Ancient Greek Theatre
and Oedipus Rex
Theatre Diagram
Parts of the Theatre
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Theatron: (literally, "viewing-place") is where the
spectators sat. The theatron was usually part of
hillside overlooking the orchestra.
Skene: (literally, "tent") was the building directly
behind the stage. Actors made entrances/ exits
through doors.
Parodos: The parodoi (literally, "passageways") are
the paths by which the chorus and some actors
made their entrances and exits.
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If someone was entering from the right parodos, that meant
that he was coming from the city or the port.
If he was coming from the left parodos, he was supposed
to come from the fields or abroad.
Parts of the Theatre
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Orchestra: (literally, "dancing space") was
normally circular. It was a level space where
the chorus would dance, sing, and interact
with the actors.
Proskenion: (“in front of the skene”) The
columned space just in front of the skene; it
separates the stage from the audience
Parts of the Play
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The prologue usually gives the mythological
background necessary for understanding the events
of the play.
Parodos: This is the song sung by the chorus as it
first enters the orchestra and dances
Episode (Episodia): There are several of these,
and they are where the action and dialobue takes
place between the characters and the chorus. Each
episode is followed by a stasimon.
Parts of the Play
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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.
Exodos: The final scene of the play; the chorus
exits singing a processional song which usually
offers words of wisdom related to the actions and
outcome of the play.
Other Theatre Terms
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Deus ex machina: This was a device used to
resolve plot complications and/or to get the
protagonist out of a complicated conflict. A “god”
was lowered onto the stage via machinery and
would resolve the problem
Strophe and antistrophe: Two of the most basic
and important movements of the chorus; basically
alternating verses of the stasimons.
Chiton (or chition): The robe used as a costume
by the actors
Cothornous The boots or shoes the actors wore
Ekeclema: One of the kinds of machinery used in
Greek Theatre
Terms for Greek Tragedy
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Hubris: overextended pride or insolence that
usually leads to the downfall of the
protagonist
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Causes the protagonist to
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break a moral law
attempt to overcome normal human limitations
ignore divine warning
Terms for Greek Tragedy
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Hamartia: the protagonist’s (or tragic hero’s) tragic
flaw
Catharsis: Purging of emotions; according to
Aristotle, through pity and terror
Anagnorisis: (Recognition) The point in the play
when the tragic hero understands fully the
situation—leads to the peripeteia
Peripeteia: The reversal of fortune of the
protagonist; usually a loss in status and/or downfall
(many times the death of the protagonist)
Aristotle and Tragedy
Tragedy, then, is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and
of a certain magnitude…”
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Plot: Aristotle defines plot as “the
arrangement of the incidents”: i.e., not the
story itself but the way the incidents are
presented to the audience, the structure of
the play.
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The plot must be “a whole,” with a beginning,
middle, and end
The plot must be “complete,” having “unity of
action”
The plot must be “of a certain magnitude,” or
seriousness
Aristotle and Tragedy, con’t
Character has the second place in
importance
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“good or fine.”
“fitness of character” (true to type);
“true to life” (realistic)
“consistency” (true to themselves).
“true to life and yet more beautiful” (idealized,
ennobled).
More on Aristotle
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Thought is third in importance, and is found “where
something is proved to be or not to be, or a general
maxim is enunciated.”
Diction is fourth, and is “the expression of the
meaning in words” which are proper and appropriate
to the plot, characters, and end of the tragedy
Song, or melody, is fifth, and is the musical element
of the chorus.
Spectacle is last, for it is least connected with
literature; “the production of spectacular effects
depends more on the art of the stage machinist than
on that of the poet.”
Oedipus Facts
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The Oedipus Plays: Antigone, Oedipus Rex,
and Oedipus at Colonus (Also known as the
Oedipus Cycle)
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Oedipus Rex is alternatively known as Oedipus
Tyrannus (Oedipus the Tyrant)
Oedipus’ Children: Daughters: Antigone,
Ismene; Sons: Eteocles, Polynices
“Oedipus” means swollen foot
More Oedipus Facts
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“Oedipus Complex” was identified by the
psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud; it is where
children see their fathers as rivals for the
attention of their mothers. Usually applied to
boys/men.
Miscellaneous Facts
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Tragedy means “goat song” and is related to
the sacrifices made at the Dionysian festivals;
and the chorus dressed in goat skins to
accompany the sacrifice
Thespis and Greek Theatre:
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Developed the main idea of tragedy—where the
actors, not the chorus, spoke the dialogue
His name is the root for “thespian” which means
“actor”
Answers to the questions not already
covered
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Great Tragedians of Ancient Athens:
Sophocles, Aeschylus, Euripides,
Aristophanes
Reasons for masks:
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Different roles
Magnified actors’ voices
No female actors
Sophocles
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Sophocles was born near Athens, in the city
of Colonus, in the year 496 B.C.
He recieved the first prize for tragic drama at
the play competition during 468 B.C.
He wrote over one hundred plays for the
Athenian theatres and won about twenty-four
contests.
Of Sophocles' one hundred plays only seven
survived to this day.