The document provides an overview of ancient Greek theater and tragedy. It discusses key aspects like the use of masks by actors, themes typically explored in tragedies such as pride and relationships with gods, and characteristics of tragic heroes like committing terrible crimes unknowingly. It also defines concepts like hamartia, peripeteia, and catharsis. Finally, it outlines Aristotle's definition of tragedy and its key elements like plot, character, and eliciting emotions of pity and fear in audiences.

1. Oedipus
Sophocles
Intro to Ancient Greek Theatre

2. Ancient Greek Theater
● Tragedy and Comedy plays
● Sophocles was one of three well known
playwrights of the fifth century

3. Theatron
● Theatre buildings were called theatrons.
● Acting- amateur actors; all male; usually
only three
● They wore masks...why?

4. Tragedy
● Highest form of drama
● Big themes: love, loss, pride, the abuse of
power, and the relationships between man
and gods.

5. Protagonist
● Typically…
o commits some terrible crime without realizing how
foolish and arrogant he has been.
● Then…
o as he slowly realizes his error, his world crumbles
around him

6. So what is a tragic hero?

7. Tragic Hero
A person who is neither good nor evil who
commits an act that results in suffering and
utter defeat.

8. Other words to know...
● Hamartia: “missing the mark”
o came to signify a tragic flaw, especially a
misperception, a lack of some important insight, or
some blindness that ironically results from one’s
own strengths and abilities
● Peripeteia: sudden reversal of fortune
o change of stability toward the downfall of the
protagonist

9. Continued...
● Hubris: pride
o the defect of a character that causes the tragic hero
to ignore problems
● Catharsis: an emotional discharge that
brings about moral or spiritual renewal or
welcome relief from tension and anxiety
o the marking feature and ultimate end of any tragic
work

10. Features of Ancient Greek
Tragedy
● Suffering
● Cleansing
● Religious
● Honored Dionysus
● Competitions
● Prizes
● Myth
● History
● Not bloody
● Limitations
● Masks

11. Aristotle’s Definition
● deals with one issue that is very serious
● had a chorus whose role was to comment on the
action of the play
● in a play, the story must be dramatized or acted out
● should lead the audience to feel sorry for the main
character
● as the play moves along, the events should build up
the emotions of pity and fear

12. Aristotle’s Elements of
Tragedy
● Plot
● Character
● Thought
● Diction
● Melody
● Spectacle