Sophocles The Greatest of Greek Playwrights 496 – 406 BC ? Wrote 120 tragedies Festival of...

SophoclesThe Greatest of Greek Playwrights

496 – 406 BC ?• Wrote 120 tragedies

• Festival of Dionysus

• Moral lesson

• Introduced painted sets

• “Theban Tragedies”

• 40 years

• King Oedipus of Thebes

• Started with Antigone

The Greeks…

Characteristics of the CHORUS

15 men Sang lyric poetry Performing was regarded as a civic duty Wore robes and masks

Function of the CHORUS

Often the voice of reason in the play Reflected upon what happened Asked or answered questions Advised central characters Separated scenes of action

The Greeks…

Were notable for clarity of thought Symmetrical, logical, balanced = UNITY Purpose of drama was to entertain, educate

and raise questions Ambiguous: what is right? Wrong?

Terms for Greek Theatre

Antistrophe Strophe Choragos Ode Orchestra Parados

Paean Prologue Skene Theatron Thespian Tragedy (see Aristotle)

FORM is IMPORTANT

There must be complete UNITY: Time Place Action

Aristotle: THE POETICS The function of tragedy is to arouse pity

and fear in the audience so that we may be purged, or cleansed, of these unsettling

emotions - Catharsis

Tragic Hero

Why read TRAGEDY?

Strength of character Perseverance Courage Inspiration The dignity of the

human spirit

Oedipus Rex