1. Outline Intro Structure of Greek Plays Performance not “Naturalistic” Theater as Part of Religious Festival Role of Theater in Greek Society Themes of Greek Plays “Oresteia” “The Persians” “The Trojan Women” The Oedipus Cycle Greek Comedy

2. Introduction Democratic Artform—Civic Event

4. Introduction Democratic Artform—Civic Event Public artform to explore human nature and civic issues Only some plays remain

5. Highly Ritualized Structure of Greek Plays Origins: Dithyramb Second actor added Eventually Third Actor (All Men) Starts with Introduction and Choral Ode Interspersed with Dialogue

6. Performance not “Naturalistic” Almost no scenery Deus ex Machina

7. Performance not “Naturalistic” Almost no scenery Heavy Mask

8. Theater Masks had exaggerated expression so people in the back could see what emotions they were expressing. They may have also had megaphones in them so the actors could be heard in back.

9. Performance not “Naturalistic” Almost no scenery Heavy Mask Heavy Robes

10. Performance not “Naturalistic” Almost no scenery Heavy Mask Heavy Robes Relied on voices and highly ritualized movements

11. Performance not “Naturalistic” Almost no scenery Heavy Mask Heavy Robes Relied on voices and highly ritualized movements Not supposed to be “realistic”

12. Performance not “Naturalistic” Almost no scenery Heavy Mask Heavy Robes Relied on voices and highly ritualized movements Not supposed to be “realistic” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQOPFxuiaWQ

13. Theater as part of Religious Festival Festival for Dionysus

14. Theater as part of Religious Festival Festival for Dionysus Dionysus – God of wine, but also the god of social taboos – But also the force binding society together

15. Theater as part of Religious Festival Festival for Dionysus Dionysus – God of wine, but also the god of social taboos – But also the force binding society together Just a few days of the year

16. Theater as part of Religious Festival Festival for Dionysus Dionysus – God of wine, but also the god of social taboos – But also the force binding society together Just a few days of the year Festival over three days – One playwright each day – Trilogy and Satyr Play – Starts at Sunrise, goes all day

17. Theater as part of Religious Festival Festival for Dionysus Dionysus – God of wine, but also the god of social taboos – But also the force binding society together Just a few days of the year Festival over three days – One playwright each day – Trilogy and Satyr Play – Starts at Sunrise, goes all day Agon: Winning Playwright

18. Role of Theater in Greek Society Place for Transgression

19. Role of Theater in Greek Society Place for Transgression Catharsis (“A purifying cleansing of the emotions”)

20. Role of Theater in Greek Society Place for Transgression Catharsis (“A purifying cleansing of the emotions”) Social Commentary

21. Themes in Greek Theater Agon – Antagonism between characters – Internal Strife – Competition between playwrights

22. Themes in Greek Theater Agon – Antagonism between characters – Internal Strife – Competition between playwrights Tragedy as Allegory – Allegory:

23. Themes in Greek Theater Agon – Antagonism between characters – Internal Strife – Competition between playwrights Tragedy as Allegory – Allegory: the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existencesymbolic

24. Themes in Greek Theater Agon – Antagonism between characters – Internal Strife – Competition between playwrights Tragedy as Allegory – Allegory: the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existencesymbolic Comedy as Satire – Satire:

25. Themes in Greek Theater Agon – Antagonism between characters – Internal Strife – Competition between playwrights Tragedy as Allegory – Allegory: the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existencesymbolic Comedy as Satire – Satire: A literary work in which human vice or folly is attacked through irony, derision, or wit.

