Greek Tragedy

Structure and Elements

Take out your Hansberry final essay as well

as the draft that was peer reviewed and the actual peer review. Please place in this order:

Final on top, peer review sheet, draft that was peer reviewed last

Staple together and place in Do Now tray Take out notes from yesterday on Greek

theater

Do Now:10.21.14

Tragedy depicts the downfall of a basically good person

through some fatal error or misjudgment, producing suffering and insight on the part of the protagonist and arousing pity and fear in the part of the audience.

By the end of the tragedy we should feel relieved through “catharsis” as we are purged of the feelings of pity and fear.

Aristotle’s Definition: Tragedy

One of the protagonists A generally admirable/good person The hero meets his/her demise through some personal

and fatal error (hamartia) or flaw Sometimes bad luck also contributes to the downfall However, the tragic hero must always bear some

responsibility for his/her own doom

The Tragic Hero

Prologue: A piece spoken by one or two characters before

the chorus appears. Usually gives background info needed

to understand events in the play

Parados: song sung by the chorus as they make their

entrance

Episodes/scenes: the main action of the play

Structure of a Greek Tragedy

Odes: songs (and dance) that reflect on the events of the episode/scene and weave the plot into a cohesive whole Choragos: the leader of the chorus who interacts with the

characters in the scene Chorus: the singers/dancers who remark on the action of

the play

Members of the chorus

Would wear masks

Choragos at the front

Strophe: movement of chorus from right to left on the stage Antistrophe: movement left to right across the stage

More on the Chorus

Paen: a prayer of Thanksgiving to

god Dionysos who the Greeks honored through their plays

Exodos: A song sung by the chorus as they make their final exit; they usually offer words of wisdom related to the outcome of the characters’ actions

Dionysus was the god of wine, agriculture, and

fertility of nature and is also considered a patron of the arts

He has a dual nature. On the one hand he brings joy and divine ecstasy. On the other brutal, unthinking, rage. Thus, reflecting both sides of wines nature.

Who is Dionysos

How is the structure of a Greek tragedy different from

what you are used to?

Reflect

I. Plot- how the action is arranged

Tragedy: a play with a serious theme that usually ends up unhappy for the main character because of a tragic flaw within the character

Hubris: arrogance demonstrated by a character because of too much pride

Foreshadowing: clues to something that will likely happen later in the play

6 Key Elements of Greek Tragedy

Climax- the highest point of emotional tension (or the turning point of the plot)

Catharis- the relief/purification of a character’s emotional tension

Denouement- the resolution to the main conflict (usually not good in a tragedy)

Plot continued…

II. Characters: people in the play (not the chorus)

III. Theme: main idea or message that is the central focus

IV. Language/diction: words spoken or sung by the characters

V. Music: odes sung by the chorus and choragos

VI. Spectacle: the scenes, props, costumes, masks (anything

visual)

Greek Theater Video

Sophocles came from a rich family that

lived in Colonus. His father, Sophillus, sent Sophocles to school in Athens, where he got a good education.

Sophocles' plays are generally very optimistic, full of the spirit of Athens in the classical period.

He sees men (and to some extent women) as powerful, rational, creative beings, the masters of the world around them, and the proud creations of the gods.

Sophocles also remembers the terrors of war and barbarism, which can sometimes overcome men and women. He cheers, in his plays, for the triumph of reason over wild emotion and anger.

Sophocles 496-406 BCE

Denotation: the development of events

beyond a person's control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power

The Fates- the three goddesses who preside over the birth and life of humans. Each person's destiny was thought of as a thread spun, measured, and cut by the three Fates, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. When your string is cut, your time is up.

Fate and the Fates

Read the summary of Sophocles’

play Oedipus Rex On the back, write down one how

or why question that pertains to the story AND one thing that surprised you the most.

Oedipus

Who is the more admirable character?

Antigone or Creon? Which character do you sympathize with and

why? Two key themes in the play are 1. listen to the

will of the gods and 2. hubris (too much pride) is bad. What are some examples of these messages in the play?

Discussion Questions