Post on 24-Feb-2016
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Introduction to Ancient Greek
Tragedy
1. Life in Ancient Greece
•Greece reached its peek in the 6th and 5th centuries, specifically in Athens
Athens: The Place to Be:
• Named after the goddess Athena• Birthplace of Democracy• Center of commerce and arts
Athens was on the cutting edge of…
• Philosophy• Art• History• Politics• Architecture
Athens Sculptures• Realistic figures in
bronze and marble• Perfect human
form• Influence still felt
today–Our desire to look perfect has its origins in Greek sculpture
Physical Excellence•Emphasis on physical training•No standing army, so this ensured “instant soldiers”
Physical Excellence
•Athletic games were held in Olympia, the Olympics•Olive wreaths, a symbol of peace and a major industry
2. Greek Tragedy• Ancient Greeks invented the
art of drama• Some plays from Ancient
Greece are still performed today
Modern Words from Tragedy
• Orchestra• Thespian• Drama• Dialogue• Skene• Comedy• Tragedy
Greek Tragedy
•Wealthy Athenians subsidized plays•Plays performed annually at the spring festival of Dionysus
Greek Tragedy: Dionysus
• March/early April• Disrupted city life and could
not be contained—the ultimate block party!• Tragedy competition • Satyr (means, Risque)
competition
Greek Tragedy: Playwrights• Aeschylus (525-456 B.C.)• Sophocles (496-406 B.C.)• Euripides (485-406 B.C.)
Greek Tragedy: Plays
•Going to the plays was exceptionally popular•Day-long Performances•Theater was a sacrament, a form of worship
Greek Tragedy: Plays•Plays were performed in large semi-circle, outdoor amphitheaters made of stone or wood• 15,000 to 17,000 spectators (all male)
Amphitheaters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OywHbxZze8o&feature=PlayList&p=E0E10A7C0B790392&index=0
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwOR4y7JDrY&feature=PlayList&p=E0E10A7C0B790392&index=8
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLDXzJEgIVk&feature=PlayList&p=E0E10A7C0B790392&index=11
The Theater of Dionysus Today
The Theater of Dionysus in Athens, Greece
Restored by the emperor Nero in 68 A.D.
(Computer recreation)
Theater of Epidauros
(built 330 B.C., near modern day Nauplion, Greece)
Epidauros
Epidauros
Greek Tragedy: Scenery and Costume
•Minimal Scenery and props• Platform shoes, and elongated togas with high waistbands•Masks stood for characters:–Grief -Happiness–Anger -Bearded King–Old Man -Young Girl
Masks in Greek Theater
•Masks portray character types or character emotions • Fit over the head•Wig attached• Large mouth openings for speech
Tragic and Comic Masks
Greek Tragedy: Theatrical Machines (mechanai)
The ekkyklema (“a wheeled-out thing”) was a cart on wheels which carried a dead body onto the stage. It was sacrilegious to show a character actually dying on the stage.
Greek Tragedy: Theatrical Machines (mechanai)
• The mechane (machine) was a crane-like machine that could lift a character up as if flying, or could carry an actor, usually in the guise of a god, to the top of the skene.
Greek Tragedy: Chorus and Actors
Greek Tragedy: Who could be in the Chorus?
• males• trained by a poet to sing and
dance• twelve or fifteen, depending on
when the play was written• the leader was called the
coryphaeus (“head man” or “leader”)–All men–Chanted or danced
Greek Tragedy: Chorus
•Chorus–Provided “emotional bridge”•How? Through its five functions.
Greek Tragedy: Chorus• Five Functions of Chorus–Set the mood–Represent common person–Takes a moral side/stand–Will warn characters–Expresses itself in common language, which is usually in contrast with hero
Greek Tragedy: Actors
•Who could be an actor?–Males
Greek Tragedy: Actors
–One to three actors•For most of the 5th century, no more than three were used
Greek Tragedy: Conventions
• Play Observed Aristotle’s unities of time, place, and action–Time: Took place during a twenty-four hour period–Place: One setting–Action: No subplots
Greek Tragedy: Conventions
• All violence took place off stage• Emotions of characters most
important elements of play
Greek Tragedy: Tragic Hero/Protagonist
• Worthy• Mature• Imperfect• Disaster will befall him/her• Believes in his freedom to make choices• Hubris• Suffers• Transfiguration—Becomes a better
person• His/her tragedy causes a life reflection
Greek Tragedy: Structure
•Encroachment–Bites off more than he can chew
Greek Tragedy: Structure• Complication–Forces build up against the hero–Events become so complex that no single action can resolve them
Greek Tragedy: Structure• Reversal–Clear to audience that hero’s expectations are mistaken–Hero might have a suspicion as to where his actions will take him. Usually, he/she
is ignorant though.
Greek Tragedy: Structure•Catastrophe–Moment hero realizes full guilt–Hero realizes helplessness in the hands of the gods
Greek Tragedy: Structure
• Recognition–Chorus suggests a larger order and sense of life exists beyond the hero’s downfall–Catharsis
What is Catharsis?• Literally means “to purge” or “to purify”—to cleanse.• For a tragedy, catharsis references–The release of pent up emotions or energy (many times negative)
Antigone
3. Antigone
•Theme: What is the higher law: humankind’s or the gods’?
Family Tree (Immediate)
• King Oedipus (deceased)• Queen Jocasta (deceased)–Eteocles (son)–Polynices (son)–Antigone (daughter)–Ismene (daughter)
Family Tree (Extended)
•King Creon (Uncle: Jocasta’s brother) •Queen Eurydice (Aunt)–Haemon (Cousin and Fiance)