January 2013

Theatre History: Greek Drama

Western Drama began in 6th Century BC

Worship of the Greek god DionysusStart of SpringVines and grapes begin to grow.Grapes = WINE and Harvest

Festival of Dionysus made up of Theatre Performance Competition.

Greek Drama

To honor Dionysus’ death, a group of chanters danced around the altar on which a goat was sacrificed.

Group of Chanters = CHORUS

Chorus members were called goat-singers.

Goat-Song called TRAGOS.

Greek Drama

Greek Drama- CHORUS

Greek Drama- CHORUS

Thespis- First Actor to step out of chorus and begin conversation.

THESPIS = THESPIAN = Actor (Theatre Peeps).

Greek Drama

Trilogy – Three plays related by theme, myth, or characters.

Satyr Play- The fourth play was irreverent, bawdy burlesque .

Bawdy- Indecent, raunchy.

Greek Drama

Performances occurred on hillsides.

Orchestra – Circular area where the chorus danced.

Wooden (stone) seats.

Skene- Small hut stone building used to change costumes and masks, then second story added and used to perform.

Greek Drama- Technical Theatre

Greek Drama

Machina - Crane-like hoist used to make actor fly.

Characters lowered by Machina usually represented s god from Mount Olympus who came to earth to settle human affairs.

Deus Ex Machina - god from the machine. This term is also used to indicate an artificial plot device to resolve story difficulties.

Greek Drama- Technical Theatre

Chorus members were integral parts of Greek plays.

Chorus served to explain the situation, bring audience up to date, to make a commentary on the action.

NARRATOR!

Greek Drama

Greatest Greek Tragedy Writers:AeschylusSophoclesEuripides

Greek Drama

Expanded the number of actors and reduced the size of the chorus.

He left us the only surviving trilogy- The Oresteia

Greek Drama- Aeschylus

Refined plot structure to create plot strucutre.

Power of Gods VS Free Will

Great Tragedian – Wrote Oedipus Rex and Antigone

Greek Drama- Sophocles

Became more interested in people’s every day lives than religious views.

Pathos- human sorrow and compassion.

Author of Trojan Women and Medea.

Greek Drama- Euripides

Write the keyword for each question followed by the answer.

1. Give me the name of Medea’s husband.

2. What action is the King of Corinth planning to take in regards to Medea and her children?

3. Who does Medea hate (aside from her husband)?

4. Why is Creon banishing Medea from Corinth?

Medea Quiz #1

Write the keyword for each question followed by the answer.1. Creon, the King, banishes Medea from Corinth. What favor does

Medea ask of Creon?

2. Medea is planning her revenge against the king, princess, and her husband Jason. How is she going to attain her revenge?

3. Medea claims that she rescued and helped Jason in his adventures. Jason denies it and says that -------------- is the one who blessed and helped him throughout his adventures.

4. Why is Jason marrying the princess?

**bonus: " it is not right that the seed of Sisyphus and Aeson should gloat over you [Medea], the daughter of a noble sire and descendant of the Sun". What does this sentence tell you about Medea?

Medea Quiz #2

Write down keyword or phrase followed by answer:

1. Why was Aegeus visiting the oracle at Delphi?

2. What promise did Aegeus make with Medea?

3. How is Medea going to poison the princess?

4. According to Medea, what is the correct thing to do with her children?

*Bonus: who is Phoebus?

MEDEA Quiz #3

Write down keyword or phrase followed by answer:

1. What news did the messenger give to Medea?

2. How does Medea kill her children?

3. Jason rushes to Medea and finds his dead children. According to Medea, who is at fault for their murder?

4. What happens to Medea at the end of the play? Explain.

**Bonus: what city is she going to?

****Bonus: who is her father's father?

MEDEA Quiz #4