Introduction to Introduction to Greek DramaGreek Drama

English II PAPEnglish II PAP

Mr. SandsMr. Sands

SOPHOCLESSOPHOCLES

Born in Colonus, Greece in 497 Born in Colonus, Greece in 497 B.C. B.C.

Died in 406 B. C. at Died in 406 B. C. at approximately 90 years oldapproximately 90 years old

Lived during the Golden Age of Lived during the Golden Age of GreeceGreece

He was a successful musician, He was a successful musician, athlete and respected playwrightathlete and respected playwright

He was also active in social and He was also active in social and political life. He held several political life. He held several priesthoods, was imperial priesthoods, was imperial treasurer in 443 B.C., and a treasurer in 443 B.C., and a general in 440 B.C.general in 440 B.C.

Sophocles as a Playwright Sophocles as a Playwright

In the drama festivals of his day, he In the drama festivals of his day, he won the first place prize for best play won the first place prize for best play twenty-four times.twenty-four times.

He wrote more than a hundred plays He wrote more than a hundred plays but only seven remain. The most but only seven remain. The most famous of his plays being: famous of his plays being: Oedipus Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, the King, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone Antigone and and Electra.Electra.

Sophocles’ Impact on DramaSophocles’ Impact on Drama

Expanded its format by adding a Expanded its format by adding a third actorthird actor

Increased dialogueIncreased dialogueDecreased the importance of the Decreased the importance of the

chorus by fixing its number at 15chorus by fixing its number at 15 Invented painted scenery and added Invented painted scenery and added

flute music in the backgroundflute music in the backgroundMade each play of a trilogy stand by Made each play of a trilogy stand by

itself as a separate storyitself as a separate story

Structure of a Greek TragedyStructure of a Greek Tragedy

1.1. Prologue – the actors present the Prologue – the actors present the opening situation on stageopening situation on stage

2.2. Parados – the entering song and Parados – the entering song and dance of the chorusdance of the chorus

3.3. Episodes – periods of more action Episodes – periods of more action by the actorsby the actors

4.4. Stasima/Stasimon – choral ode or Stasima/Stasimon – choral ode or song commenting on the actionsong commenting on the action

5.5. Exodus – the last action of the playExodus – the last action of the play

The Greek TheatreThe Greek Theatre

*like an outdoor stadium that could hold from 15,000 – 20,000 people

The Greek TheatreThe Greek Theatre

Semi-circular in shapeSemi-circular in shape Theatron = area of seats for the audience hollowed Theatron = area of seats for the audience hollowed

out from the hillsideout from the hillside Orchestra = large area in front of the stage where Orchestra = large area in front of the stage where

the chorus sang and dancedthe chorus sang and danced Thymele = the altar centered in the orchestra used Thymele = the altar centered in the orchestra used

for sacrifices to Dionysusfor sacrifices to Dionysus Parados = walled walkway used by the chorus to Parados = walled walkway used by the chorus to

enter and exit the stageenter and exit the stage Pro-scenium = a long, low stage behind the Pro-scenium = a long, low stage behind the

orchestraorchestra Skene = building that contained the actors’ Skene = building that contained the actors’

dressing roomsdressing rooms

Greeks’ Special EffectsGreeks’ Special Effects

deus ex machinadeus ex machina (“god from the (“god from the machine”) = type of crane used for machine”) = type of crane used for suspending figures who portrayed godssuspending figures who portrayed gods

eccylemaeccylema = moveable or revolving = moveable or revolving platformplatform

There were no curtains, intermissions, There were no curtains, intermissions, lights, or microphones. Because of this, all lights, or microphones. Because of this, all scenes took place in daylight settings, all scenes took place in daylight settings, all scenes changes had to be built into the scenes changes had to be built into the dialogue of the actors and the chorus and dialogue of the actors and the chorus and actors had to have strong voicesactors had to have strong voices

The ActorsThe Actors

Only 3 actors that wore masks Only 3 actors that wore masks to play multiple partsto play multiple parts

All actors were men because it All actors were men because it was considered undignified for was considered undignified for women to appear on stagewomen to appear on stage

Wore padded costumes, wigs Wore padded costumes, wigs and high-heeled boots to make and high-heeled boots to make them taller and give them them taller and give them added dignity and poweradded dignity and power

Actors had to be able to speak Actors had to be able to speak in poetic language and sing in poetic language and sing using a loud and clear voiceusing a loud and clear voice

The ChorusThe Chorus Consisted of singers and dancers led by a conductorConsisted of singers and dancers led by a conductor Started out with 50 people but Sophocles fixed the Started out with 50 people but Sophocles fixed the

number at 15number at 15 The playwright used the chorus and their songs to: The playwright used the chorus and their songs to:

Add the beauty of song and danceAdd the beauty of song and dance Set the mood or express the main themes of the play Set the mood or express the main themes of the play

by commenting on the actionby commenting on the action Create a bridge between the actors and the audienceCreate a bridge between the actors and the audience Converse with and give advice to the actorsConverse with and give advice to the actors Tell about events that have already happened in the Tell about events that have already happened in the

pastpast Foretell the future by interpreting the actions of the Foretell the future by interpreting the actions of the

actorsactors

The StoriesThe Stories

Originally hymns and prayers Originally hymns and prayers honoring the gods, especially honoring the gods, especially DionysusDionysus

