The Origin of Greek Drama religious celebration song and dance dancing choruses sang hymns of...
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Transcript of The Origin of Greek Drama religious celebration song and dance dancing choruses sang hymns of...
The Origin of Greek Drama The Origin of Greek Drama
religious celebration religious celebration song and dance song and dance dancing chorusesdancing choruses sang hymns of praise to the god sang hymns of praise to the god competing for prizes competing for prizes
The Worship of DionysusThe Worship of Dionysus
DionysusDionysus: : --- a vegetation deity especially associated with the--- a vegetation deity especially associated with the vinevine--- wine--- wine--- freedom and ecstatic joy--- freedom and ecstatic joy--- savage brutality --- savage brutality
Dionysus vs. ApolloDionysus vs. Apollo: : ---the two struggling forces in human nature---the two struggling forces in human nature
The Rise of Greek Drama The Rise of Greek Drama
In late the sixth century BCE, the Athenians In late the sixth century BCE, the Athenians converted the rural celebration of Dionysus converted the rural celebration of Dionysus into an annual city festivalinto an annual city festival
---dancing choruses competing for prizes---dancing choruses competing for prizes
the appearance of a masked actor:the appearance of a masked actor:--- probably by --- probably by ThepisThepis
--- playing a god or hero, engaged the chorus in --- playing a god or hero, engaged the chorus in dialoguedialogue
The Rise of Greek Drama The Rise of Greek Drama
the adding up of a second actor: the adding up of a second actor:
--- --- Aeschylus Aeschylus the creator of tragedythe creator of tragedy
--- an important breakthrough: the possibility of--- an important breakthrough: the possibility of
conflictconflict
---the prototype of drama---the prototype of drama
The Rise of Greek Drama The Rise of Greek Drama
The appearance of the third actorThe appearance of the third actor
SophoclesSophocles
A further step toward the maturity of Greek A further step toward the maturity of Greek dramadrama
The Rise of Greek Drama The Rise of Greek Drama
the more sophisticated formthe more sophisticated form
--- time: 5th century BC --- time: 5th century BC
--- --- DionysiaDionysia
The Maturity of Greek DramaThe Maturity of Greek Drama
Time & place: late March in Time & place: late March in AthensAthens Play competition:Play competition:
--- 3 days--- 3 days
--- 3 tragic poets selected earlier present a --- 3 tragic poets selected earlier present a
tetralogy: 3 tragedies and a satyr playtetralogy: 3 tragedies and a satyr play
Historical BackgroundHistorical Background
The defeat of the Persian invaders (480-The defeat of the Persian invaders (480-479 BC)479 BC)
Location: only in Athens--the supreme Location: only in Athens--the supreme power in the Greek worldpower in the Greek world
The Structure of Play Production The Structure of Play Production
the poet’s various jobs: the poet’s various jobs: --- playwright--- playwright
--- production--- production
--- casting (actors; chorus; musicians)--- casting (actors; chorus; musicians)
--- music composing--- music composing
The Structure of Play Production The Structure of Play Production
The mature form: 3 actors with chorusThe mature form: 3 actors with chorus subject matter: mythologysubject matter: mythology
drawback: no suspensedrawback: no suspense strength or feature: the poet’s interpretation strength or feature: the poet’s interpretation
of the character and the eventof the character and the event
The structure of the theaterThe structure of the theater
big size--sits 17000 peoplebig size--sits 17000 people
good acousticgood acoustic
structure:structure:--- costumes: masks and elaborate--- costumes: masks and elaborate costumescostumes--- actors: --- actors:
male, competent singers/dancersmale, competent singers/dancers
The structure of the theater The structure of the theater
OrchēstraOrchēstra: dancing area: dancing area SkēnēSkēnē: : a wooden building on the platforma wooden building on the platform EkkuklēmaEkkuklēma: trolley (thing that rolls out): trolley (thing that rolls out) MechanēMechanē: (machine or device) a pulley : (machine or device) a pulley
system that allowed for the appearance an system that allowed for the appearance an disappearance of actors in the air, above disappearance of actors in the air, above the the Skēnē Skēnē building.building.
The pattern of dialogueThe pattern of dialogue
AgonAgon (“contest”; “struggle”): one character (“contest”; “struggle”): one character makes a long, sometimes legalistic speech , makes a long, sometimes legalistic speech , arguing a particular case, and a second arguing a particular case, and a second character replies with another speech, character replies with another speech, putting the case against.putting the case against.
StichomythiaStichomythia (“line-speech”): characters (“line-speech”): characters speak just a single line each—a fast-paced speak just a single line each—a fast-paced exchangeexchange
The chorusThe chorus
Members: 12 or 15 masked dancers; only Members: 12 or 15 masked dancers; only the leader had a speaking rolethe leader had a speaking role
The role of the chorusThe role of the chorus
1) Often a group of local inhabitants1) Often a group of local inhabitants
-----Representing the voice of the ordinary -----Representing the voice of the ordinary person or the word on the street; person or the word on the street; frequently fails to get things rightfrequently fails to get things right
2) An internal audience: the revelation of 2) An internal audience: the revelation of inner thoughtsinner thoughts
3) characters themselves 3) characters themselves
The role of the chorusThe role of the chorus
4) broadening the perspective of events: 4) broadening the perspective of events: take us back in time or tracing parallels take us back in time or tracing parallels between this story and othersbetween this story and others
5) reflecting on the ethical, theological, and 5) reflecting on the ethical, theological, and metaphysical implications of the events at metaphysical implications of the events at handhand
Providing a break from the main narrative, Providing a break from the main narrative, a switch to an entirely different mood or a switch to an entirely different mood or perspectiveperspective
The role of the chorusThe role of the chorus
Choral songs can increase the dramatic Choral songs can increase the dramatic tension or surprise, as when a cheerful, tension or surprise, as when a cheerful, optimistic song is followed by a disasteroptimistic song is followed by a disaster
A basic codeA basic code
Little visible horrorLittle visible horror
Greek religious philosophyGreek religious philosophy
Athenians of this age saw no necessary Athenians of this age saw no necessary connection between relision and morality.connection between relision and morality.
The Theater The Theater
the costs: the costs:
---sponsored by appointed wealthy citizen---sponsored by appointed wealthy citizen
admission: admission:
---originally free, later on charged; the poor ---originally free, later on charged; the poor sponsored by governmentsponsored by government