1. History of Theater Drama Unit Mrs. Bartel The Acropolis in Athens, Greece The Theater of Dionysus

2. What is Drama? Drama is an art form in which a story dealing with human conflict is acted out on stage. Drama is an art form in which a story dealing with human conflict is acted out on stage. Formal theater: actors follow script Formal theater: actors follow script (school play) (school play) Informal theater: actors rely on their imaginations Informal theater: actors rely on their imaginations (mimes) (mimes)

3. Greek Theater Began as a religious celebration associated with the worship of Dionysus, god of wine Began as a religious celebration associated with the worship of Dionysus, god of wine Festivals lasted 5-6 days Festivals lasted 5-6 days 534 B.C.-Thespis won first contest 534 B.C.-Thespis won first contest Word “thespian” comes from his name, meaning “actor.” Word “thespian” comes from his name, meaning “actor.” Presented in an amphitheater setting Presented in an amphitheater setting

4. www.aug.edu/~cshotwel/2001.Greeks.htm Reove frae Reove frae

5. Greek amphitheater at Ephesus http://www.ozturk.com.au/sultanitin1.html

6. Principles of Greek Drama Catharsis: release of emotions in the audience Catharsis: release of emotions in the audience Main character: noble birth Main character: noble birth Main character: suffers fall from grace Main character: suffers fall from grace Written in poetic language Written in poetic language Shakespeare follows all these principles. Shakespeare follows all these principles.

7. 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; often this leads to a mistake in judgment. 3. Peripeteia – a reversal of fortune brought about by the hero’s tragic flaw; this is often also influenced by “fate” or the gods. 4. His actions result in an increase of self- awareness and self-knowledge…though he may not choose to act on this! 5. The audience must feel pity and fear for this character

8. 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 “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. Ex: Pride (“Hubris”) Ex: Pride (“Hubris”) Skywalker thinks he is Skywalker thinks he is so good, he can take on an experienced Jedi all by himself

9. Examples of Flaws

10. Shakespearean Tragic Plot Act I: Exposition Act I: Exposition This is where the setting, This is where the setting, characters, and conflicts are introduced. introduced. Act II: Rising Action (inciting incident) Act II: Rising Action (inciting incident) Act III: Turning Point (Climax) Act III: Turning Point (Climax) This is where the reversal of fortune occurs and it all starts to go badly for the tragic hero. This is where the reversal of fortune occurs and it all starts to go badly for the tragic hero. Act IV: Falling Action-downhill spiral (moment of final suspense) Act IV: Falling Action-downhill spiral (moment of final suspense) Act V: Catastrophe/Resolution Act V: Catastrophe/Resolution The conflicts are resolved (usually death); chaos returns to order. The conflicts are resolved (usually death); chaos returns to order.

12. Roman Theater 200 B.C. Rome overtook Athens as the cultural center for drama 200 B.C. Rome overtook Athens as the cultural center for drama Imitated Greek dramas-so considered inferior Imitated Greek dramas-so considered inferior Major contribution: modern elevated stage Major contribution: modern elevated stage

13. Middle Ages Formal theater disappeared for ages Formal theater disappeared for ages 10 th century-church took over 10 th century-church took over Presentations dealt with biblical events and parables (A simple story illustrating a moral or religious lesson) Presentations dealt with biblical events and parables (A simple story illustrating a moral or religious lesson) Continued until 16 th century Continued until 16 th century Pageant wagons used (movable stages to act out biblical stories) Pageant wagons used (movable stages to act out biblical stories)

14. Middle Ages Miracle plays: dramatized events from the bible Miracle plays: dramatized events from the bible Mystery plays: presented events from the saints’ lives Mystery plays: presented events from the saints’ lives Morality plays: presented allegorical stories in which characters personified religious or moral abstractions (Seven Deadly Sins) saved by Mercy, Justice, Temperance, and Truth Morality plays: presented allegorical stories in which characters personified religious or moral abstractions (Seven Deadly Sins) saved by Mercy, Justice, Temperance, and TruthSeven Deadly SinsSeven Deadly Sins

