Introduction to Greek DramaIntroduction to Greek Drama

Socio-Political BackgroundSocio-Political BackgroundImpact of Religious IdeasImpact of Religious IdeasOrigins of Greek DramaOrigins of Greek Drama

Stage ConventionsStage Conventions

Socio-Political BackgroundSocio-Political BackgroundAthens, Greece, fifth Athens, Greece, fifth

century B.C.E.century B.C.E.Focus on art & literatureFocus on art & literature

Architecture, sculpture, Architecture, sculpture, and potteryand pottery

DRAMA was bornDRAMA was bornDemocracy of elected Democracy of elected

officialsofficialsWomen & slaves excludedWomen & slaves excluded

ATHENS

Religious IdeasReligious IdeasPolyPolytheistic belief systemtheistic belief systemStrong belief in Fate (pre-ordained Strong belief in Fate (pre-ordained

events)events)Consulted oracles and soothsayersConsulted oracles and soothsayersObeyed omens and dreamsObeyed omens and dreamsPride and excess were sins punished by Pride and excess were sins punished by

godsgodsRespect in death shown through burialRespect in death shown through burial

DIONYSUS•God of Wine & Agriculture

•Patron god of Greek Theater• Zeus’ son

• Associated with revelry and excess

Origins of Greek DramaOrigins of Greek Drama

Drama started as part of Drama started as part of religious festivalsreligious festivalsThey believed that Dionysus They believed that Dionysus

was pleased by theatrical was pleased by theatrical performances in his honorperformances in his honor

The performances developed in The performances developed in complexitycomplexity

Plays often taught moral lessonPlays often taught moral lesson

Early THEATERsEarly THEATERs

First theater built on slopes of the First theater built on slopes of the Acropolis, which was the center of Acropolis, which was the center of worship in Athens.worship in Athens.

Audience sat in the open air on Audience sat in the open air on benches, surrounding the stage on benches, surrounding the stage on three sides.three sides.

Because it was religious, the Because it was religious, the performance was dignified and performance was dignified and serious.serious.

Example of theaterExample of theater

Early Theater

Stage ConventionsStage ConventionsUse of dramatic irony (audience knows Use of dramatic irony (audience knows

more than characters on stage)more than characters on stage)Acted in daytime, no lights, no Acted in daytime, no lights, no

curtains, few seatscurtains, few seatsActors all male, who wore masks & Actors all male, who wore masks &

wigs to play different characters, both wigs to play different characters, both male & femalemale & female

Plays written in poetic verse, not prosePlays written in poetic verse, not proseNo violence on stage—messengers No violence on stage—messengers

told audience of deaths/killingstold audience of deaths/killings

Stage Conventions Stage Conventions (Cont.)(Cont.)Three unities used to increase Three unities used to increase

intensityintensityUnity of TIMEUnity of TIME

Took place during 24 hour periodTook place during 24 hour periodUnity of PLACEUnity of PLACE

Took place in one settingTook place in one settingUnity of PLOTUnity of PLOT

Focus on main character; no sub-plotsFocus on main character; no sub-plotsUse of a chorusUse of a chorus

Greek ChorusGreek Chorus15-20 men representing 15-20 men representing

citizens of Athenscitizens of AthensAlways on stageAlways on stageFrequently sang and dancedFrequently sang and dancedAlways had a leader who Always had a leader who

carried on in dialogue with carried on in dialogue with main characters or chorusmain characters or chorus

FUnction of CHorusFUnction of CHorusInterpret/summarize eventsInterpret/summarize eventsAsk questionsAsk questionsGive advice, if askedGive advice, if askedGive background infoGive background infoAct like a jury of elders, who Act like a jury of elders, who

listened to evidence of play and listened to evidence of play and reach moral conclusionreach moral conclusion

PURPOSE OF MASKSPURPOSE OF MASKSBe Be visiblevisible to audience in the back to audience in the backBe Be audibleaudible to audience to audience

Opening for mouth like a Opening for mouth like a megaphonemegaphone

Enable men to play womenEnable men to play womenAllow one actor to play multiple Allow one actor to play multiple

partspartsShow the actor’s emotionsShow the actor’s emotions

Examples of Masks

MACHINERYMACHINERY

AeoremaAeoremaA crane that lowered actors down, A crane that lowered actors down,

especially gods who would solve all especially gods who would solve all problems at the endproblems at the endDeus ex machina Deus ex machina : “god by machine” gods would : “god by machine” gods would

fix everything by magicfix everything by magicPeriactoiPeriactoi

2 pillars on either side of stage that would 2 pillars on either side of stage that would rotate to change sceneryrotate to change scenery

EkeclemaEkeclemaRolls out a platform to display the bodiesRolls out a platform to display the bodies

Types of DramaTypes of DramaComedyComedy

Often obscene, full of insults, vulgarOften obscene, full of insults, vulgarCommon peopleCommon people

DithyrambDithyrambSongs in lyrical verseSongs in lyrical verseLike an operaLike an opera

TragedyTragedyA story of disaster and destructionA story of disaster and destructionNoble peopleNoble people

TRAGEDYTRAGEDY“Goat-song”“Goat-song”

One of three types of Greek One of three types of Greek drama drama Three greatest Greek Three greatest Greek Tragedians:Tragedians:

AeschylusAeschylus SophoclesSophocles EuripidesEuripides

SophoclesSophoclesAthens, Greece (496?-406 B.C.E.)Athens, Greece (496?-406 B.C.E.)First victory at Greater Dionysia First victory at Greater Dionysia

(principal dramatic festival) in (principal dramatic festival) in

486 B.C.E.486 B.C.E.Never won less than 2Never won less than 2ndnd prize prizeWon 1Won 1stst prize at least 18 times! prize at least 18 times!Member of the Athenian senateMember of the Athenian senateWrote 123 plays, only 7 surviveWrote 123 plays, only 7 survive

Include Include Oedipus RexOedipus Rex and and AntigoneAntigoneFrequent themes of Frequent themes of fatefate versus versus free willfree will

TRAGIC HEROTRAGIC HEROA great man with one tragic flaw which A great man with one tragic flaw which

brings about his downfall.brings about his downfall.Tragic flaw is often Tragic flaw is often hubrishubris, , an excess of an excess of

pride, usually spiritual pride.pride, usually spiritual pride.As the hero accepts the consequences of As the hero accepts the consequences of

his actions, he teaches the audience some his actions, he teaches the audience some truth about life.truth about life.

Audience purges their own anxieties Audience purges their own anxieties through actions of hero, called a through actions of hero, called a catharsiscatharsis..

Catharsis is Greek for Catharsis is Greek for cleansecleanse