Monday 3/7/2011

1. Plan for the day: Discuss Tragic Hero/ Greek Theater notes Read the myth of Oedipus. Remember: Print Gods and Goddesses notes off my website! You will need them for tomorrow! Vocab Wednesday! Monday 3/7/2011

2. The land The Theater Antigone The Gods Overview of Greek Theater

3. The land • Greece has thousands of inhabited islands and dramatic mountain ranges. • Greece has a rich culture and history. • Democracy was founded in Greece. • Philosophy, as a practice, began in Greece (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle)

4. The Theater

5. Religious Origins • The drama of ancient Greece and Rome is referred to as classical drama. • It arose in Athens from religious celebrations in honor of the Greek god Dionysus. • These celebrations included ritual chants and songs performed by a group called the chorus. • Drama evolved from these celebrations during the 6th century B.C., when individual actors began entering into dialogue with the chorus to tell a story.

6. The Theater • Attended by thousands, plays were performed during the day in an outdoor theater with seats built into the hillside. • Business 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. The Theater

8. Actors • The actors • Were all men • They wore elegant robes, huge masks and often elevated shoes • Sophocles used three actors in his plays- between scenes they changed costumes and masks when needed to portray different characters

9. The Chorus • The chorus • A group of about 15 • They commented on the action • The leader of the chorus= the choragus • Between scenes, the chorus sang and danced to musical accompaniment in the orchestra, giving insights into the message of the play.

10. The Theater • During Sophocles's lifetime, three playwrights were chosen each year to enter a theatrical competition in the festival of Dionysus. • Each playwright would produce three tragedies, along with a satyr play (a short comic interlude).

11. Aristotle Tragedy and the Tragic Hero

12. Aristotle’s Life • Student of the philosopher Plato • Teacher to Alexander the Great • Divided philosophical thought into ethics, physics, and logic

13. 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 that arouses pity or fear in the audience(catharsis).

14. Aristotle’s Definition of Tragedy • Tragedy is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not of narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions.

15. Basically a tragedy… • Literary form on a serious theme • Implies decision—a responsible choice is involved.

16. Basically a tragedy… • Involves destruction of a man who is basically good, but makes errors in judgment • Chain of events leads to destruction and death of protagonist.

17. Aristotle’s Poetics: Basic Concepts • Complex plots are better than simple ones • Suffering is to be included in a tragic plot which should end unhappily. • The pity and fear from which the tragedy evokes, should come from the events, not from the mere sight of something on stage.

18. Recognition is a change from ignorance to knowledge. The new knowledge often identifies an unknown relative or dear one whom the hero should cherish but was about to harm or has just harmed. Reversalis a change of a situation to its opposite. Recognition and Reversal

19. 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 tragic flaw (error in judgment he could not see)

20. Characteristics of the Tragic Hero. The Character… • Actions involve the well-being of others in society • Plot of the play shows him working toward a goal dear to him • Actions involve him in choices

21. Characteristics of the Tragic Hero. The Character… • Attains self-knowledge or wisdom BUT Recognizes his error too late and accepts the consequences or downfall (usually of death) • Hero’s death releases him from his burden, the audience from tension (catharsis), and the hero’s society from disorder caused by his flaw.

22. Characteristics of the Tragic Hero. The Character… • Arouses the audience’s pity and fear • The audience knows more of the action than the hero and sees evil destiny at work.

23. Hamartia: “A tragic flaw or error that in ancient Greek tragedies leads to the hero’s reversal of fortune.” Hubris: Excessive pride or arrogance. Often leads to the downfall of the major character in Greek tragedy. TERMS to KNOW about TRAGEDY

24. More Terms… • Unity of Action- one of the three principles of dramatic structure having single plot with a beginning, middle and end. (Plot Structure) • Peripeteia- a sudden turn of events or an unexpected reversal.

25. More Terms… • Anagnorisis- the critical moment of recognition or discovery. • Catastrophe- the point at which the circumstances overcome the central motive, introducing the close or conclusion.

26. TRAGIC PLOT • Must be action that could logically happen • Must be universal in theme • Must arouse pity and fear (CATHARSIS) • No contrivances of plot (no coincidences) • Tragic character cannot be flat—must have good and bad within

27. GREATEST ELEMENT IN A TRAGEDY The deed is done in ignorance, and the relationship is discovered later!

28. Plan for the day: Remember: Tuesday 3/8/2011

29. Oedipus Family Tree • In groups of 3 create a family tree for Oedipus and his family. • Remember you need to show all marriages/ children and their relationship to one another. • You may decorate and create this however you wish, but the connections need to be clear.