Greek TragedyGreek Tragedy

An Overview

Early HistoryEarly History

First “tragedies” were myths Danced and Sung by a “chorus” at festivalsIn honor of DionysiusChorus were made up of menLater, myths developed a more serious formTried to illustrate some lesson in life

More HistoryMore History

534 B.C. Thespis invented an actor who conversed with the leader of the chorus

A second actor was provided by playwright Aeschylus

A third actor was provided by SophoclesNow drama could show and develop a

human situation in all its aspects

Greek TheatreGreek Theatre

Open-air theatreUse of dramatic ironyPlays acted during the daytime—why?All actors were maleWore masks, wigs, high bootsPlays written in poetic versePlays observed the “three unities”

Unity of TimeUnity of Time

All the action of the play took place within 24 hours; dialogue

provided background information

Unity of PlaceUnity of Place

Action was limited to one setting; one

unchanged scene was used.

Unity of SubjectUnity of Subject

The focus was on the main character. There

were no sub-plots.

MessengersMessengers

Used to tell the audience about what happened offstage

Religious intent and dignified style, no violence was shown on stage

Messenger ran on stage and spoke to the audience of any death or killings.

These messages were sometimes quite graphic.

The ChorusThe Chorus

Made up of 15-20 men who represented the citizens

Always on stage, and frequently sang and danced

Always had a leader who carried on a dialogue with the main characters or with

the rest of the chorus

Chorus dressed in goat skinsGoat was sacred to

Dionysius and used as prizes for the best plays

Word Tragedy derived from Greek word “tragoidia” (means “goat-song”)

Function of the chorusFunction of the chorus

Set the tone Give background info Recall events of the

past Interpret and

summarize events Ask questions At times, give

opinions

Give advice, if asked Stay objective, in the

sense that it did not disagree with the leading character

Act like a jury of elders or wise men

The Tragic SituationThe Tragic Situation

Man seems to be deprived of all outward help and is forced

to rely entirely on himselfA situation of utmost conflictA situation of extraordinary

tension

1. Man’s miscalculation of reality which brings about the fatal situation

2. Man between two conflicting principles– Protagonist is suddenly put at the

crossing point of two duties, both of which claim fulfillment

– This is most compelling tragic situation and is the one that has most often been chosen by the Greek dramatists

The Nature of TragedyThe Nature of TragedyAn expression of man realizing that his

human standards have become questionableWhat happens to the individuals in Greek

Tragedies could happen to anyoneGreek Tragedies are dramas about humanity

– Humanity torn between Appearance and reality Pride and humility At a loss when in contact with superhuman forces

AnagnorisisAnagnorisis ( Ancient Greek: ἀναγνώρισις) A moment in a

play or other work when a character makes a critical discovery. Anagnorisis originally meant recognition in its Greek context, not only of a person but also of what that person stood for. It was the hero's sudden awareness of a real situation, the realization of things as they stood, and finally, the hero's insight into a relationship with an often antagonistic character in Aristotelian tragedy.

Social and Political Athens—5Social and Political Athens—5thth century B.C.century B.C.

497 B.C.—Sophocles born in Athens Most well-known of ancient Greek

dramatistsAthens was a time of great achievements in

all forms of artPeople had a strong sense of patriotism

Athens governmentAthens government

Government was a democracy run by elected officials in the form of an open assembly

Participation in this democracy was limited to only about 10% of the population– Women, slaves, and other “non-citizens” were

excluded

Sophocles was member of the ruling classHe was, nevertheless, aware of the social

inequalities in this societyIn his plays he repeatedly warned Greeks of

the destruction that would come to them as a result of their prejudices and the impoverished conditions that existed for many

Objectives for this UnitObjectives for this Unit

Identify the ways in which this play demonstrates the unity of time, the unity of place, and the unity of subject

Discuss the function and give examples of the following stage conventions of the Greek theater:– The Greek chorus– Use of messengers to report deaths– Use of masks

CA State StandardsCA State Standards

Reading—Word Analysis Identify and use the literal and figurative meanings of words and

understand word derivations.

Reading Comprehension– By grade twelve, students read two million words annually on

their own, including a wide variety of classic and contemporary literature, magazines, newspapers, and online information. In grades 9 and 10, students make substantial progress toward this goal.

– Generate relevant questions about readings on issues that can be researched.

CA State StandardsCA State Standards

Literary Response and Analysis– Analyze interactions between main and subordinate

characters in a literary text (e.g., internal and external conflicts, motivations, relationships, influences) and explain the way those interactions affect the plot.

– Determine Characters’ traits by what the characters say about themselves in narration, dialogue, dramatic monologue and soliloquy

– Interpret and evaluate the impact of ambiguities, subtleties, contradictions, ironies, and incongruities in a text.

Literary TermsLiterary Terms

SimileMetaphor

MotifApostrophe

ForeshadowingIrony

Characterization