Sophocles

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Sophocles

• Born around 497 B.C. and died around 406 B.C.
• Celebrated and acclaimed Greek playwright
• Wrote 123 plays, but only 7 survived including
  Oedipus Rex, Antigone and Oedipus of Colonus.

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Characteristics of Sophocles Plays

• emphasis on individual characters
• reduced role of chorus
• complex characters, psychologically
  well-motivated
• characters subjected to crisis leading to
  suffering and self-recognition - including a
  higher law above man

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Characteristics of Sophocles Plays contd

• exposition carefully motivated
• scenes suspensefully climactic
• action clear and logical
• poetry clear and beautiful
• few elaborate visual effects
• theme emphasized the choices of people

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Greek Theater
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Parts of the Greek Theater

• Orchestra (dancing space)-space where the
  chorus would dance, sing, and interact with the
  actors who were on the stage near the skene
• Theatron (viewing-place)-place where the
  spectators sat

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Parts of the Greek Theater

• Skene (tent)-the building directly behind the
  stage that had at least one set of doors where
  actors could make entrances and exits
• Parodos (passageways)-are the paths by which
  the chorus and some actors made their entrances
  and exits. The audience also used them to enter
  and exit the theater before and after the
  performance.

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Structure of Greek Tragedies

• Prologue
• Spoken by one or two
• characters before the
• chorus appears. The
• prologue usually gives
• the mythological
• background necessary
• for understanding the events
• of the play

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Structure of Greek Tragedies

• Parados
• This is the song
• sung by the
• chorus as it first
• enters the
• orchestra and
• dances.

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Structure of Greek Tragedies

• First Episode
• This is the first of
• many "episodes",
• when the characters
• and chorus talk.

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Structure of Greek Tragedies

• First Stasimon
• At the end of each episode, the other
• characters usually leave the stage and the
• chorus dances and sings a stasimon, or choral
• ode. The ode usually reflects on the things
• said and done in the episodes, and puts it into
• some kind of larger mythological framework.

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Structure of Greek Tragedies

• Exodos
• At the end of play, the
• chorus exits singing
• a processional song which
• usually offers words of
• wisdom related to the
• actions and outcome of the
• play.

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Actors and Acting

• Actors were usually semi-professional
• Tragedies typically included 3 actors
• Typically played more than one role
• Men played all roles on stage

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Actors and ActingFunction of the Chorus

• 1. an agent gives advice, asks, takes part
• 2. establishes ethical framework, sets up
  standard by which action will be judged
• 3. ideal spectator - reacts as playwright hopes
  audience would
• 4. sets mood and heightens dramatic effects
• 5. adds movement, spectacle, song, and dance
• 6. rhythmical function - pauses / paces the
  action so that the audience can reflect.

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Literary Terms

• Tragedy
• A serious play in which the chief
• character passes through a series of
• misfortunes leading to a final,
• devastating catastrophe.

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Tragedy contd

• Act I introduces the characters in a state of
  happiness, or at the height of their power,
  influence, or fame
• Act II introduces a problem or dilemma
• Act III problem reaches a point of crisis, but
  which can still be successfully averted
• Act IV the main characters fail to avert or
  crisis, and this disaster occurs
• Act V reveals the grim consequences of that
  failure

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Literary Terms

• Hubris
• implies both arrogant, excessive self-pride or
  self-confidence
• Inability to recognize personal limitations or
  the humble need to improve constantly leads to
  overwhelming pride, and this in turn leads to a
  downfall

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Literary Terms

• Hamartia
• missing the mark
• Signifies a tragic flaw, especially a
  misperception, a lack of some important insight,
  or some blindness that ironically results from
  one's own strengths and abilities leading to a
  catastrophic results
• the very trait that makes the individual
  noteworthy is what ultimately causes the
  protagonist's decline into disaster

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Literary Terms

• Arete
• A humble and constant striving for perfection and
  self-improvement combined with a realistic
  awareness that such perfection cannot be reached
• As long as an individual strives to do and be the
  best, that individual has arête
• When the individual believes he has actually
  achieved arête, however, he or she has lost that
  exalted state and fallen into

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Themes in Oedipus Rex

1. Quest for identity
2. Nature of innocence and guilt
3. Nature of moral responsibility
4. Human will versus fate
5. Abuse of power

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Individually, answer the following questions

1. Have you heard of ways in which ones destiny can
   be predicted? Give 2 examples.
2. How did ancient peoples prophesize the future?
3. Do you believe in prophesies? Explain why or why
   not.

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• Can you name any political
• leader(s) who has made a
• mistake which cost them their
• career (or even lives)?
• What motivated them to make the mistake?
• Can you think of any examples where pride was the
  major factor?