Introduction to Greek Drama

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Introduction to Greek Drama

• English II PAP
• Mr. Sands

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SOPHOCLES

• Born in Colonus, Greece in 497 B.C.
• Died in 406 B. C. at approximately 90 years old
• Lived during the Golden Age of Greece
• He was a successful musician, athlete and
  respected playwright
• He was also active in social and political life.
  He held several priesthoods, was imperial
  treasurer in 443 B.C., and a general in 440 B.C.

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Sophocles as a Playwright

• In the drama festivals of his day, he won the
  first place prize for best play twenty-four
  times.
• He wrote more than a hundred plays but only seven
  remain. The most famous of his plays being
  Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone
  and Electra.

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Sophocles Impact on Drama

• Expanded its format by adding a third actor
• Increased dialogue
• Decreased the importance of the chorus by fixing
  its number at 15
• Invented painted scenery and added flute music in
  the background
• Made each play of a trilogy stand by itself as a
  separate story

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Structure of a Greek Tragedy

1. Prologue the actors present the opening
   situation on stage
2. Parados the entering song and dance of the
   chorus
3. Episodes periods of more action by the actors
4. Stasima/Stasimon choral ode or song commenting
   on the action
5. Exodus the last action of the play

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The Greek Theatre
like an outdoor stadium that could hold from
15,000 20,000 people
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The Greek Theatre

• Semi-circular in shape
• Theatron area of seats for the audience
  hollowed out from the hillside
• Orchestra large area in front of the stage
  where the chorus sang and danced
• Thymele the altar centered in the orchestra
  used for sacrifices to Dionysus
• Parados walled walkway used by the chorus to
  enter and exit the stage
• Pro-scenium a long, low stage behind the
  orchestra
• Skene building that contained the actors
  dressing rooms

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Greeks Special Effects

• deus ex machina (god from the machine) type
  of crane used for suspending figures who
  portrayed gods
• eccylema moveable or revolving platform
• There were no curtains, intermissions, lights, or
  microphones. Because of this, all scenes took
  place in daylight settings, all scenes changes
  had to be built into the dialogue of the actors
  and the chorus and actors had to have strong
  voices

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The Actors

• Only 3 actors that wore masks to play multiple
  parts
• All actors were men because it was considered
  undignified for women to appear on stage
• Wore padded costumes, wigs and high-heeled boots
  to make them taller and give them added dignity
  and power
• Actors had to be able to speak in poetic language
  and sing using a loud and clear voice

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The Chorus

• Consisted of singers and dancers led by a
  conductor
• Started out with 50 people but Sophocles fixed
  the number at 15
• The playwright used the chorus and their songs
  to
• Add the beauty of song and dance
• Set the mood or express the main themes of the
  play by commenting on the action
• Create a bridge between the actors and the
  audience
• Converse with and give advice to the actors
• Tell about events that have already happened in
  the past
• Foretell the future by interpreting the actions
  of the actors

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The Stories

• Originally hymns and prayers honoring the gods,
  especially Dionysus
• Over time, content changed to legends of Greek
  leaders and heroes
• Tragedy showed what happened to a person who
  went against the laws of the gods or who was too
  proud

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Tragedy

• Stems from the Greek belief that man was subject
  to the whims of the gods and fate
• The root of Greek tragedy is that man can not
  avoid suffering
• Mans fault pride, a mistaken belief that he
  could somehow avoid fate or the will of the gods

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Hubris

• Excessive pride
• Leads to suffering and then to an understanding
  (catharsis) of mans place in the system of life
• The audience was to learn a lesson through the
  tragedies that befell the characters on stage
  because they did not follow the will of the gods
  or because they tried to avoid their own destiny
  based in hubris

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Origin of Drama

• Developed by ancient Greeks during celebrations
  honoring Dionysus
• Dionysus god of the vine which produced grapes
  for wine associated with resurrection and
  suffering
• Because of the choral songs, the early Greek
  plays resembled what we call opera today

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Festival of Dionysus

• Took place in Athens during 5 days in March or
  April
• First day procession honoring Dionysus in which
  all citizens participated
• Second day the choral songs were performed
• Last 3 days three tragedies followed by one
  satyr (satire mock heroic tragedies) play and
  one comedy were performed

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Festival of Dionysus cont.

• The archon, a state official, selected three
  poets to compete for the prizes in the tragedy
  division.
• The choregus, a wealthy, prominent citizen of
  Athens, was required by law to pay for the cost
  of training and costumes for the chorus.
• A jury of 10 citizens selected the winning poet
• The playwright served as a sort of teacher,
  offering plays for the ethical and moral
  improvement of his fellow citizens to insure the
  spiritual survival of the community

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Antigone

• Third of Sophocles Theban plays
• Antigone Oedipus daughter princess of Thebes
• Breaks the law to bury her brother who has been
  labeled a traitor by the king, her uncle.

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Oedipus Background

• Look at the Oedipus Family Treedo you notice
  anything strange?
• Read the Oedipus handout and answer the
  corresponding questions

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The Oedipus Family Tree

• The Perfect Jerry Springer
• Episode

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King Oedipus married Queen Jocasta (his
mother-ewww!)

• They had 4 children (Eww)
• -Eteocles -Antigone
• -Polynices -Ismene
• / /
• Sons (Os brothers?) Daughters (sisters?)
• Fight for Thebes Go back to Thebes
• Cursed by dying father
• Kill each other

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King Creon of Thebes married Queen Eurydice

• Creon is Oedipus uncle, Jocastas brother (also
  Oedipus brother-in-law)
• They have two sons
• Megareus Haemon
• / /
• dies during betrothed to Antigone,
• siege of Thebes his cousin

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Sources

• Jessica Nugent CHHS, Colleyville, TX
• Stefanie Tziarri Lawrence High School, Mercer
  County, NJ