Greek Theater
Overview of Greek Theatre The land The myths The stage
The Stage
The Stage Three Main Portions of Greek Theatre: Skene – Portion of stage where actors performed (included 1-3 doors in and out) Orchestra – “Dancing Place” where chorus sang to the audience Theatron – Seating for audience
The Stage
The Stage Greek plays were performed during religious ceremonies held in honor of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and revelry (altars generally on stage) People would travel from all around to see the drama competitions—even prisoners were temporarily released to see the plays
The Stage
Where and how were the dramas performed? …In an amphitheatre …With a chorus who described most of the action. …With masks …With all the fighting and movement going on off stage. ….With tragedy first, then comedy later.
The Chorus (1) To explain the action (2) To interpret the action (3) To foreshadow the future (4) To serve as actors (5) To sing and/or dance (6) To give the author's views. (act as narrator).
The Catharsis Defined as to clean or purge Aristotle stated that its effect is to rid the audience of negative emotions A catharsis occurs as a result of the following reactions: Audience members resolve to avoid conflicts of the main character Audience members transfer their own pity and fear to the main character, thereby emptying themselves of these disquieting emotions. In either case, the audience members leave the theater as better persons intellectually, morally, or socially. They have either been cleansed of fear of pity or have vowed to avoid situations that arouse fear and pity.
Masks of Greek Theater
The masks were worn for many reason including: 1. Visibility 2. Acoustic Assistance 3. Few Actors, Many Roles 4. Characterization
Some general categories of masks 1. OLD MEN 2. YOUNG MEN 3. SLAVES 4. WOMEN 5. SPECIALIST MASKS Some made for specific characters, others for: Mourning, Blindness, Deceit, Drunkenness...etc. (The comic masks, those especially of old comedy, were as like as possible to true persons they represented, or made to appear more ridiculous)
Masks of Greek Theater
Masks of Greek Theater
Comedy (Servant or Herald ) Tragedy (Weeping Chorus) Modern-day replicas Hero-King Comedy (Servant or Herald ) Tragedy (Weeping Chorus)
Theater at Epidaurus
Theater at Epidaurus
Myths Played a Key Role in Greek Tragedy
The Myths – Why they were written Explained the unexplainable Justified religious practices Gave credibility to leaders Gave hope Polytheistic (more than one god) Centered around the twelve Olympians (primary Greek gods)
Explained the Unexplainable When Echo tried to get Narcissus to love her, she was denied. Saddened, she shriveled to nothing, her existence melting into a rock. Only her voice remained. Hence, the echo!
To justify religious practices Dionysian cults in ancient Greece were founded to worship Dionysus, god of grapes, vegetation, and wine.
Roots in Worship of Dionysus God of wine and revelry
Theater of Dionysus 26
Dionysus Theater in Athens
Dionysus Theater in Athens
Dionysus Theater in Athens
To give credibility to leaders Used myths to create family trees for their leaders
To give hope The ancient citizens of Greece would sacrifice and pray to an ORACLE. An oracle was a priest or priestess who would send a message to the gods from mortals who brought their requests. Where DID hope come from? After unleashing suffering, famine, disease, and many other evils, the last thing Pandora let out was HOPE.
Oracle of Delphi
Oracle of Delphi
Delphi
Delphi
Mount Olympus… …Where the Olympians lived. Who are the Olympians?
The Olympians Are the 12 Main Gods
The Olympians
Zeus King of gods Heaven Storms Thunder Lightning Bolt
Poseidon Zeus’s brother King of the sea Earthquakes Horses
Hades Brother to Zeus and Poseidon King of the Underworld (Tartarus) Husband of Persphone
Ares God of war
Hephaestus God of fire Craftspeople Metalworkers Artisans
Apollo God of the sun Music Poetry Fine arts Medicine
Hermes Messenger to the gods Trade Commerce Travelers Thieves & scoundrels
Dionysus God of Wine Partying (Revelry)
Hera Queen of gods Women Marriage Childbirth
Demeter Goddess of Harvest Agriculture Fertility Fruitfulness Mom to Persephone
Hestia Goddess of Hearth Home Community
Athena Goddess of wisdom Practical arts War
Aphrodite Goddess of love and beauty
Artemis Goddess of hunting and the moon.
The Basic Storyline and Structure of Greek Tragedy
STRUCTURE Prologue Introduces the tragedy’s topic/issue Parodos Chorus entry chant Episodes Individual scenes; usually 3-5 over the course of the play Choral Ode (Stasimon) Each episode is culminated with a choral ode where the chorus comments on the preceding episode. The chorus will have a fixed movement either towards the altar (Strophe) or away from the altar (Antistrophe). These movements are often repeated several times over the course of the ode. Exode (exit ode) The exit song of the chorus after the last episode often providing the catharsis.
Central Character is of the Elite Class
Central Character suffers a Downfall
Central Character is Neither Wholly good nor wholly evil
Downfall is the result of a Fatal Flaw (Hamartia)
Misfortunes involve characters who are related or who are friends
Tragic actions take place offstage
Central Character has a moment of recognition
Audience experiences pity and fear
Pity and Fear leads to a catharsis