Greek drama originated in ancient Greece between the 6th and 5th centuries BC. It grew out of the festivals and rituals honoring Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility. These festivals featured choral songs and dances reenacting Dionysus's death and resurrection. Over time, actors were introduced to play different roles, and the plays became more dramatic and complex. The major playwrights who developed Greek drama were Thespis, Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. Their tragedies were performed in outdoor theaters for thousands of spectators and followed conventions like the three-actor rule and the use of masks. Common themes included the hubris and downfall of a tragic hero

1. Greek DramaAn Introduction

2. Origins Where?the eastern MediterraneanWhen?6th and 5th centuries, B.C.

3. The Dionysus CultGreek drama originates from the Greek god Dionysus, the god of the vine (and of wine, theater, and dance).Every fall, with the coming of the cold, Dionysus died…But he was resurrected again each spring!This cycle assured the Greeks that death does not end it all: his death and rebirth showed them that the soul lives on forever

4. The Festival of DionysiaThe most famous and popular public festival4-5 days long – business was suspended, prisoners let out of jail on bail, foreign heads of state were honored, etc.When: End of March/early April

5. began as choral songs about the death and resurrection of Dionysusbecame a theatrical contest3 dramatists competed over a 3-day durationjudged by a panel of 10 elected judgessubject of plays: ancient myth and heroes, stories the audience knew

6. The Playwrights:Thespis, Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Eruipides

7. Thespisinvented “tragedy”originally, the genre consisted of dance accompanied by songs sung/chanted by a 50-member Chorus“invented” the art of acting by having a member of the Chorus step out of the Chorus to become a myth character or messenger – this person conversed with the Chorusintroduced dialogue

8. Aeschylus“invented” the second actorallowed for dramatic conflict, more than one point of viewwrote trilogies on unified themes

9. Sophoclesadded a 3rd actorallowed the complicated relationships between the characters to dominate the playsreduced the size of the Chorus from 50 to 15reduced the role of the Chorus from active participant to commentator

10. wrote 123 plays (only 7 survive today)first competed in the Dionysia theater contest at age 27 – beat Aeschylus to winwon the contest 18 or 24 timesdied in 406 B.C., at age 90!plays were trilogies, but each could stand aloneadded painted scenery

11. Euripidesreduced the Chorus’ role even furtherrelied heavily on prologues and mechene endings (flying machines so characters could fly in and out)known for his portrayal of womencharacters tend to speak and act like the people of the time – therefore his plays seem more “modern”

12. Conventions of the Theaterplays only performed during the daytimehow did they indicate the time of day?? verbal reference (e.g., “good afternoon!”) scenery props (e.g., torches might suggest night)the large outdoor theaters could seat 15,000 spectators!

13. most of a play’s action was set outdoorsno curtainsno intermissions, just a continuous flow of actionthe Chorus was always on stage with the actors

14. Actors and Actingoriginally, the playwright was the actorleading role: protagonistsecond actor: deuteragonistthird actor: triagonistall roles were played by menRule of Three: the play is limited to 3 actors (each played multiple character roles) the number of extras allowed was unlimited and didn’t break the Rule of Three

15. The MessengerReported off-stage events and violence not able to be seenWhy? Violence was too large-scale to reproduce on stage; no one could die because the actor was needed for a later role!Often the Messenger’s speeches contained the play’s best writing – did the playwrights prefer writing to staging?

16. Costumeslong, flowing robeshigh boots, often with raised soleslarger-than-life masks made of linen, wood, or corkmasks identified age, gender, and emotionmasks had exaggerated features so the audience could see more easilyThespis whitened the faceAcschylus added color to the face

17. MasksMiddle-aged man with eyebrows meeting in the center, wrinkled forehead and open mouth. Tragic Mask. 4th Century B.C.

18. The Three UnitiesUnity of ActionThe events of the play center around one single action. There are no subplots.Unity of PlaceThe events of the play are set in one unchanging scene.Unity of TimeThe timeframe of the events of the play are limited to a 24-hour period. Previous events or background information has to be recounted on the stage.

