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Greek Drama

Greek Drama. Greek Theater History. Greek drama began with dances and songs performed in honor of Dionysus. Theatre as an art form evolved over hundreds of years, but records establish the sixth century B.C. as its official debut. Thespis  legendary first actor.

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Greek Drama

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  1. Greek Drama

  2. Greek Theater History • Greek drama began with dances and songs performed in honor of Dionysus. • Theatre as an art form evolved over hundreds of years, but records establish the sixth century B.C. as its official debut. • Thespis  legendary first actor. • Theatre flourished in fifth century B.C. when Athens became center of Greek culture and governmental power. • Most important Greek activities were outdoors  great outdoor theatres. • Three, week-long festivals were held each year which sponsored competitions for tragedy and comedy.

  3. Setup of Greek Theatre • Orchestra  area where chorus danced; at foot of semi-circular hillside where stone benches were built. • Theatron  area where audience sat on benches. • Parados  two broad aisles extending from the orchestra to each side of the theatron. • Skene  rectangular building with 3 doors in front, providing a background for action of the play as well as an area into which actors could exit and change costumes and masks; violence in plays took place here, out of the view of the audience. • Proskenion  last addition to Greek theater; a small platform in front of skene to give actor more visibility and separate them from the chorus.

  4. The Greek Actor • Participating in Greek drama was considered a citizen’s duty  They were expected to volunteer to perform in the chorus. • Experienced performers became actors. • Actors portraying gods, kings, or heroes  costume which adds size and distinction: *Chiton: long, flowing robe, dyed in symbolic colors with padding underneath. *Cothurni: high platformed shoes to add height. • Actors used props to indicate their role (king scepter, etc.) • Actors wore masks which helped to identify specific characters, yet generalized features enough to make the actor seem like he could be any man.

  5. Masks • Called a persona. • Served as a megaphone because of its large mouth opening. • A symbol to distinguish role. • Identified age, sex, mood, and rank. • Made of bark, cork, leather, or linen. • Tragic  beautiful; Comic  bizarre or grotesque. • Allowed actors to change roles easily.

  6. Characteristics of the Greek Chorus • Group of about 15 men. • Sang lyric poetry and danced to music. • Unpaid, usually citizens performing their “civic duty.” • Trained, costumed in the dress of the people they represented, and wore light masks.

  7. Functions of the Greek Chorus • Link from audience to actors. • Tension release. • Reflects, ponders, asks questions. • Sometimes advises main characters. • Often acted as the conscience of the people. • Establish mood and heighten dramatic moments. • Establish pacing of play. • Separate scenes.

  8. Five Sections of Greek Tragedies • The Prologue (Prologos)  Opening portion of the play, which sets the scene and contains the exposition. • The Parados  Entrance song of the chorus. Named after the aisles where the chorus entered the theater. • The Episodes (Scenes)  Contain the action of the drama; performed by the actors. • The Stasimons (Odes) A choral passage of the play which alternates with the episodes. The chorus sang and danced the odes accompanied by musical instruments. Odes consisted of strophes and antistrophes (similar to stanzas.) • Exodos  The concluding section of the tragedy. The exodos ends with the chorus singing their final lines as they exit.

  9. Dramatic Structure of Antigone Prologue (Prologos) Parados Scene 1 (Episode 1) Ode 1 (Stasimon 1) Scene 2 (Episode 2) Ode 2 (Stasimon 2) Scene 3 (Episode 3) Ode 3 (Stasimon 3) Scene 4 (Episode 4) Scene 5 (Episode 5) Paean Exodos

  10. Dramatic Irony • Irony is a contrast between what appears to be and what actually exists, between what is expected and what is experienced. • Dramatic irony The audience or reader is aware of critical information of which the characters are unaware. • Example of dramatic irony Oedipus vows to punish whoever killed King Laius the audience knows that he himself is the murderer.

  11. Hubris • People’s destinies are decided by the Fates. • Trying to change your destiny is a sin of pride hubris. • Examples from Oedipus: • King Laius tries to kill Oedipus because of a prophecy that his son will kill him. • Oedipus leaves the man and woman he thinks are his father and mother because of a prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. • What about Creon?

  12. Aristotle—“The Poetics”—Characteristics of the Tragic Hero • Character has a high social rank/noble birth. • Character is pitted against forces beyond his/her control • Decisions lead to a no-win situation • Puts up a courageous struggle/downfall • Realizes mistake and regrets it and gains self-awareness through defeat (often ends up dying).

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