Over time, content changed to Over time, content changed to legends of Greek leaders and heroeslegends of Greek leaders and heroes

Tragedy = showed what happened to Tragedy = showed what happened to a person who went against the laws a person who went against the laws of the gods or who was too proudof the gods or who was too proud

TragedyTragedy

Stems from the Greek belief Stems from the Greek belief that man was subject to the that man was subject to the whims of the gods and fatewhims of the gods and fate

The root of Greek tragedy is The root of Greek tragedy is that man can not avoid that man can not avoid sufferingsuffering

Man’s fault = pride, a Man’s fault = pride, a mistaken belief that he could mistaken belief that he could somehow avoid fate or the somehow avoid fate or the will of the godswill of the gods

HubrisHubris

Excessive prideExcessive prideLeads to suffering and then to an Leads to suffering and then to an

understanding (catharsis) of man’s place understanding (catharsis) of man’s place in the system of lifein the system of life

The audience was to learn a lesson The audience was to learn a lesson through the tragedies that befell the through the tragedies that befell the characters on stage because they did not characters on stage because they did not follow the will of the gods or because follow the will of the gods or because they tried to avoid their own destiny they tried to avoid their own destiny based in hubrisbased in hubris

Origin of DramaOrigin of Drama

Developed by ancient Greeks Developed by ancient Greeks during celebrations honoring during celebrations honoring DionysusDionysus

Dionysus = god of the vine which Dionysus = god of the vine which produced grapes for wine; produced grapes for wine; associated with resurrection and associated with resurrection and sufferingsuffering

Because of the choral songs, the Because of the choral songs, the early Greek plays resembled what early Greek plays resembled what we call opera todaywe call opera today

Festival of DionysusFestival of Dionysus

Took place in Athens during 5 days in Took place in Athens during 5 days in March or AprilMarch or April

First day = procession honoring Dionysus First day = procession honoring Dionysus in which all citizens participatedin which all citizens participated

Second day = the choral songs were Second day = the choral songs were performedperformed

Last 3 days = three tragedies followed by Last 3 days = three tragedies followed by one satyr (satire – mock heroic tragedies) one satyr (satire – mock heroic tragedies) play and one comedy were performedplay and one comedy were performed

Festival of Dionysus cont. Festival of Dionysus cont.

The archon, a state official, selected three The archon, a state official, selected three poets to compete for the prizes in the poets to compete for the prizes in the tragedy division. tragedy division.

The choregus, a wealthy, prominent citizen The choregus, a wealthy, prominent citizen of Athens, was required by law to pay for the of Athens, was required by law to pay for the cost of training and costumes for the chorus. cost of training and costumes for the chorus.

A jury of 10 citizens selected the winning A jury of 10 citizens selected the winning poetpoet

The playwright served as a sort of teacher, The playwright served as a sort of teacher, offering plays for the ethical and moral offering plays for the ethical and moral improvement of his fellow citizens to insure improvement of his fellow citizens to insure the spiritual survival of the communitythe spiritual survival of the community

AntigoneAntigone

Third of Sophocles’ Third of Sophocles’ Theban playsTheban plays

Antigone = Antigone = Oedipus’ daughter; Oedipus’ daughter; princess of Thebesprincess of Thebes

Breaks the law to Breaks the law to bury her brother bury her brother who has been who has been labeled a traitor by labeled a traitor by the king, her uncle. the king, her uncle.

Oedipus BackgroundOedipus Background

Look at the Oedipus Family Tree…do Look at the Oedipus Family Tree…do you notice anything you notice anything strangestrange??

Read the Oedipus handout and Read the Oedipus handout and answer the corresponding questionsanswer the corresponding questions

Microsoft Word Document

The Oedipus Family TreeThe Oedipus Family Tree

The Perfect Jerry SpringerThe Perfect Jerry Springer

EpisodeEpisode

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

They had 4 children (Eww):They had 4 children (Eww):-Eteocles-Eteocles -Antigone-Antigone-Polynices-Polynices -Ismene-Ismene

// //SonsSons (O’s brothers?)(O’s brothers?) Daughters Daughters

(sisters?)(sisters?)Fight for ThebesFight for Thebes Go back to Go back to

ThebesThebesCursed by dying fatherCursed by dying fatherKill each otherKill each other

King Creon of Thebes married King Creon of Thebes married Queen EurydiceQueen Eurydice

Creon is Oedipus’ uncle, Jocasta’s Creon is Oedipus’ uncle, Jocasta’s brother (also Oedipus’ brother-in-law)brother (also Oedipus’ brother-in-law)

They have two sons:They have two sons:

Megareus Megareus Haemon Haemon

// //

dies during dies during betrothed to betrothed to Antigone,Antigone,

siege of Thebessiege of Thebes his cousinhis cousin

SourcesSources

Jessica Nugent – CHHS, Colleyville, Jessica Nugent – CHHS, Colleyville, TXTX

Stefanie Tziarri – Lawrence High Stefanie Tziarri – Lawrence High School, Mercer County, NJSchool, Mercer County, NJ