The Greek Theater

All citizens were expected to attend these festivals, or celebrations. The ancient Greek theater had a major influence on theater as we know it today. (Script, stage, acting techniques) Began as religious ritual worshipping the gods, specifically Dionysus, god of wine and procreation. All citizens were expected to attend these festivals, or celebrations. Aspendos Theatre in Turkey

The first plays consisted of just a chorus retelling legends, but in 534, Thesis, the first actor, stepped out from the chorus and took on the persona of a god. Thus, plays evolved to include dialogue. Through these performances, the common folk were taught lessons the government deemed important.

It was also at this point that the Chorus was diminished to about 12 men from 50. No more than three characters were allowed on stage at any given time. There were many more parts, and actors shared the roles. They wore masks and costumes that were larger than life so that they could be both seen and understood by the 15,000 audience members.

Aristotle Born in 384 B.C.E. and died in 322 B.C.E. Wrote The Poetics of Aristotle. In this, he defines tragedy. * In this, he uses Sophocles' Oedipus Rex as the perfect example of a tragedy.

“A tragedy, then, is the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself; in language with pleasurable acces­sories, each kind brought in separately in the parts of the work; in a dramatic, not in a narrative form; with in­cidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish its catharsis of such emotions.”

“Tragedy, then, is an imitation of an action of high importance, complete and of some ampli­tude; in language enhanced by distinct and varying beauties; acted not narrated; by means of pity and fear effectuating its purgation of these emotions.”

Dramatic Structure   The Prologue: sets the scene and contains the exposition The Parados: The entrance song of the chorus. This is named after the broad aisles on either side of the theater, in which the chorus both entered and exited

Scenes (Episodes): Scenes of action in which the characters perform Scenes (Episodes): Scenes of action in which the characters perform. (These alternate with the Odes)   Odes (stasimons): Poetic songs sung by the chorus. Usually musical instruments accompanied the songs. These odes are sometimes labeled “Strophes” and “antistrophes”, which simply means that the chorus is moving left and right when singing these odes, or stanzas.

Exodus: The conclusion Exodus: The conclusion. The chorus usually sings these lines as they exit the theater.   Within this Dramatic structure of Greek Tragedy, you will still find the generic structure….(exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution)

Roles of the Chorus:   Chorus responded to play the way the playwright hoped the audience would respond. Provided tension release Reflected on what has happened, pondered what may happen, may ask questions At times, may become involved in play…advising characters Separated scenes of action from one another

Roles of Chorus Continued: Acted as conscience of audience….allowing for an ethical perception from which to view what is happening on stage Helped to establish mood through movement and song Pointed out moments when audience should reflect upon what has occurred Could be inside or outside the action of the play, by either participating in it, or just observing it

Roles of Chorus Continued: * * in Oedipus Rex, Choragos, is the spokesperson from the chorus that interacts directly with characters on stage.

Vocabulary to know to read Classical Greek Texts

THE GOLDEN MEAN The Greeks believed in avoiding extremes. Avoid evils associated with any kind of excess, good or bad. For example: Courage. It is a good thing, but if one has too much courage, one could be reckless. Too little courage, one could be a coward.

The three types of IRONY IRONY: a contrast between what appears to be and what actually exists, between what is expected and what is experienced. The three types of IRONY Verbal: When a character says one thing but means another Situational: What happens is different from what is expected to happen. Dramatic: When the audience is aware of critical information of which the characters are unaware. Why use irony? To heighten suspense To add humor Develop depth of character Express theme To foreshadow

Apostrophe: when a talker or writer breaks off and directs speech to an imaginary person or abstract quality or idea. "O eloquent, just, and mighty Death!" – Raleigh O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?" – Shakespeare "Devouring Time, blunt thou the lion's paws.“ – Shakespeare

Hamartia: a flaw within a character that leads to his demise. Hubris: Excessive pride or arrogance Anagnorisis: Greek for the moment of discovery or recognition . The moment a character moves from ignorance to knowledge. Catharsis: Purging of emotions; occurs when audience purges their emotions of fear and pity. Tyrant - one who did not inherit the throne by birth, but rather, came to take the throne by other means.

Peripeteia - means reversal Peripeteia - means reversal. It’s the change by which the situation turns around toward its opposite. Pathetic fallacy is the attribution of human traits to nature or inanimate objects.(A form of personification)

Paradox Tiresias – The Blind Seer

TIRESIAS and the PARADOX of BLINDNESS A paradox is a contradiction. It is a play on ideas, side by side contrasts that clash, but then reconcile simultaneously. Paradoxical ideas provide theme in different pieces of literature or poetry, for they show that things are not what they seem. Examples: “It is the little things in life that are colossal. “ –Chesterton “To Althea, From Prison; Stone Walls do not a prison make” -Lovelace

The motif (a recurring idea, image, color, symbol throughout literature) of physical blindness, typically suggests extraordinary insight on the part of the person who is blind. “Hear, now this, foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not.” The Book of Jeremiah 5:21 “None no blind as those that will not see.” Commentaries “There is a condition worse than blindness, and that is, seeing something that is not there” -Hardy Teiresias, the blind prophet, is known to have extraordinary powers. He sees the truth. Oedipus, who physically can see quite well at the beginning of the play, is accused of being blind to the truth.

Stichomythic Dialogue A poetic device original to ancient Greek tragedy, in which individual lines of verse dialogue are assigned to alternating speakers. This type of dialogue provides contrast to lengthy speeches and choral passages. It occurs at moments of high tension or conflict between characters. Stichomythia presents thesis and counterthesis, question and answer, or argument or refutation. In its best form, the structure of the lines is nearly parallel, and cue words lead the thought from one speech to the next. (see pg 18) ** Search for an example in Scene II **