Ancient Greek Theater
Drama – (Greek) “to do” or “to act”
Tragedy – (Greek) “goat song”
Two masks represent Greek theater, specifically its
golden age: around 500-300 BCE. One stands for
comedy and the other tragedy.
Reasons
1. see emotion from
the cheap seats
2. distinguish
characters played by
the same actor
3. amplify actors’
voices
Theater of Ancient Greece
-male performers who wore long, flowing robes and huge
linen or wooden masks
-actors played multiple roles
-plays written for contests at festivals honoring Dionysus –
the god of wine
-began as singing and dancing; evolved to
choral songs; evolved to acting out the words of the
songs; evolved to spoken dialogue
-contest honored best comedy, best tragedy, and best
choral ode (many don’t survive
-many of these contest winning productions do not survive
-most plays involve a chorus – a group of singers who
comment on the action
Performances
-outdoor arenas like the one below at Epidaurus
-built to transmit sound, but actors still had to
yell and gesture
-theaters built on a hillside to give all a decent view
-orchestra – round area at foot of hill for the chorus
-stage - just above the chorus
-skene = small area behind the stage where actors changed
masks, waited for cues, etc. (scenery comes from skene)
Sophocles of Colonus
(496?-406? BCE)
-son of a wealthy nobleman
-educated in music,
athletics, etc.
-actor in his youth –
usually part of chorus
Sophocles
-began winning dramatic
contests at age 28
-won the top prize more than
20 times at the Dionysian
festivals; many 2nd prizes also
-wrote over 100 plays, but only
7 survive
-twice elected to serve as one of the ten officials of
Athens
Sophocles’ Trademarks
-themes: the plights, decisions and
fates of individuals (He’s credited
with the shift from all religious
themes to examination of purpose
and the individual.)
-use of chorus: comment on the
action, foretell the future,
interpret past events
Actor Euiaon in
Sophocles’ Andromeda,
around 430 BCE
Antigone
-set in the city-state Thebes
-chorus represents Theban elders
-second in a series of plays; sequel to Oedipus
the King
------------------------------------------------------------How would you respond if a trusted source
predicted that your child would someday kill
you? If you believed that prediction, what would
be your options?
Oedipus the King (precursor to Antigone)
-Prophesy about baby Oedipus: he’s destined to kill
his father and marry his mother.
-Parents send him away; Oedipus never knows he’s
of a royal family.
-Oedipus takes part in an uprising as a young man;
Kills his father in battle and marries his mother,
Jocasta, becoming King of Thebes. Jocasta and
Oedipus have four children; one is Antigone.
-Eventually, Oedipus learns the truth.
How might he react? What might he do?
Oedipus the King (precursor to Antigone)
-Oedipus blinded and banished himself, leaving his
brother-in-law and his two sons in charge.
-Daughters Antigone and Ismene wandered with
Oedipus during his banishment.
-Oedipus died and his daughters returned to
Thebes. Dispute has arisen between Oedipus’ sons.
Polynices brings an army from Argos against
Thebes. The brothers kill one another in battle.
-Creon orders that Eteocles be buried with honors,
but that Polynices be unburied, condemning his
soul to eternal unrest.
Eteokles and Polyneikes by
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
(1696–1770)
Cast of
Characters
Antigone
Ismene
Creon
Guard
Haemon
Teiresias
Boy
Messenger
Eurydice
Servant
Chorus
Bereaved (p. 3)
Irrelevant (p. 4)
Ostentatious (p. 5)
Precipice (p. 7)
Obliged (p. 9)
Divulge (p. 9)
Libations (p. 12)
Skulking (p. 14)
Deterrent (p. 15)
Flagrantly (p. 17)
Torrents (p. 18)
Malice (p. 22)
Obstinacy (p. 24)
Unorthodox (p. 26)
Ominous (p. 28)
Mettle (p. 3)
Agape (p. 5)
Curtail (p. 6)
Dithering (p. 7)
Depravity (p. 9)
Wrath (p. 11)
Absolved (p. 12)
Adversity (p. 14)
Vie (p. 16)
Anarchy (p. 17)
Brazen (p. 22)
Vindictive (p. 23)
Folly (p. 24)
Placating (p. 27)
Rash (p. 28)
Antigone Vocabulary
As you read, consider…
-Does the chorus express the opinions, values,
and feelings of society? Of Sophocles? Of the
audience?
-What role has Oedipus’ tragic end played in the
current drama?
-What role have characters’ decisions played in
the current drama?
-How does Sophocles use comparisons to help
readers understand?