15. Gluttony

16. Mystery/Miracle Mystery/Miracle

17. Renaissance Theater 1300-1600 1300-1600 “rebirth”-renewed interest in Greek and Roman tragedies “rebirth”-renewed interest in Greek and Roman tragedies Original comedies, tragedies, and pastoral plays were created and performed Original comedies, tragedies, and pastoral plays were created and performed Commedia dell’ arte-popular comedy in which professional actors improvised Commedia dell’ arte-popular comedy in which professional actors improvised Shakespeare-YEA!-Scavenger Hunt Shakespeare-YEA!-Scavenger Hunt

18. Renaissance Theater Three important developments Secular themes (nonreligious) Secular themes (nonreligious) Rise of professionalism in acting and play writing Rise of professionalism in acting and play writing Plays preformed in English rather than Latin Plays preformed in English rather than Latin

19. French Theater-Renaissance Moliere (1622-1673) Moliere (1622-1673) Considered comic genius Considered comic genius Plays ridiculed people, ideas, medicine, forced marriage Plays ridiculed people, ideas, medicine, forced marriage Raised status of comedy to level of tragedy Raised status of comedy to level of tragedy Quote: “The duty of comedy is to correct men by amusing them.” Quote: “The duty of comedy is to correct men by amusing them.”

20. Restoration Theater Restoration of Royal family of Stuart to throne (1660-1700) Restoration of Royal family of Stuart to throne (1660-1700) Comedy of manners-satirizes social customs. Comedy of manners-satirizes social customs. Women were allowed to act for the first time in England! Women were allowed to act for the first time in England!

21. Nineteenth Century Theater Romanticism-the belief that humans should be guided by feelings and emotions Romanticism-the belief that humans should be guided by feelings and emotions Freed artist from rules, lots of special effects Freed artist from rules, lots of special effects Experimentation in theater! Experimentation in theater! operas operas

22. Romanticism Three Main Types of American Romantic Dramas Three Main Types of American Romantic Dramas 1. Quasi-historical characters interacting in a scenically romantic distant locale (affection, sorrow, and romantic longing) 2. Plays dealing with historical figures 3. Sinister gothic performances of mysterious and supernatural adventures (horrify and amaze) 4. modern horror novels and women's romance novels are both descendants of the Gothic romance

23. Romanticism Common Themes Common Themes Libertarianism: free from convention and tyranny, the Democratic spirit Libertarianism: free from convention and tyranny, the Democratic spirit Nature: unspoiled scenery Nature: unspoiled scenery Lure of the Exotic: picturesque, romanticized view of the past, mystery, superstition Lure of the Exotic: picturesque, romanticized view of the past, mystery, superstition The Supernatural: folktales, connection of identity of self The Supernatural: folktales, connection of identity of self

24. Nineteenth Century Theater Late 19 th century, modern drama was born Late 19 th century, modern drama was born Henrick Ibsen (Norway) Henrick Ibsen (Norway) August Strindberg (Sweden) August Strindberg (Sweden) Anton Chekhov (Russia) Anton Chekhov (Russia) John Galsworthy (Great Britain) John Galsworthy (Great Britain) Bernard Shaw (Great Britain) Bernard Shaw (Great Britain) Realism-portray people and situations as they really are in everyday life Realism-portray people and situations as they really are in everyday life

25. Contemporary Theater Experimented with many styles (not one style exists today) Experimented with many styles (not one style exists today) Theater of the absurd-life viewed as meaningless and people’s strivings as absurd, since they cannot do anything to improve the human lot Theater of the absurd-life viewed as meaningless and people’s strivings as absurd, since they cannot do anything to improve the human lot

26. Theater of the Absurd Samuel Beckett-Waiting for Godot (1953) Samuel Beckett-Waiting for Godot (1953)

27. Two types of Drama Comedy-happy ending, exaggerated or eccentric behavior, goal to entertain, to make people laugh, or to be scornful Comedy-happy ending, exaggerated or eccentric behavior, goal to entertain, to make people laugh, or to be scornful Tragedy-sad or disastrous ending, serious story Tragedy-sad or disastrous ending, serious story