Introduction to Drama

Tragedy and Theater

 Introduction:
Drama and Tragedy
• Drama as an ‘imitation of an action’, or
MIMESIS
• Theater derives from Theatron – ‘a place
for viewing’ or ‘to view as spectators’
 Origins of Drama
• Intended as a communal affair.
–Public genre, like poetry
–Use of open-air auditorium; audience
part of drama not mere spectators.
–Use of Chorus
 Origins...
• Rooted in Festival of Dionysus, City Dionysia,
in honor of the god of fertility, wine and
religious festival
• Contest among playwrights, in which each
entered a tragic trilogy and a short comedy
or satire.
 Origins (con’t)
• Evolved from religious worship – choral hymns
– Dithyramb – detailed heroic action/stories;
sung and danced by chorus of about 50
men.
– Thespis added a speaker who addressed the
chorus
– Transformation from pure storytelling
(dithyramb) to drama
 Theater Overview
• Theater of Dionysus – auditorium, with most
of the performances taking place during the
day.
• Night scenes were suggested by dialogue and
imagination.
 Theater Overview:
Conventions
• Most action takes place • Material is already
in front of temples, known/familiar and
palaces, and other therefore no suspense
outdoor settings • Use masks
• No violence on stage
• No women and limited
number of actors (3)
 Theater Structure:
• Theatron – ‘viewing place’ for audience
• Orchestra – ‘dancing space’ for chorus
• Skene – ‘tent’, slightly raised platform with
painted scenery, hence the word ‘scene’
• Parodos – ‘passageways’ for chorus and
actors
Parts of a Greek Theater:
 The Great Three of Tragedy
• AESCHYLUS (524-456 B.C.)
– Won 13 first place victories
– Added a second speaker to Thespis’ first
– Oresteia, The Seven Against Thebes,
Prometheus Bound
 The Great Three of Tragedy
• SOPHOCLES – (496-406 B.C.)
– Won 24 first place victories
– Added a third speaker and fixed chorus at
15 members
– Oedipus Trilogy, Ajax, Electra, The Women
of Trachis
 The Great Three of Tragedy
• Euripides- (484-406 B.C.)
– Most modern of the Great Three; radical
and ahead of times
– Used mechanical devices to enable gods to
appear and disappear.
– Helen, The Kyclops, The Trojan Women
 Dramatic Form
• Basic parts of a Greek Tragedy
– Prologue
– Parodos
– First Episode
– First Stasimon
– (alternation between episodes and stasima)
– Exodos
 Chorus
• 12-15 members
• Usually has a leader, Coryphaeus , who spoke
the dialogue lines to characters.
• Involving singing/chanting and dancing as
well as character interaction
• Non-professionals who were talented and
trained by poets
 Chorus: Functions
• Provides poetic interludes
• Acts as spokesperson for public opinions
• Occasionally expository
• Helps set mood and point to universal
significance of events
 Actors
• Paid professionals assigned to poets
• Roles
– Protagonist (first actor)
– Deuteragonist (second actor)
– Tritagonist (third actor)

– Multiple Roles
 Masks: Description
• Description
– Variety of masks to designate age, gender,
social status, etc.
– Exaggerated expressions
 Masks: Function
• Used to represent men and women
• Acted as megaphones to amplify voices
 Tragedy (Tragic Drama)
• A literary composition that deals with
reversals of fortune and eventual
downfall of a royal figure whose suffering
is unjust but not wholly innocent.
 Tragedy: Nature
• Stresses the vulnerability of human beings
whose suffering is caused by human and
divine actions.
• Such suffering is usually undeserved with
regard to harshness of punishment (concept
of Hamartia)
 Tragedy: Purpose
• Arouse pity and fear for the purpose of proper
purgation of emotions (catharsis)
• Audience feels pity (compassion/empathy)
and at the same time fear (dread)
• 6 Elements of Drama • Plot: Soul of Tragedy
– Plot – Emphasis on ORDER
– Characters – Emphasis on UNITY
– Thoughts/Theme • Place
• Time
– Language
• Action
– Music
– Spectacle • Character
– GOOD
– APPROPRIATE
– REALISTIC
CONSISTENT
 Background
• One of few surviving trilogies (with Oedipus at
Colonus and Antigone) but is nevertheless
self-contained
• Based on an old familiar myth
• Play starts in medias res
 The Greek World:
Key Concepts
• Two Important Greek Precepts:
• Know Thyself
• Nothing in Excess
– Truth is better than ignorance
– Pride is admirable except when you
behave like a god and abuse the weaker.
 Hamartia and Hubris
• Hamartia- error in judgment or moral flaw.
Sometimes translated as tragic flaw but this
may be misinterpreted.
• Hubris – overweening pride; one of the
common reasons for hamartia.
 Family Tree of Oedipus
Labdacus

Laius JOcasta Creon

Oedipus Jocasta

Eteocles Polynices Ismene Antigone

 Riddle of Sphinx
• What walks on four legs in the morning,
two at noon, and three at night?

• Answer: MAN
 Oedipus
• Solves riddle, marries Jocasta and becomes
King of Thebes
• Oedipus Rex opens years after when another
plague comes to Thebes.