Introduction to
Greek Drama
English II PAP
Mr. Sands
SOPHOCLES
Born in Colonus, Greece in 497 B.C.
 Died in 406 B. C. at approximately
90 years old
 Lived during the Golden Age of
Greece
 He was a successful musician,
athlete and respected playwright
 He was also active in social and
political life. He held several
priesthoods, was imperial treasurer
in 443 B.C., and a general in 440
B.C.

Sophocles as a Playwright
In the drama festivals of his day, he won
the first place prize for best play twentyfour times.
 He wrote more than a hundred plays but
only seven remain. The most famous of
his plays being: Oedipus the King,
Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone and Electra.

Sophocles’ Impact on Drama
Expanded its format by adding a third
actor
 Increased dialogue
 Decreased the importance of the chorus
by fixing its number at 15
 Invented painted scenery and added flute
music in the background
 Made each play of a trilogy stand by itself
as a separate story

Structure of a Greek Tragedy
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Prologue – the actors present the
opening situation on stage
Parados – the entering song and dance
of the chorus
Episodes – periods of more action by the
actors
Stasima/Stasimon – choral ode or song
commenting on the action
Exodus – the last action of the play
The Greek Theatre
*like an outdoor stadium that could
hold from 15,000 – 20,000 people
The Greek Theatre
Semi-circular in shape
 Theatron = area of seats for the audience hollowed out
from the hillside
 Orchestra = large area in front of the stage where the
chorus sang and danced
 Thymele = the altar centered in the orchestra used for
sacrifices to Dionysus
 Parados = walled walkway used by the chorus to enter
and exit the stage
 Pro-scenium = a long, low stage behind the orchestra
 Skene = building that contained the actors’ dressing
rooms

Greeks’ Special Effects
deus ex machina (“god from the machine”) =
type of crane used for suspending figures who
portrayed gods
 eccylema = moveable or revolving platform
 There were no curtains, intermissions, lights, or
microphones. Because of this, all scenes took
place in daylight settings, all scenes changes
had to be built into the dialogue of the actors
and the chorus and actors had to have strong
voices

The Actors
Only 3 actors that wore masks to
play multiple parts
 All actors were men because it was
considered undignified for women
to appear on stage
 Wore padded costumes, wigs and
high-heeled boots to make them
taller and give them added dignity
and power
 Actors had to be able to speak in
poetic language and sing using a
loud and clear voice

The Chorus
Consisted of singers and dancers led by a conductor
 Started out with 50 people but Sophocles fixed the number at
15
 The playwright used the chorus and their songs to:
 Add the beauty of song and dance
 Set the mood or express the main themes of the play by
commenting on the action
 Create a bridge between the actors and the audience
 Converse with and give advice to the actors
 Tell about events that have already happened in the past
 Foretell the future by interpreting the actions of the actors

The Stories
Originally hymns and prayers honoring the
gods, especially Dionysus
 Over time, content changed to legends of
Greek leaders and heroes
 Tragedy = showed what happened to a
person who went against the laws of the
gods or who was too proud

Tragedy
Stems from the Greek belief that
man was subject to the whims of
the gods and fate
 The root of Greek tragedy is that
man can not avoid suffering
 Man’s fault = pride, a mistaken
belief that he could somehow
avoid fate or the will of the gods

Hubris



Excessive pride
Leads to suffering and then to an
understanding (catharsis) of man’s place in
the system of life
The audience was to learn a lesson through
the tragedies that befell the characters on
stage because they did not follow the will of
the gods or because they tried to avoid their
own destiny based in hubris
Origin of Drama
Developed by ancient Greeks during
celebrations honoring Dionysus
 Dionysus = god of the vine which
produced grapes for wine; associated
with resurrection and suffering
 Because of the choral songs, the early
Greek plays resembled what we call
opera today

Festival of Dionysus
Took place in Athens during 5 days in
March or April
 First day = procession honoring Dionysus
in which all citizens participated
 Second day = the choral songs were
performed
 Last 3 days = three tragedies followed by
one satyr (satire – mock heroic tragedies)
play and one comedy were performed

Festival of Dionysus cont.
The archon, a state official, selected three poets
to compete for the prizes in the tragedy division.
 The choregus, a wealthy, prominent citizen of
Athens, was required by law to pay for the cost
of training and costumes for the chorus.
 A jury of 10 citizens selected the winning poet
 The playwright served as a sort of teacher,
offering plays for the ethical and moral
improvement of his fellow citizens to insure the
spiritual survival of the community

Antigone
Third of Sophocles’
Theban plays
 Antigone = Oedipus’
daughter; princess of
Thebes
 Breaks the law to
bury her brother who
has been labeled a
traitor by the king,
her uncle.

Oedipus Background

Look at the Oedipus Family Tree…do you
notice anything strange?

Read the Oedipus handout and answer the
corresponding questions
The Oedipus Family Tree
The Perfect Jerry Springer
Episode
King Oedipus married Queen Jocasta
(his mother-ewww!)
They had 4 children (Eww):
-Eteocles
-Polynices
/
Sons (O’s brothers?)
Fight for Thebes
Cursed by dying father
Kill each other
-Antigone
-Ismene
/
Daughters (sisters?)
Go back to Thebes
King Creon of Thebes married Queen
Eurydice
Creon is Oedipus’ uncle, Jocasta’s brother
(also Oedipus’ brother-in-law)
They have two sons:
Megareus
Haemon
/
/
dies during
betrothed to Antigone,
siege of Thebes
his cousin
Sources
Jessica Nugent – CHHS, Colleyville, TX
 Stefanie Tziarri – Lawrence High School,
Mercer County, NJ
