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Greek Theatre

Greek Theatre. Tragedy and Oedipus Background. The Poetics. Work by Aristotle in which he analyzed and described the characteristics of Tragedy Aristotle used Oedipus Rex by Sophocles for many of his examples. Tragedy is….

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Greek Theatre

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  1. Greek Theatre Tragedy and Oedipus Background

  2. The Poetics • Work by Aristotle in which he analyzed and described the characteristics of Tragedy • Aristotle used Oedipus Rex by Sophocles for many of his examples

  3. 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;…in the form of drama; not of narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions.”

  4. The Poetics… • “Serious” – subject matter must be elevated, deal with royal subjects • “Complete” – beginning, middle, end • Presents no more than one significant event in the characters life, and the plot must be of a length which can be easily embraced by the audience.

  5. Drama • The action must be acted out rather than told • This is the complete working out of a single motivation to its conclusion in the recognition of a “truth” • The Three Unities • Time • Place • Action

  6. Tragic Terms • Purgation – (catharsis) • The drama arouses fear and pity within the audience and leads to a cleansing of these emotions. • Because we experience these things vicariously, we are renewed without damage • Hamartia – (tragic flaw) • Allows the common man to relate to the great man • This is interstpersed artfully with the role of fate and the gods

  7. Tragic Terms • Ideally two things should happen simultaneously • Peripeteia – (reversal) • Anagnorisis – (recognition, or understanding) • This allows there to be good in the midst of the terrible • The tragic hero, though not always responsible for the state of affairs, shoulders the burden and accepts the consequences

  8. Content • Tragedy dealt with stories that were known. • Why bother telling a story everyone knows?

  9. Theater Terms • Dionysus • goddess of fertility and wine • great festivals would be thrown in her honor • Had competitions for writing plays • Comedy • Tragedy

  10. Stage shapeAmpitheater • Orchestra • Area where the chorus stood • Skene • Building behind stage used for Deus ex machina • “God from the machine” fixed lousy ending with god making everything come together

  11. Stage cont. • Colonnade • Backdrop • Proscenium • Raised wooden stage • Parados • Aisles where actors entered and exited

  12. Play Parts • Prologue • The introduction of a drama so that the audience can understand the significance • Chorus • Sometimes as few as two or three but can be 12-15 actors who represent the public or mob, and does not necessarily represent the poet • Parados – sung by the chorus as it first enters; can summarize or advise protagonist • Stasimon • any choral ode sung subsequent to the parodos

  13. Next… • The twisted family tree of one Oedipus, King of Thebes….

  14. Labdacus • Father of Laius • Grandfather of Oedipus • King of Thebes • After his death, Lycus took over • Lycus overthrown by Amphion and Zethus

  15. Laius • As an infant and after the coup, Laius was taken to court of Pelops, King of Pisa • After deaths of A and Z, Laius should have returned to Thebes as king, but… • Fell in love with Chrysippus (the illegitiate son of Pelops)

  16. OOPs • Kidnapped Chrysippus and raped him • Chrysippus then • Commited suicide • Was killed • Was rescued • Traditions vary

  17. And then… • Married Jocasta • Became king of Thebes • Unable to have children the consulted the oracle • Oracle told them that Jocasta would bear him a son who was destined to kill Laius and marry Jocasta

  18. So… • Laius resolved to never have relations with Jocasta…

  19. But… • He got drunk one night, forgot his plan and…….. • Along came little Oedipus

  20. Oedipus • When he was born Laius had his ankles pierced and gave him to a shepherd to leave him exposed on Mt. Cithaeron • Shepherd had mercy and gave him to a shepherd from Corinth • Oedipus was raised by Polybus and Merope (King and Queen of Corinth)

  21. Oedipus • Happy childhood until a drunk called him a bastard and questioned his parentage • Oedipus consulted the oracle and instead of being told of his parentage was told of his destiny to kill dad and marry mom. • Oedipus still thinks he is from Corinth and vows to leave and never return

  22. Meanwhile back at the ranch • Laius heard the prophecy was about to come true and was heading to the oracle

  23. The place where three roads meet • Oedipus and Laius meet on the road. • One of Laius’ men attempts to drive Oedipus from the road and… • Oedipus, in a rage, kills all but one man. • One of the men killed is his father, Laius • The only survivor is the original shepherd who saved Oedipus at the beginning • Part one of prophecy!

  24. The Sphynx • In Laius’ absence, Thebes is devastated by the Sphynx, a winged female monster • The Riddle of the Sphynx • Solve it or die!!!!

  25. Desperation • Creon, Jocasta’s brother and Regent of Thebes is desperate to defeat the Sphynx • Offers the throne of Thebes and the hand of Jocasta to anyone who can defeat the Sphyx • And who should wander into town?

  26. Our Hero! Tragic that is… • Oedipus solves the riddle (Sphynx threw herself off the wall), saves Thebes, and marries Jocasta • Four children • Polynices • Eteocles • Ismene • Antigone • Part two of the prophecy!

  27. And now the play… • Thebes encounters a great dry spell and folks begin to look for reasons for the sudden bout of bad luck. • Oedipus vows to find the culprit and save the city.

  28. OOPS!

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