26. Aeschylus (525-456) Fought at Marathon, wanted that on Tombstone rather than playwriting first place at Dionysia an amazing 13 times

27. The Persians (472) NOT set in Mythical Era

28. The Persians (472) NOT set in Mythical Era Portrays Persians as Brave Men

29. The Persians (472) NOT set in Mythical Era Portrays Persians as Brave Men Warnings about power

30. The Persians (472) NOT set in Mythical Era Portrays Persians as Brave Men Warnings about power – Don’t give too much power to an autocrat

31. The Persians (472) NOT set in Mythical Era Portrays Persians as Brave Men Warnings about power – Don’t give too much power to an autocrat – Don’t overextend your empire

32. Oresteia Trilogy (458) Agamemnon: Clytemnestra kills Agamemnon

33. Oresteia Trilogy (458) Agamemnon: Clytemnestra kills Agamemnon The Libation Bearers: The kids, Orestes and Electra get revenge

34. Oresteia Trilogy (458) Agamemnon: Clytemnestra kills Agamemnon The Libation Bearers: The kids, Orestes and Electra get revenge The Eumenides: The Furies and the Oresteia

35. Oresteia: Themes and Historical Significance One Bad Thing Leads to Another

36. Oresteia: Themes and Historical Significance One Bad Thing Leads to Another Agon: Internal Struggle

37. Oresteia: Themes and Historical Significance One Bad Thing Leads to Another Agon: Internal Struggle Blood Feud vs. Rule of Law

38. Oresteia: Themes and Historical Significance One Bad Thing Leads to Another Agon: Internal Struggle Blood Feud vs. Rule of Law The Role of the Areopagus

39. Oresteia: Themes and Historical Significance One Bad Thing Leads to Another Agon: Internal Struggle Blood Feud vs. Rule of Law The Role of the Areopagus – Justification of crucial remaining role for Areopagus, judging Homicide Cases

40. Euripides’ The Trojan Women (415) Plot: Tragic Aftermath of the Trojan War

41. Euripides’ The Trojan Women (415) Plot: Tragic Aftermath of the Trojan War "How are ye blind, ye treaders down of cities, ye that cast temples to desolation and lay waste tombs, the untrodden sanctuaries where lie the ancient dead; yourselves so soon to die!”

42. Euripides’ The Trojan Women (415) Plot: Tragic Aftermath of the Trojan War "How are ye blind, ye treaders down of cities, ye that cast temples to desolation and lay waste tombs, the untrodden sanctuaries where lie the ancient dead; yourselves so soon to die!” Who did the Athenians destroy just before 415?

43. Sophocles’ Oedipus Cycle Sophocles (~496-~405) Not Performed as a trilogy. – Oedipus the King (429) – Oedipus at Colonus (401) (written ~406) – Antigone (441) Epitomizes Tragedy’s use of Mythology, agonizing family discord, to make modern points

44. Oedipus the King (429) Background: – Tragic Story of Oedipus, fated to…kill his dad and marry his mom

45. Oedipus the King (429) Background: – Tragic Story of Oedipus, fated to…kill his dad and marry his mom – Laius, King of Thebes, abandons him

46. Oedipus the King (429) Background: – Tragic Story of Oedipus, fated to…kill his dad and marry his mom – Laius, King of Thebes, abandons him – Raised in Corinth

47. Oedipus the King (429) Background: – Tragic Story of Oedipus, fated to…kill his dad and marry his mom – Laius, King of Thebes, abandons him – Raised in Corinth – Oedipus gets away from his “parents” in Corinth

48. Oedipus the King (429) Background: – Tragic Story of Oedipus, fated to…kill his dad and marry his mom – Laius, King of Thebes, abandons him – Raised in Corinth – Oedipus gets away from his “parents” in Corinth – Kills Laius at crossroads

49. Oedipus the King (429) Background: – Tragic Story of Oedipus, fated to…kill his dad and marry his mom – Laius, King of Thebes, abandons him – Raised in Corinth – Oedipus gets away from his “parents” in Corinth – Kills Laius at crossroads – Solves riddle of Sphinx, marries Jocasta

50. Action of Oedipus the King Plague hits Thebes. – Other Plague around 429?

51. Action of Oedipus the King Plague hits Thebes. – Other Plague around 429? Oracle says it’s cause Laius’ killer never found

52. Action of Oedipus the King Plague hits Thebes. – Other Plague around 429? Oracle says it’s cause Laius’ killer never found Stop Searching Oedipus!

