1. Greek Theater Euripides (480-406 B.C.E.)

2. Historical Background Golden Age of Greece (594 – 338 B.C.E.) – beginnings of democracy, defeat of Persia gave Greek city-states independence Play festival emerged from religious celebrations of Dionysus (god of wine and intoxication) Plays were entered in contests – judges gave awards for best actor and playwright At first, only tragedies – comedies added later

3. Participants of Greek Drama All actors and playwrights were men Wore large, lightweight masks (quick changes, character easy to see, funnel-shaped mouths [megaphones]) Chorus: approx. 50 men, chanting lines & songs, would speak directly to audience, functioned as narrator 534 B.C.E.: First play where “actor” stepped from chorus and spoke lines by himself (Thespis – thespian) By 471 B.C.E., three actors standard

4. Example of Greek Mask

5. Greek Theaters Would hold 14,000 to 17,000 people Orchestra: flat circular area in center where acting took place Aeorema: a crane could “fly in” a God to intervene in a play (deus ex machina: “god in the machine”) Ekeclema: wheeled platform where dead characters were revealed. Murder, suicide, and graphic violence always happened offstage. Skene: painted backdrop (scene/scenery)

6. Greek Theater at Epidaurus

7. Famous Greek Playwrights Sophocles (tragedy: Oedipus Rex, Antigone) Euripides (tragedy: Medea) Aristophanes (comedy: Lysistrata)

8. Aristotle: Poetics Aristotle (384-322 B.C.E.): Greek philosopher, thinker Profound influence on Western science, logic, philosophy, and drama Poetics concerned with “correct” poetry (includes drama)

9. Key concepts of Poetics Catharsis: the emotional, overwhelming feeling from watching a tragedy Tragedy has superior characters, comedy has inferior characters Aristotle believed proper tragedy should have only one important plot and a short timeframe; plays with one setting were the norm in Greek theater.