Ancient Theatre

Greek Theatre and The Trojan Women

Part I:
Introduction to Classical
Theatre

Classical Theatre History

Greek plays were performed late March and early
April at religious celebrations honoring Dionysus
According to Aristotle, tragedies arose from
improvisations the lead of the choral dithyrambs
(hymns sung in praise of Dionysus)
As such in both historical precedent and content,
tragedies were part of the religious tradition of
the ancient Greek world.
Moreover, Greek tragedies were formalized in the
form and content, as we shall discuss in regards
to Aristotles Poetics.

Aristotles Poetics
Summary of Poetics:
http://www2.cnr.edu/home/bmcmanus/poetics.html

Literary Criticism Terms

These definitions are derived from www.dictionary.com. Students will be expected to be

familiar with the following terms, and be able to apply them, when speaking and writing
about literature.

Anagnorisis: a critical moment of discovery preceding peripeteia in Greek tragedy

Climax: the highest point of action
Complication: The introduction of something unexpected or a problem into a plot
Epiphany: a sudden insight into the essential meaning of something
tragic flaw: character defect that causes the downfall of a character in Greek tragedy
Introduction: opening of a work that helps establish scene, locale, and character
Metaphor: most simply when something is used to represent something else, a symbol
Narrative: a truth or fictitious account of events
Plot: a storyline, a plan, scheme, or main narrative in a work of fiction (also know subplot)
Peripeteia: a sudden turn of events or unexpected reversal
Paradox: a statement that seems contradictory but actually expresses a truth
Resolution/Denouement: the tying up of loose ends in a plot
Rising Action: the raising of suspense as a plot progresses from the complication to climax
Irony: use of words to convey a meaning that is opposite of its usual meaning (see also dramatic irony)
Parody: a humorous or satirical representation of serious writing
Allusion: a reference to something else: a literary allusion occurs when an author references another work
Strophe: The first movement in the chorus in classical Greek drama, turning from one side to the other
Antistrophe: the second part of this choral movement, where the chorus moves in the opposite direction
Epode: third part of the choral ode, at this point the chorus stands still

Literary Criticism Terms (cont.)

Archetype: The essential or original model, character, form, which all

others follow; example, the journey from one place to another, from
innocence to knowledge, from childhood to old age. (adj. archetypal, ex.
Homer is the archetypal poet)
Motif: a recurring element in a narrative that has symbolic significance
Oral Tradition: Stories, myths, and legends that are passed down orally,
which is to say in spoken rather than written form, such as The Epic of
Gilgamesh, Arabian Nights, and the Homeric epics
Satyr play: a burlesque drama usually involving a chorus of satyrs to follow
the trilogy of tragedies presented by a playwright at the Dionysian festival
Satyr: mythological woodland creatures usually represented with the torso
of a man and the extremities of a goat. Satyrs that attend Dionysius

Theatre, Dramatic, and Literary Terms

Theatre Terms

Orchestra: literally the dancing space in a theatre. Usually circular, it occupied the space
between the Proskenion and the audience. This performance space for the chorus would
provide a buffer of sorts between the audience and the performance of the actors.

Proskenion: a raised area where the actors would perform between the skene and the
parados

Parados: passageways from which some characters would enter and exit in the play;
likewise, they are the entrances and exits for the audience

Skene: the scene building at the back of the theatre. Beginning as simple wooden
structure for changing costume, the skene developed into an often ornate, multilevel stone
structure which was utilized by the actors.

Prosopon: Masks worn by Greek performers

Poetry Terms
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/570/03/ (note for stressed and unstressed,
accented and unaccented are used)

Meter: the basic rhythmic structure of verse

Iamb: a foot composed of one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable

Anapest: a foot composed of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable.

Rhythm: a musical quality articulated in poetry by the repetition of similar sounds or sound
patterns

1. Exposition (Introduction)
This usually occurs at the beginning of a short
story. Here the characters are introduced.
We also learn about the setting of the story.
Most importantly, we are introduced to the
main conflict (main problem).

2. Rising Action
This part of the story begins to
develop the conflict(s). A building
of interest or suspense occurs.

3. Climax
This is the turning point of the story.
Usually the main character comes
face to face with a conflict. The main
character will change in some way.

4. Falling Action
All loose ends
of the plot are
tied up. The
conflict(s) and
climax are
taken care of.

5. Resolution
The story
comes to a
reasonable
ending.

Greek Theatres: Epidarus

Epidarus 2

Anatomy of a Greek Theatre

Greek Theatre Terms:

http://www.whitman.edu/theatre/theatretour/glossary/glossary.
htm

Greek Theatre Masks

Characters from Homers

Iliad
Helen of Troy: married to Menelaus (a Greek) but
shes stolen by Paris (a prince of Troy)
Trojan Royalty: King Priam his wife Queen Hecuba
his sons: Hector (Andromache, Hectors wife),
Deiphobus, Paris, etc., and his daughters Cassandra
(their prophetic daughter who is important to the
story) and Polyxena.
Menelaus (of Sparta) goes to his brother,
Agamemnon (of Mycenae), and demands revenge.
The brothers form a Greek alliance with several city
states and bring together notable heroes including
Achilles, Ajax, Odysseus, and Nestor.