1. Tragedy

2.   In a tragedy, often terrible events occurred to the main characters, normally because of a flaw in their character or because the gods were punishing them for their evil deeds. Greek Tragedy

3.   Tragedy is a representation of a serious action performed by characters sufficiently like us to arouse our sympathy. These characters are always slightly better than regular people.  The action shows the change of the hero’s fortune, always from good to bad.  The protagonist must take the initial step, which will lead to catastrophe. This step is usually taken in ignorance of the consequences – this is known as Hamartia.  There is often a realization of the Hamartia just before the catastrophe, this is known as Perepeteia. Aristotle’s View of Tragedy

4.   The emotions aroused by tragedy are largely painful, so why do we of our own free will expose ourselves to this pain?  The tragic hero’s full capabilities can be revealed only in adversity.  Only when the difficulties are overwhelming can his potential be realized. Tragedy… for what reason?!

5.   Tragedy involves a course of events, predetermined by fate, which are of special significance. Greek tragedy proceeds to a set pattern, known as the tragic cycle. The Greek Tragic Cycle

6.   The state of prosperity in which the protagonist finds himself at the beginning of the action Olbos

7.   The insolent pride that the protagonist has in his good fortune. This is one of the most important concepts of Greek tragedy. Hubris

8.   The gods’ jealousy of the protagonist’s good fortune Pthonis

9.   The reckless impulse that causes the protagonist to ignore warnings sent from the gods. If he does not humble himself, he will be struck down. Ate

10.   The vengeance of the gods that results in some calamity befalling the protagonist that causes him to regret his Hubris. Nemesis

11.   The Persians is an ancient Greek tragedy written during the Classical period by the Greek tragedian Aeschylus.  It won the first prize at the dramatic competitions in Athens’ City Dionysia festival in 472 BCE, with Pericles serving as choregos.  It is set during the Persian Wars and focuses on the defeat of the Persians against the Greeks at the battle of Salamis The Persians

12.   Darius, King of Persia invades Greece at the battle of Marathon but fails.  Xerxes his son continues his campaign, defeating the Greeks at Thermopylae.  Xerxes burns Athens to the ground.  Greeks defeat the Persians at Salamis, Plataea and Mycale – ending Persian threat Persian Wars in a nutshell

13.   Xerxes: Leader of the Persian forces  Atossa: Xerxes’ mother  Messenger: Relays the results of the war.  Darius: Xerxes’ father Characters

14.   “The Persians” takes place in Susa, one of the capitals of the Persian Empire at that time, and opens with a Chorus of old men of Susa as they await news of King Xerxes’ expedition against the Greeks.  They are soon joined by Xerxes’ mother, Atossa, who expresses her anxiety and unease, narrating what is probably the first dream sequence in Western theatre. Synopsis

15.   An exhausted messenger arrives, offering a graphic description of the Battle of Salamis and its gory outcome.  He tells of the Persian defeat, reeling off the names of the Persian generals who have been killed.  Xerxes himself, however, has apparently escaped and is returning. Synopsis

16.   Atossa then calls on the Chorus to summon the ghost of her dead husband (and Xerxes’ father), Darius the Great.  When he learns of the Persian defeat, Darius condemns the hubris behind his son’s decision to invade Greece.  In particular he focuses on his decision to build a bridge over the Hellespont which he argues merely angered the gods and led to the Persian defeat. Synopsis

17.   Aeschylus is often called the Father of Tragedy  This play, The Persians, is the only extant classical Greek tragedy concerned with recent history.  There are no reliable sources for the life of Aeschylus. He was said to have been born in 525 BC in Eleusis. Aeschylus

18.   Worship of the Gods and all that comes with religious ritual.  In the case of The Persians – it is a recount of recent historical events.  Entertainment on a public holiday, festivities, etc.  Oliver Taplin – Tragedy enables us to live through the unbearable, tragedy not only acts out deep terrors, it makes its audience confront them. Why is tragedy important in Greece?