The Origin of Greek Drama The Origin of Greek Drama

religious celebration religious celebration song and dance song and dance dancing chorusesdancing choruses sang hymns of praise to the god sang hymns of praise to the god competing for prizes competing for prizes

The Worship of DionysusThe Worship of Dionysus

DionysusDionysus: : --- a vegetation deity especially associated with the--- a vegetation deity especially associated with the vinevine--- wine--- wine--- freedom and ecstatic joy--- freedom and ecstatic joy--- savage brutality --- savage brutality

Dionysus vs. ApolloDionysus vs. Apollo: : ---the two struggling forces in human nature---the two struggling forces in human nature

The Rise of Greek Drama The Rise of Greek Drama

In late the sixth century BCE, the Athenians In late the sixth century BCE, the Athenians converted the rural celebration of Dionysus converted the rural celebration of Dionysus into an annual city festivalinto an annual city festival

---dancing choruses competing for prizes---dancing choruses competing for prizes

the appearance of a masked actor:the appearance of a masked actor:--- probably by --- probably by ThepisThepis

--- playing a god or hero, engaged the chorus in --- playing a god or hero, engaged the chorus in dialoguedialogue

The Rise of Greek Drama The Rise of Greek Drama

the adding up of a second actor: the adding up of a second actor:

--- --- Aeschylus Aeschylus the creator of tragedythe creator of tragedy

--- an important breakthrough: the possibility of--- an important breakthrough: the possibility of

conflictconflict

---the prototype of drama---the prototype of drama

The Rise of Greek Drama The Rise of Greek Drama

The appearance of the third actorThe appearance of the third actor

SophoclesSophocles

A further step toward the maturity of Greek A further step toward the maturity of Greek dramadrama

The Rise of Greek Drama The Rise of Greek Drama

the more sophisticated formthe more sophisticated form

--- time: 5th century BC --- time: 5th century BC

--- --- DionysiaDionysia

The Maturity of Greek DramaThe Maturity of Greek Drama

Time & place: late March in Time & place: late March in AthensAthens Play competition:Play competition:

--- 3 days--- 3 days

--- 3 tragic poets selected earlier present a --- 3 tragic poets selected earlier present a

tetralogy: 3 tragedies and a satyr playtetralogy: 3 tragedies and a satyr play

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background

The defeat of the Persian invaders (480-The defeat of the Persian invaders (480-479 BC)479 BC)

Location: only in Athens--the supreme Location: only in Athens--the supreme power in the Greek worldpower in the Greek world

The Structure of Play Production The Structure of Play Production

the poet’s various jobs: the poet’s various jobs: --- playwright--- playwright

--- production--- production

--- casting (actors; chorus; musicians)--- casting (actors; chorus; musicians)

--- music composing--- music composing

The Structure of Play Production The Structure of Play Production

The mature form: 3 actors with chorusThe mature form: 3 actors with chorus subject matter: mythologysubject matter: mythology

drawback: no suspensedrawback: no suspense strength or feature: the poet’s interpretation strength or feature: the poet’s interpretation

of the character and the eventof the character and the event

The structure of the theaterThe structure of the theater

big size--sits 17000 peoplebig size--sits 17000 people

good acousticgood acoustic

structure:structure:--- costumes: masks and elaborate--- costumes: masks and elaborate costumescostumes--- actors: --- actors:

male, competent singers/dancersmale, competent singers/dancers

The structure of the theater The structure of the theater

OrchēstraOrchēstra: dancing area: dancing area SkēnēSkēnē: : a wooden building on the platforma wooden building on the platform EkkuklēmaEkkuklēma: trolley (thing that rolls out): trolley (thing that rolls out) MechanēMechanē: (machine or device) a pulley : (machine or device) a pulley

system that allowed for the appearance an system that allowed for the appearance an disappearance of actors in the air, above disappearance of actors in the air, above the the Skēnē Skēnē building.building.

The pattern of dialogueThe pattern of dialogue

AgonAgon (“contest”; “struggle”): one character (“contest”; “struggle”): one character makes a long, sometimes legalistic speech , makes a long, sometimes legalistic speech , arguing a particular case, and a second arguing a particular case, and a second character replies with another speech, character replies with another speech, putting the case against.putting the case against.

StichomythiaStichomythia (“line-speech”): characters (“line-speech”): characters speak just a single line each—a fast-paced speak just a single line each—a fast-paced exchangeexchange

The chorusThe chorus

Members: 12 or 15 masked dancers; only Members: 12 or 15 masked dancers; only the leader had a speaking rolethe leader had a speaking role

The role of the chorusThe role of the chorus

1) Often a group of local inhabitants1) Often a group of local inhabitants

-----Representing the voice of the ordinary -----Representing the voice of the ordinary person or the word on the street; person or the word on the street; frequently fails to get things rightfrequently fails to get things right

2) An internal audience: the revelation of 2) An internal audience: the revelation of inner thoughtsinner thoughts

3) characters themselves 3) characters themselves

The role of the chorusThe role of the chorus

4) broadening the perspective of events: 4) broadening the perspective of events: take us back in time or tracing parallels take us back in time or tracing parallels between this story and othersbetween this story and others

5) reflecting on the ethical, theological, and 5) reflecting on the ethical, theological, and metaphysical implications of the events at metaphysical implications of the events at handhand

Providing a break from the main narrative, Providing a break from the main narrative, a switch to an entirely different mood or a switch to an entirely different mood or perspectiveperspective

The role of the chorusThe role of the chorus

Choral songs can increase the dramatic Choral songs can increase the dramatic tension or surprise, as when a cheerful, tension or surprise, as when a cheerful, optimistic song is followed by a disasteroptimistic song is followed by a disaster

A basic codeA basic code

Little visible horrorLittle visible horror

Greek religious philosophyGreek religious philosophy

Athenians of this age saw no necessary Athenians of this age saw no necessary connection between relision and morality.connection between relision and morality.

The Theater The Theater

the costs: the costs:

---sponsored by appointed wealthy citizen---sponsored by appointed wealthy citizen

admission: admission:

---originally free, later on charged; the poor ---originally free, later on charged; the poor sponsored by governmentsponsored by government