Greek Greek TragedyTragedy

"tragedy""tragedy"

Was a public genre from its earliest Was a public genre from its earliest beginnings at Athensbeginnings at Athens

refers primarily to tragic drama: a literary refers primarily to tragic drama: a literary composition written to be performed by composition written to be performed by actors in which a central character called a actors in which a central character called a tragic protagonist or hero suffers some tragic protagonist or hero suffers some serious misfortune serious misfortune

the misfortune is logically connected with the misfortune is logically connected with the hero's actions. the hero's actions.

Tragedy stresses the vulnerability of Tragedy stresses the vulnerability of human beings whose suffering is brought human beings whose suffering is brought on by a combination of human and divine on by a combination of human and divine actions.actions.

TRAGIC HEROES ARE:TRAGIC HEROES ARE:

BORN INTO NOBILITY:BORN INTO NOBILITY:

RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN FATERESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN FATE

ENDOWED WITH A TRAGIC FLAWENDOWED WITH A TRAGIC FLAW

DOOMED TO MAKE A SERIOUS ERROR IN JUDGEMENTDOOMED TO MAKE A SERIOUS ERROR IN JUDGEMENT

EVENTUALLY, TRAGIC HEROESEVENTUALLY, TRAGIC HEROES

   FALL FROM GREAT HEIGHTS OR HIGH ESTEEMFALL FROM GREAT HEIGHTS OR HIGH ESTEEM

REALIZE THEY HAVE MADE AN IRREVERSIBLE MISTAKEREALIZE THEY HAVE MADE AN IRREVERSIBLE MISTAKE

FACES AND ACCEPTS DEATH WITH HONORFACES AND ACCEPTS DEATH WITH HONOR

MEET A TRAGIC DEATHMEET A TRAGIC DEATH

FOR ALL TRAGIC HEROESFOR ALL TRAGIC HEROES

THE AUDIENCE IS AFFECTED BY PITY and/or FEARTHE AUDIENCE IS AFFECTED BY PITY and/or FEAR

Some other common traits characteristic of a Some other common traits characteristic of a tragic hero:tragic hero:

Hero must suffer more than he deserves. Hero must suffer more than he deserves. Hero must be doomed from the start, but Hero must be doomed from the start, but

bears no responsibility for possessing his flaw. bears no responsibility for possessing his flaw. Hero must be noble in nature, but imperfect so Hero must be noble in nature, but imperfect so

that the audience can see themselves in him. that the audience can see themselves in him. Hero must have discovered his fate by his own Hero must have discovered his fate by his own

actions, not by things happening to him. actions, not by things happening to him. Hero must see and understand his doom, as Hero must see and understand his doom, as

well as the fact that his fate was discovered by well as the fact that his fate was discovered by his own actions. his own actions.

Hero's story should arouse fear and Hero's story should arouse fear and empathy. .

Hero must be physically or spiritually wounded Hero must be physically or spiritually wounded by his experiences, often resulting in his death. by his experiences, often resulting in his death.

Ideally, the hero should be a Ideally, the hero should be a king or leader of or leader of men, so that his people experience his fall with men, so that his people experience his fall with him. This could also include a leader of a family. him. This could also include a leader of a family.

The hero must be intelligent so he may learn The hero must be intelligent so he may learn from his mistakes. from his mistakes.

The hero must have a weakness; usually it is The hero must have a weakness; usually it is pride. pride.

He has to be faced with a very serious decision. He has to be faced with a very serious decision. Must have something gone wrong in his/her Must have something gone wrong in his/her

current life. current life. The suffering of the hero must have meaning. The suffering of the hero must have meaning.

Three Tragic WritersThree Tragic Writers

Bust of Aeschylus from the Capitoline Museums, Rome

Aeschylus (525 BC—456 BC; Greek: Αἰσχύλος) was a playwright of Ancient Greece. He is the earliest of the three Greek tragedians whose plays are not entirely lost.

Sophocles was one of the three great ancient Greek tragedians.

Euripides (Greek: Ευριπίδης) (c. 480–406 BC) was the last of the three great tragedians of classical Athens

TheaterTheater is derived from the Greek word is derived from the Greek word theatrontheatron, , which contains the stem of the verb which contains the stem of the verb theasthaitheasthai 'to 'to view as spectators'. view as spectators'.

DramaDrama is a Greek word meaning is a Greek word meaning 'action''action', related to , related to the verb the verb drandran 'to do'to do'. The author of a tragedy '. The author of a tragedy was not just a writer of a script. When his work was not just a writer of a script. When his work was approved for presentation at the state was approved for presentation at the state religious festival in honor of the god religious festival in honor of the god DionysusDionysus (the (the City DionysiaCity Dionysia), the state assigned him ), the state assigned him actors and a chorus. actors and a chorus.