19. The Chorusoriginally, told the entire storymade up the story’s background characters (e.g., town elders, maidens, war captives)Sophocles reduced from 50 to 15 membersDespite reduced numbers, was still an important part of the play

20. Functions of the Choruscomment on the action/ offer approval or criticismask questionsgive advice or warningssupply background informationprovide lyrical relief (perhaps relieve the tension of a highly emotional scene)guide the audience’s emotions (like a movie soundtrack)maintain a sense of ceremony and ritualserve as an emotional bridge between audience and actorsunite the music, dance, and speech componentsseparate the scenes/ divide the action into episodes

21. Choral TerminologyPrologue: the part before the Chorus enters; presents background information to situate the conflictParodos: the entrance song of the ChorusOde: a song sung by the Chorus between episodes (scenes)Epode: the final stanza in some odesPaean: the concluding song, a song of thanksgiving to DionysusExodus: the final exiting sceneChoragos: the Choral Leader; might dialogue with the Chorus but technically wasn’t a 4th actor

22. The TheaterIn the 5th Century, the stage was a simple rectangular structure of timber. The benches were also made of wood except for special stone seats for priests and officials.The theater was rebuilt of stone in the 4th Century.By the 1st Century, the stage was flanked by Doric columns and a second floor was added

23. The TheaterA: TheatronThis is where the audience sat – men in the front and women in the backThere were 63 rows of limestone benchesThe front row consisted of 67 marble thrones for Festival officials and important priestsThe grandest throne, in the center, was reserved for the Priest of Dionysos. The seat has iron claw feat on either side. The Priest was shaded from the sun by a canopy. B: OrchestraThis was a circular dancing area where the actors and Chorus performedLater this became a semi-circle as the Chorus lost its importance

24. C: ThymeleThis was an altar to Dionysus set in the center of the orchestraOriginally, a goat was sacrificed here (“tragedy” in Greek means “goat song”)D: SkeneThis building behind the stage was used as a dressing roomThe reliefs at the rear of the stage, now mostly headless, depict the exploits of DionysusE: ProskenionThe façade of the Skene served as the scenery/backdrop of the play (skene = scenery)F: ParodosLocated on either side of the stage, these entrances to the theater were used by the Chorus

27. What is Tragedy?“Any serious and dignified drama that describes a conflict between the hero (protagonist) and a superior force (destiny, chance, society, gods) and reaches a sorrowful conclusion that arouses pity or fear in the audience.” -Aristotle, a Greek philosopher

28. Important Terms Associated with TragedyAnagnorisis(Recognition)the hero’s change from ignorance to knowledge – he learns truths about the human conditionPeripeteiaa reversal of fortune; a change of a situation to its opposite, for example, from happiness to miseryCatharsisa relieving of emotional tension, typically pity or fear, in response to watching a tragedy unfold and resolve*the audience is cleansed of this tension so as to face life with less pity or fear or to have more control over these emotions because the tragedy has taught them greater understanding

29. The Tragic HeroA tragic hero is a person who experiences a fall because of a flaw in his character.A tragic herois noble in stature, well-known/famous, or prosperous (must have a lofty position to “fall” from)is neither completely virtuous nor completely villainous (has both positive and negative qualities, does both good and bad deeds)

30. The Tragic Hero, Cont.has free choice – fate may be involved, but the tragic hero must choose one course of action over anotherhas a punishment that exceeds the crime (there is a sense of injustice that the tragic hero didn’t deserve what he got)has increased awareness or enlightenment – comes to understand what went wrong, what was really going on, how he brought about his own downfallhas Hamartia, or a tragic flaw – some flaw or defect in his personality brings about his downfallHubris, or arrogant, excessive pride, is a common tragic flaw.

31. The Oedipus TrilogyAntigone written 442 B.C. Oedipus Rex written 430 B.C.Oedipus at Colonus written 401 B.C. (produced after Sophocles’ death)This Theban Cycle contains 3 stories about the House of Laius.Chronologically, Antigone is the last of the cycle.