Greek Theatre and Medea Notes
Euripides (the playwright)- Euripides was born around ____________, began to write in
his late teens, and competed for the dramatic prize in Athens in 455. Over ________years he
wrote more than _________ plays, 19 of which survive today. He won 5 major awards.
__________ was first produced in 431 B.C.
Religious Ideas


The Greeks, who worshipped multiple gods, attributed human characteristics to these gods.
The Greeks also believed in ______________ as a divine force, even stronger than the gods.
They believed that gods became angry with people who were guilty of pride or any kind of
excess.
Greek Tragedy
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

Originated in ___________________________, ___________________________.
Has roots in __________________________________
Greek tragedies focus on the ________ hero. This hero has one tragic flaw which brings
about his downfall. As the hero accepts the consequences of his errors, he teaches the
audience some truth of life.
Developed into plays such as ________, Antigone, and Oedipus.
Conventions of Greek Theatre _________- Since the audience was familiar with the plots, most of which were taken
from well-known myths, the audience always has more information than the character on
stage.
 Staging- The plays were acted in the daytime without lights or curtains, and with few
props
 Actors- All actors were ____________ who wore masks, wigs, and high boots. This attire
added to the formality of the event.
 Format of plays- The plays were written in poetic verse rather than prose.
 Aristotle’s 3 Classical Unitieso ________- All of the action took place within 24 hours. Dialogue and soliloquies
provided background information.
o ________-Action was limited to one setting. Only one set was used throughout
the play.
o ________-The focus was on the main character. There were no sub-plots..
 Chorus’ characteristics Explained the ______of the play.
 Function of the Choruso The chorus is used to
 set the _________
 give ________ information
 recall events of the past
 interpret and _________events in the plot.
 Give a ______ conclusion at the end.
 Deus Ex Machina- This device means, literally “_______________.” In ancient Greek
plays, this was lowered on to the stage by a mechanical device. Once the Deus Ex
Machina arrived, the problems in the plot were solved with one stroke.
 Parts of the Playo
o
o
o
o
Prologue:__________________________________________________
Parados:___________________________________________________
Ode:______________________________________________________
Paean:_____________________________________________________
Exodos:____________________________________________________
Greek TheatreThe first theatre was on the slopes of ___________. People sat in the open air on benches which
surrounded the stage on three sides. Theatre was an ________________, because of how sound
carried.
Themes of Medea:
 Jealousy and Hate destroy people
 Excessive pride can lead to one’s
downfall.
 Medea as a representation of
oppressed women
 Being an alien in a foreign country
causes problems
 Fate predetermines your life’s
course.
Legend of Medea:
Popular Playwrights:
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Euripides
Aeschylus
Sophocles
Aristophanes
 Princess of ________ and daughter
of _________
 Helps Jason to obtain the
____________
 Forsakes Family and country to be
with Jason in Greece
 They marry and she has his child
 In Greece, he betrays her and marries
another
 Angry and betrayed, Medea kills
Jason’s _________, Jason, and his
______________