Greek Power Point1.4 Segment 4

Now here’s Now here’s real real a a ““PARADOXPARADOX”…”…

But first, a But first, a realreal “ “Pair Pair o’ Docks”…o’ Docks”…

What is the difference What is the difference between…between…

““Beauty is Truth and Truth Beauty, That is All Ye Beauty is Truth and Truth Beauty, That is All Ye Know on Earth and All Ye Need to Know.” KeatsKnow on Earth and All Ye Need to Know.” Keats



the truth the truth andand



the truth the truth

andand TTruthruth ? ?

The eternal The eternal paradoxparadox of literature: of literature:

Art Art always tells always tells the the TruthTruth


John Malkovich as himself in John Malkovich as himself in Being John MalkovichBeing John Malkovich19991999

Art Art always tells always tells the the TruthTruth

even when even when it’s lying.it’s lying.


What’s What’s TTruerue

need not need not be true.be true.


Although a story Although a story is fictional…is fictional…

Its THEME is Its THEME is always True.always True.

THEMETHEME

equalsequals

TruthTruth

EPISTEMOLOGY

EPISTEMOLOGY

When reading

literature…

Art Says…

Truth doesn’t come easily.

Art Says…

Using your

powers of inference

…

Art Says…

…you have to “urn”

it.

Art Says…

What we What we obtain obtain

too too cheap, cheap,

we we esteem esteem

too too lightly.lightly.

ThomasPaine Says…

(1737-1809)(1737-1809)Writer and Revolutionary Writer and Revolutionary

Authors rarely come

right out and TELL you the story’s

THEME.

Art Says…By imagining, struggling, sympathizin

g, as we read, we make the life lesson

more personally

meaningful .

AND more memorable.

Art Says…

Greek Greek TheaterTheater

496-406 B.C.

““Fortunate Fortunate Sophocles who Sophocles who after a long life after a long life died, a happy and died, a happy and a gifted man after a gifted man after writing many fine writing many fine tragedies he made tragedies he made a good end, having a good end, having endured no evil.endured no evil.””

Phrynichas,Greek Comic Poet

Arete Rewarded:Arete Rewarded:The Cast PartyThe Cast Party

Tragic Tragic FormForm

AristotleAristotle

TRUTHTRUTH can be can be found by found by analyzing analyzing

nature.nature.

AristotleAristotle

Some people Some people call me the call me the

father of the father of the scientific scientific

method.method.

AristotleAristotle

The method influenced my approach to

literary literary

criticism.criticism.

AristotleAristotle

BEAUTY can be found by

analyzing art and determining

its underlying

form.

From Aristotle’s From Aristotle’s PoeticsPoetics

“ “ TRAGEDY, then, is a representation of an TRAGEDY, then, is a representation of an action that is worth serious attention, action that is worth serious attention, completecomplete in itself, and of some amplitude; in in itself, and of some amplitude; in language enriched by a variety of language enriched by a variety of artistic artistic devicesdevices appropriate to the several appropriate to the several parts of parts of the playthe play; presented in the form of ; presented in the form of actionaction, not , not narration; by means of narration; by means of pity and fearpity and fear bringing bringing about the about the purgationpurgation of such emotions. of such emotions.


The Six Aspects of The Six Aspects of TragedyTragedy



1.1. Catharsis:Catharsis: Pity & Fear Pity & Fear

2.2. Hamartia:Hamartia: “Average” protagonist, “Average” protagonist, fatally flawed, attains fatally flawed, attains anagnorisisanagnorisis

3.3. Universality:Universality: Theme Theme



4. 4. Artful Diction:Artful Diction: Purposeful use of style Purposeful use of style

5. 5. Unity of Action:Unity of Action: “ Triangle-formed” plot “ Triangle-formed” plot which includes which includes peripeteiaperipeteia

6. 6. Spectacle:Spectacle: Viewable Viewable

# 1# 1 CATHARSISCATHARSIS

CHORUSCHORUS: : Sang to arouse Sang to arouse emotion in the audience.emotion in the audience.

ULTIMATE PURPOSEULTIMATE PURPOSE: : ARETE for the POLISARETE for the POLIS

# 1# 1 ACTIONACTION: : Real enough to Real enough to allow for vicarious allow for vicarious experience.experience.

HUBRISHUBRIS

# 2# 2

STOCK Topic: STOCK Topic: HUBRISHUBRIS

STOCK Theme: STOCK Theme:

Pride Precedes a FallPride Precedes a Fall

# 2# 2

# 2# 2

# 3# 3UniversalityUniversalityand and Historical RootsHistorical Roots

Corinth

# 3# 3

Corinth

# 3# 3

Corinth

# 3# 3

Corinth

# 3# 3

# 3# 3

Oedipus and the Sphynx# 3# 3

Oedipus and the Sphynx

# 3# 3

Oedipus and the Sphynx

# 3# 3

Oedipus’ Lineage: The House of ThebesOedipus’ Lineage: The House of Thebes

THE PASTTHE PAST # 3# 3

TASK: With a partner (and working together)…TASK: With a partner (and working together)…

• IDENTIFY at least three different ways in which IDENTIFY at least three different ways in which Sophocles uses artful diction* in the play Sophocles uses artful diction* in the play Oedipus RexOedipus Rex..

