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Sophocles The Greatest of Greek Playwrights

Sophocles The Greatest of Greek Playwrights . 496 – 406 BC ?. Wrote 120 tragedies Festival of Dionysus Moral lesson Introduced painted sets “Theban Tragedies” 40 years King Oedipus of Thebes Started with Antigone. The Greeks…. Characteristics of the CHORUS. 15 men Sang lyric poetry

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Sophocles The Greatest of Greek Playwrights

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  1. SophoclesThe Greatest of Greek Playwrights

  2. 496 – 406 BC ? • Wrote 120 tragedies • Festival of Dionysus • Moral lesson • Introduced painted sets • “Theban Tragedies” • 40 years • King Oedipus of Thebes • Started with Antigone

  3. The Greeks…

  4. Characteristics of the CHORUS • 15 men • Sang lyric poetry • Performing was regarded as a civic duty • Wore robes and masks

  5. Function of the CHORUS • Often the voice of reason in the play • Reflected upon what happened • Asked or answered questions • Advised central characters • Separated scenes of action

  6. The Greeks… • Were notable for clarity of thought • Symmetrical, logical, balanced = UNITY • Purpose of drama was to entertain, educate and raise questions • Ambiguous: what is right? Wrong?

  7. Antistrophe Strophe Choragos Ode Orchestra Parados Paean Prologue Skene Theatron Thespian Tragedy (see Aristotle) Terms for Greek Theatre

  8. FORM is IMPORTANT There must be complete UNITY: • Time • Place • Action

  9. Aristotle: THE POETICS • The function of tragedy is to arouse pity and fear in the audience so that we may be purged, or cleansed, of these unsettling emotions - Catharsis • Tragic Hero

  10. Why read TRAGEDY? • Strength of character • Perseverance • Courage • Inspiration • The dignity of the human spirit

  11. OedipusRex

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