Classical Greek Drama

Classical Greek Drama Page 248-249

Greek Theatre • Reasons for the theatre: • Entertainment • Show religion • Advance and show loyalty to politics • Honor local heroes • Major social event • Competition • Discussion of philosophical issues

Origins of Greek Drama • One of the oldest forms of theatre • Came from religion and myths • Gained popularity in 6th century BC • Performance Origins: • Dionysus: God of wine; people danced and sang to Dionysus at festivals • Thespis: Lyric Poet; introduced us to a single actor • *Today actors are called thespians! • Aeschylus: Added a second actor • Sophocles: Adding a third

Greek Theatre Vocabulary • Chorus: A group of actors that voiced attitudes of the community • Thespians: Actors • Drama: Greek word for “doing” In what ways are Greek dramas different from Homer’s epics?

At the Theater • Athens • 15,000 people • The actors had to exaggerate their movements or they couldn’t be seen by the whole audience • Only men performed • Masks were worn • Made of • Linen • Wood • Wool • Plaster

At the Theater • Actors wore robes which seemed to evolve into costumes • Chorus members dressed in the roles they were playing • Examples: soldiers, priests, animals, etc. • Open-air: Used natural light and heat • Few props • Only used as symbols to identify roles • Example: A soldier would carry a sword and shield

At the Theater • A messenger would usually deliver bad news in detail • For Example: Violence occurred off stage • Murder • Suicide • Battles

Greek Festival • Festival of Dionysus • In Athens • Drama competition • Four greatest Greek dramatists • Aeschylus • Sophocles • Euripides • Aristophanes

Topics of Plays • Comedies • Made fun of society, politics, gods • Tragedies • Fall of a great man or woman • The Tragic hero is neither very good or very bad • The hero’s downfall is brought on my a flaw within their character • The tragic flaw encourages people to look at their own lives to define their beliefs • Familiar Themes • Myths • History • Politicians • Humankind’s struggle to find meaning and self-understanding

Sophocles: Page 250 • 5th century BC during the Golden Age of Greece • Political and cultural achievement • Born into a wealthy family • Handsome • Athletic • Skilled in music • Studied tragedy, music composition, and choreography

Sophocles: Writing • Wrote 120 plays • 24 won first prize at the festival • Only 7 survived intact • Oedipus the King is the one of the best! • Innovation: • Introduced a third actor to the stage • Invented scenery • Invented special effects • Example: Lowing an actor from the sky

Oedipus Preview • Is it always better to know the truth? • Would you rather have someone lie to you if it will save your feelings? • Give examples.

Oedipus Preview • According to Legend . . . • Oedipus arrived at Thebes • A sphinx (wings, lion’s body, woman’s head) was killing people • In order to save them, someone had to answer this riddle: • What walks on four legs in the morning, two at noon, and three in the evening? • Your Answer ____________________________________

Oedipus Preview • Oedipus answered correctly: Man • Man crawls as a baby, walks on two legs as a man, and uses a stick in old age • When the sphinx heard this, she killed herself • Oedipus became king • Oedipus married the widowed queen Jocasta

Vocabulary • Chorus: Danced and chanted between scenes, commented on action; express social and religious views • Dignity: The quality of being worthy of honor • Vengeance: Revenge; The return of a harmful deed for a harmful deed • Denounce: To inform against, accuse publicly • Dire: Terrible; bad enough to arouse dread

Lit Terms • Denotation: Dictionary meaning • Connotation: Emotional meaning it evokes

Classical Greek Drama