Unit 1: Foundations of Drama

1. Unit 1: Foundations of Drama

2. Classical Tragedy According to Aristotle who first defined it using the Greek plays that were available to him, tragedy is: “the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself.” Tragedy typically includes “incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish the catharsis of such emotions.”

3. The elements of a classical tragedy: • The tragic hero, though not perfect, is certainly in some way morally superior to most of the audience (and is nearly always upper class) but also exhibits…

4. elements cont. • “Hamartia,” the tragic flaw (literally, it translates as “error of judgment”) which is often… • hubris, loosely translated as arrogance, that causes the hero to believe he can outwit fate or violate a moral law, which leads in turn to…

5. elements cont. • some kind of catastrophe, which results in… • peripeteia or a complete reversal of fortune from happiness to disaster Sounds so happy, doesn’t it? 

6. A tragic hero in eight parts: • Protagonist worthy of reader’s admiration, concern, or sympathy • Possesses a flaw (hamartia) that leads to his or her ultimate downfall • Free to make choices and courageous enough to accept the consequences • Great capacity for suffering based on the belief that actions are right

7. Continued 5. Committed to the course of actions chosen • Protests vigorously against fate • Transfigured or redeemed into a better person, one who has learned from difficulty. • Destiny is inevitable death, actual or symbolic, related to the flaw

8. Classical Unities From Aristotle’s Poetics • Unity ofAction—a play has one main action with few or no subplots • Unity of Time—the action of a play should cover a duration of no more than 24 hours • Unity of Place—a play should cover a single physical space and should not attempt to compress geography; the stage should not represent more than one place

9. The Greek Theatre Large open-air theaters—often built into a hill with step-like seating for the audience. The Theater of Dionysus seated between 14,000 and 17,000. Productions had to overcome difficulties related to • Lighting • Sound • Spectator distance from the stage

10. The Greek Theater • Only men were allowed to act • Only three actors performed on stage • The Chorus (12-15 actors) was an important element of the productions • Represented the public • Provided background summary • Revealed information not offered by the actors • Reminded audience of moral issues

11. Dionysia • A spring festival honoring the god Dionysus (god of wine, theater, liberty) • Highlight was a theatrical contest held at the Theater of Dionysus • Winners were crowned in tragedy and comedy (including Satyr plays)

12. Sophocles • Born around 496 BCE probably near Attica; grew up in Colonus—the setting for many of his plays; came from a rather wealthy (but not aristocratic) family • Had a great education and became a writer during his teenage years; died at the age of 90 in 406 BCE

13. Sophocles • One of the most influential writers of Ancient Greece • For almost 50 years, Sophocles was the most-awarded playwright in the dramatic competitions; Sophocles competed in around 30 competitions; he won perhaps 24 and never received lower than second place • He wrote 123 plays, but only 7 survive in their entirety

14. Sophocles’ Plays • Oedipus the King (or Rex) 1. considered the “perfect tragedy” by Aristotle 2. conforms perfectly to the classical unities of action, time, and place • Antigone 1. a good example of his modern techniques 2. setting is Thebes' civil war 3. Written during national tension—soon after the play was published, Sophocles was appointed general to lead an assault on Samos Island

15. Ancient Greek Culture Values 1st: Honoring the Gods 2nd: Honoring the State 3rd: Honoring the Family Name

16. Review of the Gods Zeus Hera Apollo Aphrodite Hermes other gods Demeter Hephaestus Athena Poseidon Ares Artemis Dionysus

17. Map of Greece