1. PIB English 9

2. » Comedy: Average or below average people who enjoy a transition from bad to good ˃Speak in everyday language » Tragedy: better than average people who suffer a transition from good to bad ˃Speak in an elevated language » Both had deep roots in the religious and communal life of the Greeks

3. » DIONYSIA: Greeks honored this patron god of the theater with annual festivals in Athens » THEATER: on three successive mornings, festivals featured tragic poets presenting a tetralogy: three tragedies, one satyr-play » ATTENDANCE: civic and religious obligation ˃Free admission ˃When they had to pay later, the state subsidized poor citizens

7. » Associated with wine; fostered intoxication » Greek god of wild nature, forces outside civilized society » Greek god of otherness; represented by a mask » Worship included dancing » Aulos, or the double pipe, is an instrument associated with Dionysus and was used to accompany tragic performances

10. » Tragedy is connected with the Greek word tragoi, meaning goats » The goat is one of Dionysus’ symbols » Sometimes his followers are pictured with goats

11. » Elaborate, formal costumes » Masks to emphasize dominant traits of characters » All male cast » Stately and colorful spectacles ˃Blending drama, poetry, music and dance to create a SOLEMN, yet entertaining devotion to the gods

12. » Developed from ancient choral lyric » Male chorus » Group dancing: brief dialogue between leader and chorus » Eventually: addition of an actor Adding an actor allowed more complicated, lengthy stories

13. » Ideal spectator » Sometimes central figure in tragedy » Creates a psychological and emotional background to action through the odes » Introduce and question new characters » Point out significance of events » Establish facts, affirm outlook of society » Cover passage of time between events » Separate episodes

14. » What happened that was so important? ˃Dramas work out characteristics all religious rituals work out: relation of the human to the divine, human to material world, explain violence and its origins, and attempt to control irrational and material worlds

15. » Plots taken from mythology » Ancient myths and heroic legends were like a bible to the Greeks ˃Recorded collective social, political, religious history ˃Profound, searching tales dealing with the problems of human life and the nature of the gods » Plots and characters already familiar to the audience ˃Use of irony and subtle allusions ˃Spectators learned personal motive, outside forces that drove characters

16. » PROLOGUE: speech or scene preceded the entrance of the chorus, background of story established » PARODOS: the entrance song of the chorus, sung as they entered the orchestra, lyrics which bear some relation to the main theme of the play

17. » EPEISODIONN/A: “Episodes” (modern act/scene) ˃As plot id developed through action and dialogue, actors too main roles, chorus took minor role ˃Poetic meter is iambic or trochaic ˃Dialogue called stichomythia, or the rapid exchange between two actors, each speaking one liners ˃Sometimes, the chorus leader, or choragos, participates ˃Some parts may be chanted ˃Long speeches were lyric solos (sung with the lyre or aulos)

18. » STASIMON/A: end of each episode so that tragedy is a measured alternation between the two elements » Song and dance by the chorus and odes were usually structured in alternating, metrically identical stanzas, called strophe (turn) and antistrophe (counterturn) » Metrically free-standing stanza following the strophe and antistrophe is an epode

19. » STASIMON/A (cont’d.) » At times, the stasimon was replaced by lyrics between actors and chorus, called a kommos » Exodos: final action after last stasimon, ended by ceremonial exit of all players; involves song by the chorus as they left the orchestra

20. » Born into nobility » Responsible for own fate » Endowed with a tragic flaw » Doomed to make a serious error in judgment » Eventually... fall from great heights or esteem, realize they have made an irreversible mistake, face and accept death with honor, meet a tragic demise » NOTE: the audience is affected by pity and/or fear

21. » Tragedy does NOT necessarily mean an unhappy ending » Tragedy deals with pain and suffering caused by an individual who obstinately defies divine will or authority, refuses to yield to destiny and circumstance and obeys inner compulsions that lead to agonizing revelation » Tragedy DOES mean a noble hero who runs into obstacles ˃Personal excess (pride) ˃Conflict between one set of laws and another

22. » Potential for greatness, but is doomed to fail » Trapped in a situation and CANNOT win » Possesses a tragic flaw, which causes the fall from greatness » Although he is a fallen hero, he wins a moral victory, and his spirit lives on

23. » TRAGEDY: a type of drama in which the characters experience reversals of fortune, usually for the worse. Catastrophe and suffering await many of the characters, especially the hero. » TRAGIC FLAW: a weakness or limitation of character, resulting in the fall of the tragic hero. Othello’s jealousy and too trusting nature is one example.

24. » TRAGIC CHARACTER: a privileged, exalted character of high repute who, by virtue of a tragic flaw and fate, suffers a fall from glory into suffering. Oedipus is an example.

25. » Definition: » Purpose: it is critical to understand a character’s motive. A tragic flaw is NOT the same as motive. Because plays at this time were designed to engage civic and moral purposes, examining motive is essential to understanding the play.

26. » Definition: » Drama works out characteristics all religious rituals work out: relation of human to divine, human to material world, explain violence and its origins, attempt to control irrational and material worlds