Greek tragedies and comedies were always Greek tragedies and comedies were always performed in outdoor theaters.performed in outdoor theaters.

Orchestra: The orchestra (literally, "dancing Orchestra: The orchestra (literally, "dancing space") was normally circular. It was a level space") was normally circular. It was a level space where the chorus would dance, sing, space where the chorus would dance, sing, and interact with the actors who were on and interact with the actors who were on the stage near the skene.the stage near the skene.

Theatron: The theatron (literally, "viewing-Theatron: The theatron (literally, "viewing-place") is where the spectators sat. The place") is where the spectators sat. The theatron was usually part of hillside theatron was usually part of hillside overlooking the orchestra, and often overlooking the orchestra, and often wrapped around a large portion of the wrapped around a large portion of the orchestra (see the diagram above).orchestra (see the diagram above).

SophoclesSophocles

Oedipus the KingOedipus the KingOedipus at ColonusOedipus at ColonusAntigoneAntigone

Oedipus the KingOedipus the King

ActivityActivity

Group yourselves into six (7) with three (3) Group yourselves into six (7) with three (3) members per group. (triad)members per group. (triad)

You will be given strips of paper which will You will be given strips of paper which will be arranged according to the order of be arranged according to the order of events taken from the tragic drama events taken from the tragic drama “Oedipus Rex”.“Oedipus Rex”.

You are given 20 minutes for this activity.You are given 20 minutes for this activity.

Laius, King of Thebes is told in an oracle that his Laius, King of Thebes is told in an oracle that his son will kill him. With the agreement of his wife, son will kill him. With the agreement of his wife, Jocasta, the baby’s feet are pinioned and the Jocasta, the baby’s feet are pinioned and the baby was given to a slave to be exposed to baby was given to a slave to be exposed to wolves and other wild beasts.wolves and other wild beasts.

The slave, who is a shepherd of Laius’ flocks, The slave, who is a shepherd of Laius’ flocks, takes pity on the baby, and instead of leaving it takes pity on the baby, and instead of leaving it to die, gives the baby boy to a fellow shepherd to die, gives the baby boy to a fellow shepherd from another kingdom, Corinth.from another kingdom, Corinth.

The Corinthian shepherd gives the baby to the The Corinthian shepherd gives the baby to the childless King of Corinth, Polybus adopts the childless King of Corinth, Polybus adopts the baby and gives him the name “Oedipus” baby and gives him the name “Oedipus” meaning “Swollen Feet” because of the baby’s meaning “Swollen Feet” because of the baby’s deformity.deformity.

Eighteen years or so later, someone at a party Eighteen years or so later, someone at a party calls the young Oedipus a bastard and Oedipus calls the young Oedipus a bastard and Oedipus is greatly disturbed.is greatly disturbed.

Oedipus leaves Corinth for Delphi to confirm his Oedipus leaves Corinth for Delphi to confirm his parentage at the oracle of Apollo. The oracle, parentage at the oracle of Apollo. The oracle, however, gives him instead a horrific prediction: however, gives him instead a horrific prediction: he will kill his father and marry his motherhe will kill his father and marry his mother..

The priestess of the oracle at Delphi was known as the Pythia. Apollo spoke through his oracle, who had to be an older woman of blameless life chosen from among the peasants of the area.

Temple of Apollo at Delphi

Afraid that the oracle will come true, Oedipus Afraid that the oracle will come true, Oedipus decides not to return to Corinth and heads for decides not to return to Corinth and heads for the opposite direction, Thebes. On a place the opposite direction, Thebes. On a place where 3 roads meet, Oedipus meets a man where 3 roads meet, Oedipus meets a man driving a wagon with a bunch of slaves. The man driving a wagon with a bunch of slaves. The man is rude to Oedipus and orders him off the road. is rude to Oedipus and orders him off the road. Oedipus is enraged and kills the man and his Oedipus is enraged and kills the man and his slaves. He continues his way to Thebes while slaves. He continues his way to Thebes while one of the slaves escapes the attackone of the slaves escapes the attack

A man from Delphi to Thebes

When Oedipus reaches Thebes, the kingdom When Oedipus reaches Thebes, the kingdom was being plagued by a monster---a sphinx (a was being plagued by a monster---a sphinx (a creature with the body of a lioness and the head creature with the body of a lioness and the head of a woman) who slaughters all who cannot of a woman) who slaughters all who cannot solve her riddle. The riddle of the sphinx is: what solve her riddle. The riddle of the sphinx is: what creature stands on four legs in the morning, two creature stands on four legs in the morning, two at midday and three at sun down.at midday and three at sun down.

Oedipus replies “MAN”, solves the riddle of the Oedipus replies “MAN”, solves the riddle of the sphinx and liberates Thebes. As a reward, he is sphinx and liberates Thebes. As a reward, he is offered the vacant position of King of Thebes offered the vacant position of King of Thebes and marries the Queen, Jocasta.and marries the Queen, Jocasta.

