Greek Tragedies and Oedipus Rex

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Greek Tragedies and Oedipus Rex
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KEY TERMS

• Theater- that which is seen
• Drama- acting out
• Tragedy- drama in which a hero experiences a
  downfall that results from his tragic flaw or
  character weakness
• Comedy- drama that used satire (derived from
  characters called satyrs), wit, and often
  ridiculed celebrated figures.

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• In medias res In the middle of the action.
  Oedipus Rex begins after Oedipuss prophecy has
  already been fulfilled
• Chorus- a group of actors who sing odes or chants
  in a collective voice in Greek drama

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Function of the Chorus in Greek Drama

• Gives advice takes part in the action
• