1. Sophocles & the Greek theatre
Unit: Oedipus
Sophocles & the Greek theatre

2. GREECE

3. Dionysus

4. Dithyramb
The performers wore costumes, danced, and played drums, lyres and flutes,
They described the adventures of Dionysus.
The dithyramb was given a regular form and raised to the rank of artistic poetry about 600 BC.
Thespis
It became one of the competitive subjects at the various Athens festivals.
It attracted the most famous poets of the day.
Chorus, strophe, antistrophe, ode, hippocryte

5. Greek Theatre - took advantage of hillsides to create stadium style
- large, open areas
- took advantage of hillsides
to create stadium style
seating
- could usually seat
thousands of people
(Dionysia could seat
approx. 17,000)
- performance space was
called the “orchestra”
- this is where the chorus
sang and danced
Greek Theatre

6. The Evolution of the Early Theatrical Space
From Religious Ceremony to Performance

7. Sophocles 495 BCE – 405 BCE (approx.)
Became a prominent resident of Athens,
Greece
By sixteen, he was already known for his
beauty and grace and was chosen to lead a choir of boys at a celebration of the victory of Salamis
In 468 BCE, he took first prize at Dionysia, defeating the reigning champion, Aeschylus
Dionysia was a large religious festival in honor of Dionysus, the god of agriculture, theatre, wine, & ecstasy
Wrote over 120 plays, only 7 of which have withstood the test of time

8. Theatre would never be the same!
Sophocles’ Changes…
Introduced a third actor
Gave dialogue a fuller sense of development
Lessened the role of the chorus
Developed “skené” where the background was painted and arranged in order to create a spectacular effect
Theatre would never be the same!

9. The Greek Outdoor Amphitheatre

10. The Orchestra or “Dancing Circle” served as the primary acting area
Two major performance areas-
The Orchestra or “Dancing Circle”
served as the primary acting area

11. The Skene (scene building)- consisted of a building behind the orchestra probably used as a dressing room, later to be integrated into the stage action by an innovative playwright.

12. Theatrical terms… Tragedy Developed out of ancient Greece
A drama or literary work in which the main character, or protagonist, is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sadness, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances.
Deals with affairs of the state (wars, government, etc.)

13. Theatrical terms… Tragic Hero Some characteristics of a tragic hero:
He sees and understands his doom; his fate was revealed by his own actions.
His downfall arouses pity and fear.
He is physically or spiritually wounded by his experiences, often resulting in his death.
He is often a king or leader, so that his people experience his fall with him. This could also include a leader of a family.
The hero learns something from his/her mistake.
The hero is faced with a serious decision.
The suffering of the hero is meaningful.
Tragic Hero
the main character in a tragedy who makes an error in their actions that leads to their own downfall

14. Theatrical terms… Chorus
a group of men that provided background information and commentary to help the audience understand the performance
They modeled how the audience “should” react
They expressed what the main characters (of which there were only 2 before Sophocles) could not say… their thoughts, feelings, etc.
Usually sang, but would also speak in unison (very overdramatically to enhance volume)

15. Theatrical terms… Deus ex machina
Literal translation: “god from the machine”
A plot device in which an unexpected event occurs in a story's plot, very suddenly and completely resolving an otherwise unsolvable conflict
Also… a crane used to suggest flying through the air.

16. Theatrical terms… Four Types of Irony
Dramatic- audience knows something the characters don’t
Situational- when the last thing you expect to happen, happens
Verbal- what is said vs. what is meant (sarcasm)
Cosmic- what the characters aspire to vs. what the cosmic forces allow

17. Oedipus Rex . . The standard for Greek tragedy Greek familiarity
Context
During the Peloponnesian War, Athens suffered from political instability and devastating plague.
people of Athens could identify with: a plague with no end in sight!

18. Sphinx
What goes on four legs in the morning, on two legs at noon, and on three legs in the evening?
A man, who crawls on all fours as a baby, walks on two legs as an adult, and walks with a cane in old age.