Transcript Greek Drama
Greek Drama Antigone Notes I. Origin of Tragedy A. Religious festivals in honor of Dionysus (god of wine and fertility) 1. 2. 3. 4. City of Dionysia – religious festival held in Athens in spring Dithyramb – hymn sung in honor of the god Chorus – group of about 50 who sang and danced Blend of myth, legend, philosophy, social commentary, poetry, dance, music, public participation, and visual splendor B. Thespis – “Father of Drama” 1. 2. Won prize for tragedy in 535 B.C. Said to have introduced first actor, or hypocrite, character masks, and dialogue C. Aeschylus 1. Added second actor 2. Wrote trilogies on unifed themes 3. Satyr play – a type of comic relief D. Sophocles (wrote Antigone and Oedipus Rex) 1. 2. 3. 4. Added third actor Fixed number of Chorus to fifteen Introduced painted scenery Made each play of the trilogy separate in nature E. Euripedes 1. Reduced participation of Chorus in main action 2. Relied on heavy prologues and deus ex machina endings II. Structure of Theater A. Theatron – (“viewing-place”) where audience sat (held 15,000-16,000) B. Orchestra – (“dancing space”) circular dancing place where actors and Chorus performed C. Thymele – altar to Dionysus in center of orchestra D. Skene- (“tent”) building used as dressing rooms E. Proskenion – facade of skene building which served as backdrop F. Parodos – (“passageways”) entrance to the theater used by Chorus Theater at Epidarus Acropolis and Theater of Dionysus III. Actors and Acting A. Hypocrites – the answerer – playing roles 1. Actor and dramatist originally the same –playwright took leading role 2. Never have more than three – changed characters a. Protagonist b. Deuteragonist c. Tritagonist 3. All male performers—played female roles also B. Costumes and Masks 1. Long, flowing robes—colored symbolically 2. High boots, often with raised soles 3. Larger than life masks—made of linen, wood, cork a. Identified age, gender, emotion b. Exaggerated features—large eyes, open mouth IV. Chorus A. Music and Dance 1. Musical accompaniment for choral odes—flute, lyre, percussion 2. Dance defined as expressive rhythmical movement B. Led by Choragos or the chorus leader. C. Function: a nameless group of citizens who react to what happens. 1. 2. 3. 4. Comment on the action Interpret its meaning with chanted odes Give background info about events that occurred before the play began React as Greek citizens V. Conventions A. Unities 1. Action—simple plot 2. Time—single day 3. Place—one scene throughout B. Messenger 1. Tells news happening away from scene 2. Reports acts of violence not allowed to be seen C. Limitations of Theater 1. Continuous presence of Chorus 2. No intermissions; continuous flow of action and choral odes 3. No lighting; no curtain VI. Play Structure A. Two forms of Drama: 1. Comedy 2. Tetralogy: four play sequence a. Consisted of a trilogy of serious interrelated plays(tragedy), and a comic play burlesquing a mythological play (satyr play) b. Tragedy literally translates to “goat song” B. Structure of Plot 1. Prologue: Spoken by one or two characters before the chorus appears. The prologue usually gives the mythological background necessary for understanding the events of the play. 2. Parodos/Ode: This is the song sung by the chorus as it first enters the orchestra and dances. 3. First Episode: This is the first of many "episodes,“ when the characters and chorus talk. 4. First Stasimon: At the end of each episode, the other characters usually leave the stage and the chorus dances and sings a stasimon, or choral ode. The ode usually reflects on the things said and done in the episodes, and puts it into some kind of larger mythological framework. 5. For the rest of the play, there is alternation between episodes and stasimon, until the final scene, called the... 6. Exodos: At the end of play, the chorus exits singing a processional song which usually offers words of wisdom related to the actions and outcome of the play.