Theatre of Ancient Greece
roots—religious ritual—began with dances and songs in honor of god—Dionysus—god
of wine and procreation
ancient Greeks important activities outside—outdoor theatres
3 week-long festivals each year
performances began at dawn and lasted entire day
participation—citizen’s civic duty; Greek actor highly regarded in Greek society
women not allowed to act; often excluded from audience
part of costume—mask—limited and broadened audience’s understanding of role
--large—served as megaphone and as symbol; identified sex, age, mood, rank
rested on shoulders of actor—changed masks to change roles—mask called a persona
Prologue ( Prologos)—presents exposition—essential problem of play revealed
releasing Thebes from plague by ridding city of murderer of Laios
central characters introduced
setting established; irony of Oedipus saving city from Sphinx only to plunge
it into plague because of his sins
dramatic irony—audience knows Oedipus is the murderer
Parados—entrance song of chorus; named after the broad aisles on either side of theatre
where chorus entered or exited
Episodes (scenes)—scene in action of drama; alternate with stasimons
Stasimons (Odes)—choral passage; ode type of lyric poem—using exalted, dignified
diciton; chorus sang and danced tragic odes accompanied by musical instruments
consisted of strophes and antistrophes (stanzas); sang strophe, dancing in one direction
around orchestra; changed directions with antistrophe
Exodos—concluding section of tragedy—ends with chorus singing their final lines as exit
Role of the Chorus
drama evolved out of chorus—first actor stepped out of chorus and delivered lines
and interacted with chorus—dialogue born—Thespis—first actor (thespian)
originally consisted of 50 men—represent voice of people; Sophocles used chorus as
commentators; Aeschylus reduced size to 12; Sophocles increased to 15—where stayed
until reduced to one character in Renaissance drama
Functions included
link from audience to actors—respond way playwright hoped audience would
reflected what has happened, asked questions; ponder what might happen
advised central characters
conscience of people, ethical perception
established mood
separated scenes
through leader or spokesperson, could interact with central characters
Sophocles
c. 496-406 BC
first prize no less than 18 times; never lower than second
only 7 plays presented during Dionysia survive
Oedipus trilogy best known/performed
Addition of 3rd speaking role; reduced role of Chorus; maximized dramatic power—less
focus on moral lesson
General; believer in traditional religion; properly revere gods
Cause of death—unrecorded—“without suffering any misfortune”
5th Century BCE Greek Enlightenment
Old ideas challenged by new; empirical observation –new secular thinking
Universe governed by impersonal forces
Stressed human intelligence to discern natural world
Oedipus—reflects shift in thinking