• For each quotation you find, briefly note its For each quotation you find, briefly note its context in the play and HOW the author helps context in the play and HOW the author helps to enhance this context with his diction. to enhance this context with his diction.

* HINT: Keep your literary terms sheet handy.* HINT: Keep your literary terms sheet handy.

# 4# 4

ARTFUL DICTIONARTFUL DICTION

# 4# 4

Greek Tragedy is as Much Choral as DramaticGreek Tragedy is as Much Choral as Dramatic

• ALL LINES:ALL LINES: In blank verse. In blank verse.

• MESSENGER SPEECHES:MESSENGER SPEECHES: Archaic diction. Extremely Archaic diction. Extremely formal. formal.

• DIALOG:DIALOG: Often colloquial (connection to polis) Often colloquial (connection to polis)

• CHORAL ODES:CHORAL ODES: Varied meter. Shorter lines. Varied meter. Shorter lines.

• EPISODES:EPISODES: In iambic trimeter (sung) In iambic trimeter (sung)

# 4# 4

# 5# 5“ FEAR and PITY may be aroused by spectacular

means; but they may also result from the INNER

STRUCTURE of the piece, which is the better way, and

indicates a superior poet. For the plot ought to be so

constructed that, even without the aid of the eye, he who hears the tale told will thrill with horror and melt to pity at what takes

place.” Poetics XIV

# 5# 5

Contemporary Short Story Pattern

# 6# 6“But to produce this effect by the mere spectacle alone is a LESS artistic method, and dependent on extraneous aids. Those who employ spectacular means to create a sense not of the terrible but only of the monstrous, are strangers to the purpose of Tragedy; for we must not demand of Tragedy any and every kind of pleasure, but only that which is proper to it.” Poetics

# 6# 6

SPECTACLESPECTACLE

# 6# 6

SPECTACLE: StagingSPECTACLE: Staging

# 6# 6

SPECTACLE: Skene (SKA-nay)SPECTACLE: Skene (SKA-nay)

# 6# 6

SPECTACLESPECTACLE

# 6# 6

SPECTACLE: StagingSPECTACLE: Staging # 6# 6

SPECTACLE: StagingSPECTACLE: Staging# 6# 6

SPECTACLE: SPECTACLE:

StagingStaging

# 6# 6

SPECTACLE: SPECTACLE:

StagingStaging

# 6# 6

SPECTACLE: ChorusSPECTACLE: Chorus

# 6# 6

SPECTACLE: ChorusSPECTACLE: Chorus

# 6# 6

SPECTACLE:SPECTACLE:

ActorsActors

# 6# 6

SPECTACLE: MasksSPECTACLE: Masks

# 6# 6


MasksMasks# 6# 6

SPECTACLESPECTACLE

# 6# 6

SPECTACLESPECTACLE

# 6# 6


MusicMusic

# 6# 6


MusicMusic

# 6# 6

Department of Department of Classics, Classics, University of University of CincinnatiCincinnati

Sacred Sacred FragmentsFragments

TASKTASK::

In a group of EIGHT, for either In a group of EIGHT, for either AntigoneAntigone or or Oedipus at ColonusOedipus at Colonus……

• Identify the six aspects of Greek tragedy Identify the six aspects of Greek tragedy according to Aristotle and provide supporting according to Aristotle and provide supporting evidence from the play using QUOTATIONS evidence from the play using QUOTATIONS (include line numbers as well).(include line numbers as well).

• Link each aspect to its equivalent in Link each aspect to its equivalent in contemporary culture (you may draw from contemporary culture (you may draw from anything except plays).anything except plays).

• Deliver your connections in an organized, Deliver your connections in an organized, connectedconnected presentation to the class using presentation to the class using visuals and/or sound to make each aspect visuals and/or sound to make each aspect come alive for your audience.come alive for your audience.

LOGICLOGICPatterns of Persuasion Patterns of Persuasion (Form)(Form)

Logic

Logic

“ The duty and office of rhetoric is to apply reason to imagination for the better moving of the will. ”

Education

Greek Power Point1.4 Segment 4