1. HISTORY OF WESTERN DRAMA
(Greek)

2. Theater’s Roots
Theater began to develop in the sixth century B.C. as part of the worship of the Greek god of wine and fertility, Dionysus.
A group of chanters (12-15 people) called a “chorus” danced around an altar on which a goat was sacrificed. This chorus represented the voice of reason, or the views of society.
This ritualistic chant was called “tragos,” or “goat-song.” From “tragos,” the word “tragedy” was derived.

3. Theater’s Roots, con’t These ceremonies evolved into contests.
According to Greek folklore, Thespis won the first competition. Legend says that when Thespis stepped out of the chorus and engaged in dialogue with other members, he became the first actor.
The term “thespian” has been given to actors ever since.

4. Theater’s Roots, con’t
These contests took place outdoors at an amphitheater and lasted five-six days and usually involved a trilogy by one author (three plays related by theme, myth, or characters).
On the last day, the play was usually an irrelevant, bawdy, burlesque called a satyr play.
Actors—always men—wore masks and costumes.
Early plays only had two actors.
By about 450 B.C., a third actor had been added.

5. Amphi-theater
Plays were performed at the bottom of a semi- circle cut out from the side of a hill:

6. Amphitheater, con’t.
Orchestra: The orchestra ("dancing space") was normally circular. It was a level space where the chorus would dance, sing, and interact with the actors who were on the stage near the skene.
Theatron: The theatron ("viewing-place") is where the spectators sat.

7. Amphitheater, con’t
Skene: The skene ("tent") was the building directly behind the stage where the actors dressed and prepared for their next act.
Parodos: The parodoi ("passageways") are the paths by which the chorus and some actors made their entrances and exits. The audience also used them to enter and exit the theater before and after the performance.

9. Stage Directions
These notes convey information about sound effects, Movements, gestures, setting, and line readings to the cast, crew, and readers of drama.

10. Dialogue:
In drama, much of what you learn about the characters, setting, and events is revealed through dialogue.

11. The Chorus:
The chorus was an integral part of Early Greek plays. They served to explain the situation, and bring the audience up to date, or make commentary on the action of the play.
They also give advice and relieve tension.
The leader of the chorus was called the choregus.

12. Drama: A story written to be performed by actors.
The script of a drama is made up of dialogue– the words the actors say– and stage directions, which are comments on how and where the action occurs.

13. Tragedy:
A drama of a character, usually one in high position, where a conflict usually develops between the protagonist/hero and a “superior force (such as destiny, circumstance, or society)” and the story ends in some sort of disaster or great fall of the protagonist.

14. Protagonist of the Tragedy:
This character is called the hero.
A character who experiences a reversal of fortunes as a result of fate or a tragic flaw in his or her character.
Tragic flaw: weakness the hero of a tragedy possesses that causes his or her downfall
The error or mistake the tragic hero commits is called “hamartia.”

15. Playwrights of Greek Tragedies:
Aeschylus
Sophocles
Euripides

16. Aeschylus: The "Father of Tragedy" Addition of a second actor
Made much use of imagery
His tragedy deals Fates and the justice of the gods
His plays reflect the contemporary belief that the gods--jealous and resentful of human greatness-- typically inflict great persons with a character flaw that brings about their ruin.

17. Sophocles ( B.C):
One of the greatest Greek tragedians, Ranked with Shakespeare as one of the greatest playwrights of all time.
Believing that human beings have divine qualities that elevate their struggles against fate, he achieved an amazing balance between the power of the gods and the importance of humanity.
Oedipus Rex is considered one of the most powerful examples of dramatic irony and Antigone is considered one of the world’s greatest tragedies.

18. Sophocles:
Won the competition at the Great Dionysia more often than any other of the great dramatists
He increased the potential for dramatic conflict by adding a third actor
Wrote dramas which were complete in themselves, rather than always part of a trilogy
Sophocles has written over a hundred plays, of which, only seven survive.

19. Euripides:
He became more interested in peoples’ lives than in the religious views of his day.
He emphasized human relationships and became the master of pathos—human sorrow and compassion.
He wrote at least 90 plays, of which survived
One device he uses is the “deus ex machina,” in which a god, not involved earlier in the action, descends (in a stage machine) to straighten out the mess humans got themselves into.

20. Costumes
Costumes for actors generally consisted of a robe/tunic and a mask.
The costumes worn gave the audience an immediate sense of character-type, gender, age, social status and class.
The masks were the most striking feature of the costume
The masks were also a means of blotting out expression, so visual meaning was expressed by the entire body.

21. Costumes, con’t
Masks can also be used as a dramatic tool, e.g. lowering the masks shows reflection, raising the mask shows a challenge or superiority. The Greeks called these physical stances schemata (forms).
The use of masks enabled the three speaking actors to portray up to eight or nine characters, through multiple role-playing. The same character could therefore be played by different actors, and transitions within a character would be portrayed by the use of different masks.

24. Why is Greek tragedy important in modern history?
Much of Greek tragedy deals with the issues we're facing in the world today.
The issue of war appears a lot and questions the motives behind the war and the fate of the survivors.
Greek tragedy was often very formulaic, and some people argue that our lives follow a similar formula. This involves the concept of hubris, hamartia, and catharsis, among others.

25. Why is Greek tragedy important in modern history? (Con’t)
Greek tragedy, however, is like any form of art; it is designed to hold a mirror to society, and even though society progresses through the ages, it is still made up of people. People will always have the same flaws, the same desires, the same outcomes.