Greek Tragedy
The Land Located in Europe in the Aegean Sea
The Land Greece has thousands of inhabited islands and dramatic mountain ranges
The Land
The History Democracy was founded in Greece It had a patriarchal (male dominated) society
The Philosophy Philosophy, the art of thinking, began in Greece (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle)
Aristotle ( BC) author of Poetics, which defined Greek tragedy Tragedy is a drama that recounts an important and unhappy event in the life of a significant person A tragic hero must be a person capable of great suffering Tragedy explores humankind’s questions of the ways of god or fate Tragedy shows how a person is brought to disaster by a single character flaw Tragedy arouses the emotions of pity, fear, wonder, awe, and ends with a catharsis of emotions.
Aristotle’s Tragic Hero Must come from nobility Must have a tragic flaw Undergoes a reversal of fortune(fall from high place) Finally recognizes his/her mistakes
The Unities A. Unity of Time (play is limited to a 24 hour period) B. Unity of Place (scenes/locations did not change) C. Unity of Action (one storyline without subplots or diversions
Purpose of the Plays Everyone was expected to attend based on civic duty Plays were a form of religious worship They taught moral lessons such as moderation, duty, etc. Violent acts were not permitted on stage but were simply reported to the audience by a character
Dramatic Structure
Terms to Know Catharsis- the release of pent up emotions or tension, sometimes through art or music and sometimes through behavior Hubris- having excessive pride or arrogance
The Myths– a key factor in Greek Tragedy
The Myths – Why they were written 1.Explained the unexplainable 2.Justified religious practices 3.Gave credibility to leaders 4.Gave hope 5.Polytheistic (more than one god) 6.Centered around the twelve Olympians (primary Greek gods)
To give credibility to leaders The Greeks used myths to create family trees for their leaders, enforcing the made- up idea that the emperors were related to the gods and were, then, demigods.
Mount Olympus …Where the Olympians lived. Who are the Olympians?
The Olympians Are the 12 Main Gods
Temperaments of the Olympians
Zeus King of gods Heaven Storms Thunder Lightning
Poseidon Zeus’s brother King of the sea Earthquakes Horses
Hades Brother to Zeus and Poseidon King of the Underworld (Tartarus) Husband of Persephone
Ares God of war
Hephaestus God of fire Craftspeople Metalworkers Artisans
Apollo God of the sun Music Poetry Fine arts Medicine
Hermes Messenger to the gods Trade Commerce Travelers Thieves & scoundrels
Hera Queen of gods Married to Zeus Women Marriage Childbirth
Demeter Goddess of Harvest Agriculture Fertility Fruitfulness Mom to Persephone
Hestia Goddess of Hearth Home Community
Athena Goddess of wisdom Practical arts War
Aphrodite Goddess of love and beauty
Artemis Goddess of hunting and the moon.
Dionysus- a minor god God of Wine and Partying (Revelry) Dionysus
Dionysian Festival Greek plays were performed during religious ceremonies held in honor of Dionysus and sacrifices were made (generally on stage )
The Theater Business would shut down for days, people would travel from all around to see the drama competitions— even prisoners were temporarily released to see the plays
The Theater Tragedy means “goat song” (related to Dionysian rituals)
The Theater
Six Main Portions of Greek Theater: Theatron – Seating for audience
The Theater Six Main Portions of Greek Theater: Orchestra – “Dancing Place” where chorus sang to the audience
The Theater Six Main Portions of Greek Theater: Thymele – altar to Dionysus in center of orchestra where sacrifices were made
The Theater Six Main Portions of Greek Theater: Skene – wooden scene building used as a dressing room.
The Theater Six Main Portions of Greek Theater: Parados – entrance to the theater used by the Chorus
The Theater
Where and how were the dramas performed? … In an amphitheatre
Where and how were the dramas performed? …With a chorus who described most of the action.
Where and how were the dramas performed? ……With masks
The Stage
The Playwrights The Playwrights Thespis was the first playwright to tell a story. He had one chorus member step away from the others to play the part of a hero or god.
How were the dramas developed? Aeschylus added a second individual actor to the performance, thus creating the possibility of conflict.
How were the dramas developed? Sophocles adds a third actor; now we have full- blown drama.
Sophocles’ Antigone Set in Thebes (a city in ancient Greece)
Is based on the myth of Oedipus, which all Greek audiences would have known well This allowed the audience to focus on the message being delivered rather than the events
The Story of Oedipus Oedipus is given away by his parents, Laios and Jocasta when they learn from an oracle that their son would kill his father and marry his mother.
The ancient citizens of Greece would sacrifice and pray to an ORACLE. An oracle was a priest or priestess who would send a message from the gods to mortals who brought their requests.
The Oracle at Delphi Most famous oracle in Greek mythology.
Sophocles’ Antigone Oedipus learns of the oracle and believing the king and queen of Corinth are his parents, he leaves to avoid the oracle.
Sophocles’ Antigone Oedipus travels to Thebes, killing Laios on the way. He saves the city from a terrible monster, the Sphinx.
Sophocles’ Antigone Thebes rewards him by making him king and giving him the queen to marry.
Sophocles’ Antigone A plague hits the city and the oracle warns that it won’t go away until the killer of King Laios is punished.
Sophocles’ Antigone Oedipus investigates and finds out he killed his father and married his mother.
Sophocles’ Antigone Oedipus blinds himself and Jocasta kills herself.
Sophocles’ Antigone Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta.
Sophocles’ Antigone Antigone’s brothers, Eteokles and Polyneces, were to rule in alternate years.
Sophocles’ Antigone Eteokles refused to give up the throne for Polyneces at the end of his year.
Sophocles’ Antigone Polyneces went to Argos and raised an army to gain the throne.
Sophocles’ Antigone Eteokles and Polyneces killed each other in battle.
Sophocles’ Antigone Antigone’s uncle, Creon, became king of Thebes.
Sophocles’ Antigone Creon, gives Eteokles, his ally, a hero’s burial and issues a decree against burying Polyneces.
Sophocles’ Antigone Antigone believes that he is wrong and that both of her brothers should be buried with honor.
Ancient Greek Burial Traditions 1. Bury or burn the body to keep the soul from wandering the earth 2. Dead are washed and dressed in fine clothing. 3. The mouth and eyes of the dead are shut to prevent the soul from leaving the body. 4. Mourners wear black and/or cut their hair. 5. The body is followed by a procession. 6. Wine was poured over the gravesite and there was a sacrifice of food and drink. 7. Flowers were laid on the gravesite. 8. A funeral feast was prepared. 9. Dead were buried in a special place called a necropolis “city of the dead”. 10. A coin was placed inside the dead’s mouth to pay the ferryman for a ride across the River Styx into the underworld.
Sophocles’ Antigone The play is based on three major conflicts Human law vs. God’s law Civic Duty vs. Family Duty Man’s role vs. Woman’s role