Greek Tragedy

1. Greek Tragedy Aim is catharsis of spectators, to arouse in them fear and pity and then purge them of these emotions

2. Structure • Prologue – opening • Parodos – first ode or choral song chanted by chorus as they enter • Ode – dignified, lyrical verse • Strophe – chorus moves right to left • Antistrophe – chorus moves left to right. • Episode – acts • Stasimon – choral ode at end of each epsiode • Exodos – final action

3. Origin • Festival for Dionysus – 3 Days, 3 poets, 4 plays each, 3 tragedies and 1 satire, winner • Thespis – father of drama, preformed first tragedy • Story lines – from mythology, a collective social, political, and religious history; therefore, the audience was already familiar with them.

4. Actors • All male • Wore masks – detailed enough so character was identified, generic enough to represent every man • Chiton – robe in symbolic colors • Cothurni – platform shoes • Dramatis Personae – list of characters • Hero – hamartia, hubris, reversal/perepetia, recognition/anagnorisis

5. Chorus • Create psychological and emotional background • Introduce and question new characters • Point out significant events • Establish facts • Voice outlook of citizens • Cover passage of time • Separate episodes • Do not wear masks • Used megaphones

6. Theatron – seeing placeSkene – generic background, change costumes Orchestra – dancing placeProskenion – stageParodos – where chorus enters

7. Sophocles • Colonus – 496-406 BC • Replaced trilogy with individual tragedies • Electra, Antigone, Oedipus at Colonus • Man’s external pursuit of knowledge Audience • Knew the story so kept involved using irony and allusions • Expected to learn about motives and forces that moved characters

8. Things to look for • Light vs. Darkness • The Scapegoat • The Outcast • The Hero • The Quest • Delphic Morality – Know thyself, Nothing in Excess, Punishment is Near

9. The Story • Oedipus Rex (swollen foot) born to King Laius, kills dad, answers riddle of the sphinx, married mom, lived happily with four kids, plague comes to city, action begins • Oedipus at Colonus – Thebes, Oedipus’s death • Antigone – You’ll have to wait to find out.