Introduction to
Greek Drama
Origin of Drama

Drama was developed by the
ancient Greeks during
celebrations honoring Dionysus.

Dionysus is the god of the vine,
which produces grapes for wine.
Wine was associated with
resurrection and suffering.

With the inclusion of many choral
songs, the early Greek plays
resembled what we call opera
today.
Festival of Dionysus

The Festival of Dionysus took place in Athens over five days
in March or April.

During the first day, their was a procession honoring Dionysus
- all citizens participated.

During the festival’s second day, the choral songs were
performed.

On the last three days of the festival, the actors performed
three tragedies, one satyr (satire – mock heroic tragedies)
play, and one comedy.
Festival of Dionysus

The choregus, a wealthy, prominent citizen of Athens,
was required by law to pay for the cost of training and
costumes for the chorus.

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.
The Greek Theatre

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
The Greek Theatre
The Greek Theatre was
similar to an outdoor
stadium that could hold
between 15,000 – 20,000
people.
Greek Theater
Greek Theater
Greek Theater
Greeks’ Special Effects

There were no curtains, intermissions, lights, or
microphones.

Consequently, all scenes took place in daylight
settings
All scene changes built into the actor’s dialogue
The chorus and actors had to have strong voices


Greeks’ Special Effects
The Actors

The Greek name for an actor was “hypocrite.”

Only 3 actors, they wore masks to play multiple parts.

All actors were men, considered undignified for women to
appear on stage

Actors 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.
 Acting was more
 Expressive than realistic

The Chorus

The chorus was led by a conductor and
consisted of singers and dancers who moved
and sang together, acting as one character.

A Choral Ode was chanted or sung in unison.

Originally, they Chorus started out with 50
people, but Sophocles fixed the number at 15.
The Chorus

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. (narrator)

Foretell the future by interpreting the actions of the
actors.
The Stories

Originally, the stories
were hymns and
prayers honoring the
gods, especially
Dionysus.

Over time, the content
of the stories changed
to legends of Greek
leaders and heroes.
Tragedy

In a tragedy, the plot revealed what happened to
a person who went against the laws of the gods
or who was too proud

This 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.

In nearly all tragedies, man’s biggest fault is
excessive pride – a mistaken belief that he could
somehow avoid fate or the will of the gods.
Greek Tragic Hero

The Greek tragic hero had to be a man or woman
capable of great suffering

The tragic hero is brought to disaster by
hamartia, or a single flaw in a person’s
character.
Hubris

Hubris is defined as excessive pride.


Hubris leaves leads to suffering and then to an
understanding (catharsis) of man’s place in the system
of life.


Think of at least three modern examples of characters whose
downfall is caused by their hubris.
Catharsis is an emotional release caused by an intense
emotional experience.
The purpose of a Greek tragedy is to learn a lesson
through the catastrophes that befall the characters on
stage and to understand that their misfortunes are a
result of not following the will of the Gods or trying to
avoid their own destinies because of hubris.
Structure of a Greek Tragedy
1.
Prologue – the actors present the opening
situation on stage
2.
Parados – the entering song and dance of the
chorus
3.
Episodes – periods of more action by the actors
4.
Stasima/Stasimon – choral ode or song
commenting on the action
5.
Exodus – the last action of the play
SOPHOCLES

Sophocles was born in Colonus, Greece in 497
BCE

He died in 406 BCE at approximately 90 years
of age.

He Lived during the Golden Age ofl Greece

(The Golden Age of Greece was from
approximately 800 BCE to 300 BCE)

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 BCE, and a general in 440
BCE
Sophocles as a Playwright

He wrote more than a hundred plays but only
seven remain.

The most famous of his plays are: Oedipus the
King, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone, and Electra.
Sophocles’ Impact on Drama

Sophocles expanded the format
of drama by adding a third actor.

He increased the amount of
dialogue within a play.

He decreased the importance of
the chorus by fixing its number at
15.

He invented painted scenery and
added flute music in the
background of his plays.

He made each play of a trilogy
stand by itself as a separate
story.
Actors
No tragedy used more
 than 3 actors
 Costumes included
 character masks, and
 in later years, raised boots

Tragic Structure
PROLOGOS: Introductory scene
 PARADOS: Entry of chorus
 EPISODEION – Scenes
 Exodus - Final Scene
 Epode-Final Ode
