1. Greek Tragedy Unit Notes

2. Tragedy A play in which a main character, or tragic hero, suffers a downfall Came into being during the 5 th century A blending of poetry, drama, music, and dance First performed in honor of Dionysos, the god of wine and fertility

3. Tragedy cont’d Sources of plots were myths and everyday life Function was to arouse pity and fear in the audience to purge or cleanse them of these unsettling emotions

4. Thespis – father of drama First to use an actor in his productions Performed first tragedy at the festival of Dionysos in 534 B.C.

5. Three Important Writers of Greek Tragic Drama Aeschylus –Established true dialogue by adding a second actor

6. Important Writers cont’d Sophocles –Introduced a third actor –Introduced painted sets –Expanded the size of the chorus to 15 –Changed the kinds of music used by chorus

7. Important Writers cont’d Euripides –Used the chorus as commentator and an ornament to main dialogue

8. Purposes of chorus Create a psychological and emotional background through its odes Introduce and question new characters Point out the significance of events Establish facts and affirm the outlook of society Cover the passage of time between events Separate episodes

9. Main divisions of a typical tragedy Prologue – opening scene to establish background of story Parados – entrance of the chorus (usually chanting a lyric) Episode – counterpart of the modern act or scene

10. Main divisions cont’d Stasimon – choral ode; comes at the end of each episode Exodus – final action after last stasimon; ended by ceremonial exit of all players

11. Conventions of Greek Theater Limited number of actors All male actors Broad stage movements Elongated masks to denote character played, amplify sound, allow same character to play several parts

12. Conventions cont’d Boots with built-up soles Elaborate and colorful costumes Minimal scenery because there was no curtain Altar to Dionysos at center stage ensuring some reference to gods Prohibition against violence on stage

13. Elements of Tragedy Reversal of situation – a change by which the action veers around to its opposite Scene of recognition – a change from ignorance to knowledge Scene of suffering – a scene of destructive or painful action A tragic hero initiates his own downfall

14. Traits of a Tragic Hero In tragedy, the central character: Passes from happiness to misery Must not be perfectly virtuous and just Must initiate his own downfall by a flaw of character (tragic flaw) or by an error in judgment

15. Unities of Greek Theater Action – one basic story Time – within 24 hours Place – few scene changes