2. GREEK TRAGEDY  The Greek theatre or Greek drama is a theatrical tradition that flourished in ancient Greece between c. 550 and c. 220 BC.  Athens, the political and military power in Greece during this period, was the center of ancient Greek theatre.  Greek theater and plays have had a lasting impact on Western drama and culture.

6. DEFINITION  A drama in which a character (usually a good and noble person of high rank) is brought to a disastrous end in his or her confrontation with a superior force (fortune, the gods, social forces, universal values), but also comes to understand the meaning of his or her deeds and to accept an appropriate punishment.

7. SOPHOCLES

8.  (495 BC - 406 BC) was the second of three great ancient Greek tragedians. He wrote 123 or more plays during the course of his life.  Oedipus  Antigone

9. TRAGIC HERO  The tragic hero is a man of noble stature. He is not an ordinary man, but a man with outstanding quality and greatness about him. His own destruction is for a greater cause or principle.  “noble stature/high rank” usually means a king, duke, prince, company owner, etc.

10. CHARACTERISTICS OF A TRAGIC HERO According to Aristotle: 1.Usually of noble birth 2.Hamartia – a.k.a. the tragic flaw that eventually leads to his downfall. 3.Peripeteia – a reversal of fortune brought about by the hero’s tragic flaw 4.His actions result in an increase of self- awareness and self-knowledge 5.The audience must feel pity and fear for this character.

11. THE “TRAGIC FLAW”  The “flaw” in the character is a defect which keeps him/her from being aware of the situation around him/her. The character does not understand (for much of the story) his/her part of creating the situation.  The tragic flaw leads to the downfall of the tragic hero

12. THE HERO’S UNDERSTANDING  The tragic hero has a “moment of enlightenment” near the end of the story. He/she finally understands what he/she has done wrong—how he/she contributed to the tragic situation. The story often ends with the death of the tragic hero.

13. TERMS TO KNOW  Hamartia- the hero’s flaw, error, or frailty  Hubris- a characters exaggerated pride or self-confidence  Catharsis- the spiritual plunge that is obtained when the audience feels pity and terror/fear from what they see happening on stage ( inspires viewer to lead a better life)

14. VIDEO CLIPS  Greek Tragedy Greek Tragedy  Tragedy Tragedy