53. Action of Oedipus the King Plague hits Thebes. – Other Plague around 429? Oracle says it’s cause Laius’ killer never found Stop Searching Oedipus! Oedipus figures it out, Jocasta commits suicide, Oedipus blinds self

54. Oedipus at Colonus (406) First Performed 401 Oedipus, in exile, learns through suffering

55. Antigone (441) Painful Family Tensions

56. Antigone (441) Painful Family Tensions Polynices (son) dies after trying to take throne from brother

57. Antigone (441) Painful Family Tensions Polynices (son) dies after trying to take throne from brother Creon (brother-in-law) forbids burial

58. Antigone (441) Painful Family Tensions Polynices (son) dies after trying to take throne from brother Creon (brother-in-law) forbids burial Antigone buries him

59. Antigone (441) Painful Family Tensions Polynices (son) dies after trying to take throne from brother Creon (brother-in-law) forbids burial Antigone buries him Sentenced to be buried alive

60. Antigone (441) Painful Family Tensions Polynices (son) dies after trying to take throne from brother Creon (brother-in-law) forbids burial Antigone buries him Sentenced to be buried alive Everybody dies…pretty much

61. Reading from Antigone

62. Themes and Historical Significance of the Oedipus Cycle Agon: loyalty to Gods vs. loyalty to the state – Nomos vs. Physis

63. Themes and Historical Significance of the Oedipus Cycle Agon: loyalty to Gods vs. loyalty to the state – Nomos vs. Physis Oedipus and the Plague

64. Themes and Historical Significance of the Oedipus Cycle Agon: loyalty to Gods vs. loyalty to the state – Nomos vs. Physis Oedipus and the Plague Warning vs. Arbitrary Power of the State

65. Themes and Historical Significance of the Oedipus Cycle Agon: loyalty to Gods vs. loyalty to the state – Nomos vs. Physis Oedipus and the Plague Warning vs. Arbitrary Power of the State Gender

66. Themes and Historical Significance of the Oedipus Cycle Agon: loyalty to Gods vs. loyalty to the state – Nomos vs. Physis Oedipus and the Plague Warning vs. Arbitrary Power of the State Gender – Ismene: “we were born women, showing that we were not meant to fight with men”

67. Themes and Historical Significance of the Oedipus Cycle Agon: loyalty to Gods vs. loyalty to the state – Nomos vs. Physis Oedipus and the Plague Warning vs. Arbitrary Power of the State Gender – Ismene: “we were born women, showing that we were not meant to fight with men” – Antigone as “maculinized” hero

68. Comedy Satyr Play

69. Comedy Satyr Play Sometimes stands alone

70. Comedy Satyr Play Sometimes stands alone Comedy as window on contemporary issues

71. Aristophanes (448-380) Conservative Critical of Democracy Favored Peace with Sparta Critical of Sophistry Vulgar, obscene, described bodily functions, sexual acts

72. The Knights (424) Rakes Cleon and democracy over the coals

73. The Knights (424) Rakes Cleon and democracy over the coals Lord Demos has Two Slaves: Nicias and Demosthenes

74. The Knights (424) Rakes Cleon and democracy over the coals Lord Demos has Two Slaves: Nicias and Demosthenes Ruled over by cruel leathermonger (Cleon)

75. The Knights (424) Rakes Cleon and democracy over the coals Lord Demos has Two Slaves: Nicias and Demosthenes Ruled over by cruel leathermonger (Cleon) Nicias/Demosthenes get Sausage Seller to get into bribery war with Leathermonger/Cleon

76. Other Aristophanes plays The Wasps (422): Philocleon is addicted to Law Courts Lysistrata (411): Sex Strike to stop the war The Clouds (423): mocks Sophists and Socrates

77. Quote from “The Clouds” Physical Traits and Education Critique of the Sophists

78. Dialogue from the Clouds Traits of Unjust Argument Traits of Just Argument

79. Old Comedy vs. New Comedy Old Comedy: Centered in the Polis, deals with politics and public figures

80. Old Comedy vs. New Comedy Old Comedy: Centered in the Polis, deals with politics and public figures New Comedy (4 th Century): Takes place within the family/home

81. Old Comedy vs. New Comedy Old Comedy: Centered in the Polis, deals with politics and public figures New Comedy (4 th Century): Takes place within the family/home This shift: – Valuable for seeing family life – Coincides with fall of polis. Part of larger artistic trend