One of the very first mysteries ever written Oedipus Rex One of the very first mysteries ever written

Sophocles Born 496 B.C. Wrote 113 plays, only 7 have survived From an area outside Athens, Greece Won 1st at the Dionysian 18 times Innovator of drama: painted background scenery and 3 speaking actors Interested in character portrayal Concerned with the individual’s struggle with Fate Died at 90 in 406 B.C

Origins of Greek Drama-Dionysus Began through religious worship of Dionysus Greek god of wine, revelry, and physical pleasure Handsome and vigorous-filled with the joy of life Father of the Greek Theater

Origins of Greek Drama When grapes were harvested, the Greeks would celebrate in honor of Dionysus Much dancing and singing Some people wore masks At first, everyone took part in the activities. Then, some who danced or sang better than the others would take control of the activities. The others would gather to watch, thus performance came into existence A large audience needed a place to see the performance. The people sought out semi-circular hillsides sloping down toward a flat area. This flat area was stomped down and called the “dancing circle” and Western civilization’s first “stage”

The First Theatre

Theatre of Delphi

Theatre Ruins Theatre of Dionysus Theatre at Epidaurus

LSU’s Greek Theatre

Characteristics of Greek Drama Open to to the sky Seats of stone Simple props used No violence represented directly on stage Rich citizens (patrons) funded the expense of putting on a play Awesome acoustics and visibility Tickets were free Only occurred once a year at the Feast of Dionysus

Characteristics of Greek Drama Women sat apart from men Only men were actors or in the chorus: elaborate masks worn Lively audience, ate and drank, quarreled, shouted, hissed, groaned, threw olives, figs, or stones Three days of drama-on each day five plays were presented: 3 tragedies, a satyr play, and a comedy Winners chosen by a panel of 10 judges

Greek Masks

The Chorus Earliest Greek drama was a group production performed by a chorus The chorus sometimes sang, sometimes chanted In 535 B.C., a man named Thespis, who was a prominent leader of the chorus, stepped out from the group and recited alone— thus, the first actor (the reason why actors are now called thespians) Originally, the Chorus consisted of about 50 people

The Chorus Chorus functions as another character in the play-sort of Chorus dwindled to no more than 15 people over the years, as first a 2nd actor was added, and finally, a 3rd Chorus functions as another character in the play-sort of Chorus sets the mood and atmosphere of the play Engages in dialogue with the characters through the Chorus Leader Comments on and emphasizes the main themes of the play Offers important background and provides summaries so that the audience might better understand the play Models an ideal audience’s response to the unfolding drama Foreshadows the outcome of the play

Tragic Hero A man of high birth Has great promise, ability, and integrity of character Neither extremely good or evil Has a tragic flaw or weakness-sometimes seen in as an error in judgment Suffers, does not endure passively, fights back He must have a choice Downfall (causes?)

Oracle at Delphi Fate is inescapable. Delphi - the “centre of the world” The Temple of Apollo at Delphi attracts pilgrims who come to seek the advice of the Pythia. (priestess) The prophecies must be decoded and interpreted. Fate is inescapable.

Sphinx Monster with the head of a woman, claws or a lion, tail of a serpent, and the wings of a bird Took up residence near the city of Thebes and asked every person the following riddle: “What walks on four legs in the morning, on two at noon, and on three in the evening?” Killed those who could not answer her correctly

Things to Look for in Oedipus Rex Irony, chiefly, dramatic irony Concept of fate Characterization of Oedipus Role of and Belief in the gods Blindness, Truth, Knowledge Disease Nature of the conflict Concept of transgression-violation of a law, command, or duty