Many years pass and Oedipus fathers four Many years pass and Oedipus fathers four children by Jocasta. children by Jocasta.

AntigoneAntigone IsmeneIsmene

EstioclesEstiocles PolynicesPolynices

Another plague besets Thebes killing crops, Another plague besets Thebes killing crops, animals and children. Oedipus, the King, animals and children. Oedipus, the King, promises to save his city. Plagues are believed promises to save his city. Plagues are believed to be caused by sin and only the god can reveal to be caused by sin and only the god can reveal its cause.its cause.

Oedipus assigns his brother-in-law, Creon, to Oedipus assigns his brother-in-law, Creon, to consult the oracle at Delphi to determine the consult the oracle at Delphi to determine the cause of the plague. The oracle reveals that the cause of the plague. The oracle reveals that the plague is caused by an unpunished murder---plague is caused by an unpunished murder---that of the former king, Laius.that of the former king, Laius.

Oedipus vows to let the murderer of the former Oedipus vows to let the murderer of the former king pay for his crime. Oedipus then turns to king pay for his crime. Oedipus then turns to Teiresias, the blind but highly respected prophet Teiresias, the blind but highly respected prophet to name the murderer.to name the murderer.

Teiresias hesitates at first, but after several Teiresias hesitates at first, but after several threats from Oedipus, he names Oedipus as the threats from Oedipus, he names Oedipus as the murderer. Oedipus is enrages, believing that murderer. Oedipus is enrages, believing that Teiresias and Creon have concocted the story to Teiresias and Creon have concocted the story to dethrone him and seize power for themselves.dethrone him and seize power for themselves.

Hearing that their quarrel was about the oracle, Hearing that their quarrel was about the oracle, Jocasta assures her husband that oracles are Jocasta assures her husband that oracles are nonsense. She goes on telling Oedipus how she nonsense. She goes on telling Oedipus how she and Laius had a baby boy before whom the and Laius had a baby boy before whom the oracle prophesied would kill its father. Then oracle prophesied would kill its father. Then Jocasta tells Oedipus how the innocent babe Jocasta tells Oedipus how the innocent babe died and how Laius was killed by robbers at a died and how Laius was killed by robbers at a place where 3 roads meet.place where 3 roads meet.

Suddenly, Oedipus remembers how he killed a Suddenly, Oedipus remembers how he killed a man at such a place before when he was on his man at such a place before when he was on his way to Thebes. Jocasta calls for the man who way to Thebes. Jocasta calls for the man who escaped the attack which killed Laius and escaped the attack which killed Laius and several others.several others.

Before the lone survivor of the attack is Before the lone survivor of the attack is presented to Oedipus and Jocasta, a messenger presented to Oedipus and Jocasta, a messenger from Corinth arrives to tell Oedipus that Polybus, from Corinth arrives to tell Oedipus that Polybus, his father, is dead and that he will now be the his father, is dead and that he will now be the new king of Corinth. Oedipus tells the new king of Corinth. Oedipus tells the messenger that he won’t dare return to Corinth messenger that he won’t dare return to Corinth for fear of marrying his mother.for fear of marrying his mother.

The messenger then reveals to Oedipus that the The messenger then reveals to Oedipus that the queen of Corinth is not his real mother. He queen of Corinth is not his real mother. He explains how the baby Oedipus was given to him explains how the baby Oedipus was given to him by a shepherd from Thebes. Afterwards, by a shepherd from Thebes. Afterwards, everything became clear to Jocasta and she everything became clear to Jocasta and she rushes out.rushes out.

At last, the survivor of the ambush arrives, who At last, the survivor of the ambush arrives, who also turns to be the shepherd who was tasked to also turns to be the shepherd who was tasked to abandon the baby Oedipus to a Corinthian. abandon the baby Oedipus to a Corinthian. Upon learning the entire truth, Oedipus rushes to Upon learning the entire truth, Oedipus rushes to Jocasta, but Jocasta has already hanged Jocasta, but Jocasta has already hanged herselfherself..

Greatly agonized, Oedipus takes the pins from Greatly agonized, Oedipus takes the pins from Jocasta’s dress and pierces his eyes until he Jocasta’s dress and pierces his eyes until he gets blind.gets blind.

Creon becomes the new ruler of Thebes.Creon becomes the new ruler of Thebes.

Laius asks the Delphi Oracle

What causes the curse to King What causes the curse to King Lauis and Jocasta?Lauis and Jocasta?

?

? ?

?

?

Oedipus

Character Analysis

http://www.teachtheteachers.org/projects/http://www.teachtheteachers.org/projects/JZarro2/process2.htmlJZarro2/process2.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragic_herohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragic_hero