1. Greek Tragedy Unit Notes

2. Tragedy
A play in which a main character, or tragic hero, suffers a downfall
Came into being during the 5th century
A blending of poetry, drama, music, and dance
First performed in honor of Dionysos, the god of wine and fertility

3. Tragedy cont’d Sources of plots were myths and everyday life
Function was to arouse pity and fear in the audience to purge or cleanse them of these unsettling emotions

4. Thespis – father of drama
First to use an actor in his productions
Performed first tragedy at the festival of Dionysos in 534 B.C.

5. Three Important Writers of Greek Tragic Drama
Aeschylus
Established true dialogue by adding a second actor

6. Important Writers cont’d
Sophocles
Introduced a third actor
Introduced painted sets
Expanded the size of the chorus to 15
Changed the kinds of music used by chorus

7. Important Writers cont’d
Euripides
Used the chorus as commentator and an ornament to main dialogue

8. Purposes of chorus
Create a psychological and emotional background through its odes
Introduce and question new characters
Point out the significance of events
Establish facts and affirm the outlook of society
Cover the passage of time between events
Separate episodes

9. Main divisions of a typical tragedy
Prologue – opening scene to establish background of story
Parados – entrance of the chorus (usually chanting a lyric)
Episode – counterpart of the modern act or scene

10. Main divisions cont’d
Stasimon – choral ode; comes at the end of each episode
Exodus – final action after last stasimon; ended by ceremonial exit of all players

11. Conventions of Greek Theater
Limited number of actors
All male actors
Broad stage movements
Elongated masks to denote character played, amplify sound, allow same character to play several parts

12. Conventions cont’d Boots with built-up soles
Elaborate and colorful costumes
Minimal scenery because there was no curtain
Altar to Dionysos at center stage ensuring some reference to gods
Prohibition against violence on stage

13. Elements of Tragedy
Reversal of situation – a change by which the action veers around to its opposite
Scene of recognition – a change from ignorance to knowledge
Scene of suffering – a scene of destructive or painful action
A tragic hero initiates his own downfall

14. Traits of a Tragic Hero In tragedy, the central character:
Passes from happiness to misery
Must not be perfectly virtuous and just
Must initiate his own downfall by a flaw of character (tragic flaw) or by an error in judgment

15. Unities of Greek Theater
Action – one basic story
Time – within 24 hours
Place – few scene changes