suffers from a plague • The story unfolds…

18. Oedipus Rex • Oedipus—2nd King of Thebes • Jocasta—Queen of Thebes • Creon—Jocasta’s brother • Teiresias—the blind prophet

19. Vocab Scene 1 and Ode 1 • Edict • Lustration • Begetting • Pestilence • Contagion • Prudent • Insolence • Decrepit • Mummery • Regicide