ENG 202: DRAMA

1. ENG 202: DRAMA The Tragedy of Oedipus Rex by Sophocles

2. Drama • drama    The general term for performances in which actors impersonate the actions and speech of fictional or historical characters (or non-human entities) for the entertainment of an audience, either on a stage or by means of a broadcast; or a particular example of this art, i.e. a play. Drama is usually expected to represent stories showing situations of conflict between characters, although the monodrama is a special case in which only one performer speaks. Drama is a major genre of literature, but includes non-literary forms (in mime ), and has several dimensions that lie beyond the domain of the literary dramatist or playwright (see mise en scène). The major dramatic genres in the West are comedy and tragedy , but several other kinds of dramatic work fall outside these categories (see drame, history play, masque, melodrama, morality play, mystery play, tragicomedy ). Dramatic poetry is a category of verse composition for theatrical performance; the term is now commonly extended, however, to non-theatrical poems that involve a similar kind of impersonation, as in the closet drama and the dramatic monologue . For introductory accounts, consult Simon Shepherd and Mick Wallis , Drama/Theatre/Performance ( 2004 ) and John Lennard and Mary Luckhurst , The Drama Handbook ( 2002 ).

3. Tragedy • tragedy (i.e. tragic drama),  from Greek trag idia, ‘goat song’. There is no satisfactory explanation of this name. It may have arisen because, it has been suggested, the chorus in tragedy originally wore goat-skins, or in connection with a goat-sacrifice, or even because there was a competition with a goat as prize.The Monk in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales defines the essence of tragedy as he knew it, and as it is in most surviving Greek tragedies: • Tragedie is to seyn a certeyn storie,As olde bookes maken us memorie,Of hym that stood in greet prosperitee,And is yfallen out of heigh degreeInto myserie, and endeth wrecchedly.And they ben versified communely,Of six feet, which men clepen exametron. • (Tragedy is, as old books inform us, a kind of story concerning someone who has enjoyed great prosperity but has fallen from his high position into misfortune and ends in wretchedness. Tragedies are commonly written in verse with six feet, called hexameters.)

4. Origins of Tragedy • Earliest record in 5th century b.c. from Athens • Thought to develop from earlier Greek choral performances • The Greek word for actor translates to “answerer;” thus it is thought that actors began by answering questions the chorus asked • Stories from Greek tragedy were almost always from mythology and were well know in their time.

5. Performance of Greek Tragedy • Held as part of religious celebrations in particular, those to the god Dionysus • Performed outside in amphitheaters • Audience would watch 5 plays a day • Written at the prompting of the government and were held as competitions—the winner was given a crown of ivy • The performers were male Athenian citizens. • Usually only 3 actors in one play who would perform several different roles. • The Poet would also perform in his play. • Actors wore masks and ceremonial robes.

6. Characteristics • 2 parts: chorus sung in lyric meters with music and dialogue between characters • In general the chorus plays the part of spectators of the action, humble in rank, taking a limited part in but rarely initiating action, sympathizing with one or other of the chief characters, and commenting on or interpreting the dramatic situation. (typically 15 members of chorus) dance and singing

7. Structure • Prologue-before the chorus, establishes the subject and situation • Parodos-chorus enters singing • Episodes-scenes with 2 or more actors and the chorus • Stasima-chorus songs between episodes • Exodos-final episode

8. Sophocles • 496-406 b.c. • 7 surviving plays • Known for complex plot and characters • Typically explores the relationship between people and the gods. • Won numerous dramatic competitions • Was a citizen and well-educated

9. Oedipus • Part of a trilogy: Oedipus Tyrannus, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone. • Name actually translates to “swollen foot” • Oedipus is King of Thebes, husband of Jocasta • Story was told by Homer in The Odyssey and Iliad • Also a play by Aeschylus and Eruipides • Declared by Aristotle who literally wrote the book on Greek drama the greatest tragedy

10. Themes • Gods’ roles in human life • the Hero • Mortality • Fate vs. free will • Fatal/Tragic flaw • Fertility-plague on land and people • Morality • Truth-a major source of conflict • Pride • Incest

11. Characters • Oedipus-strong ruler, decisive, man of action, but rash, confident but proud, • Creon-voice of reason, stable, is sent by Oedipus to the Oracle so trustworthy, but quick to banish Oedipus at the end • The Chorus-voice of status quo, has the last word • Jocasta-wife of Oedipus, wife of Laius, mother of Oedipus • Prophet-