Introduction to Greek
Tragedy
Yes, you should take notes!!!
Literary tragedy
  A courageous individual who confronts forces within
or outside of himself with dignity and thus shows
the depth of the human spirit.
Greek tragedy
  Someone extraordinary who is brought from
happiness to agony . The play focuses on how the
hero deals with the challenge.
The Domino effect
  The tragic events follow not just after one another
but because of one another.
Aristotle developed the classic
definition for tragedy in Poetics in the
4th century
Aristotle’s archetypal idea
of tragedy
  Aristotle’s ideas have dominated critical thought on
Greek tragedies.
  He discussed six central features of the archetype.
First, a noble person
  Tragic heroes= men of noble stature (better than the
common man) who go from happiness to misery.
  If the hero’s fall is to arouse emotions of pity and
fear he must fall from a height.
Second, the tragic hero
  The tragic hero is good, but not perfect.
  Hamartia=the character’s mistake; “an act of
injustice” through ignorance or a “tragic flaw,”
some weakness of character (pride, excessive
ambition, passion), that brings on disaster.
  Aristotle did not see the flaw as a character flaw or
personality flaw. He believed actions, not a
personality brought about tragedy.
  Later critics labeled it a “tragic flaw.”
Third,
  The hero’s downfall is his own fault; it is a result of
his own choice which leads to his fall from
greatness.
  Example: Hubris=arrogance, excessive self-pride
and self-confidence which leads the tragic hero to
ignore warnings from the gods and thus invite
catastrophe. Hubris is a form of hamartia that
stems from overbearing pride and feelings of
superiority
Fourth,
  The hero’s misfortune is not totally deserved; the
punishment exceeds the crime.
  Wasted human potential
  Catastrophe= downturn; marks a change in the
hero’s status
Fifth, reversal and
recognition
  The tragic fall is not pure loss.
  Increase in awareness or self-knowledge
  Peripeteia=“reversal” in the external situation of
fortunes of the main character
  Anagnorisis=“recognition” in which the character
responds to the change
Sixth, catharsis
According to Aristotle, a tragedy:
 Arouses pity and fear and leads to catharsis
Catharsis= purging of pity and fear; a state of
emotional release for the audience.
The Format
  Greek tragedy is divided into 5 parts.
Prologue
  The opening of an ancient drama
  Exposition, usually in the form of a soliloquy or a
dialogue
Parados
  The first time the chorus enters and gives
perspective on prologue in a marching rhythm
  A side entrance
Episodia
  Introduces debates and conflicts
  There are several episodes in each play
  The spoken part
  Stichomythia: in ancient Greek: conversation in
alternate lines
Stasimon
  After each episode, the chorus interrupts to give
perspective.
  The stasima are sung in a standing rhythm
  Ode- a lyric song
•  Strophe(a turning): A part of the ode/stasismon
which precedes and corresponds metrically to an
apostrophe
  Antistrophe (opposite turning) opposite to strophe
Exodus
  Resolution
  Means “exit”
  The exit and closing song in a Greek drama
Choregos
  Choregos (leader of the chorus): In Athens, the rich
guy who funds the training and costuming of the chorus
(the state paid the actors).
  In exchange for his generosity, he gets to play the lead
choral part!
  Introduces and questions characters. Advises central
characters; serves as a VOICE OF REASON.
The role of the Chorus
  The Ideal Spectator: Responds to the play in a
manner the playwright wants the audience to
respond.
  Reflects upon what has happened; ponders what
might happen; asks questions.
  The conscience of the people -- moral compass.
  Establishes mood through movement & song.
  Covers the passage of time between events.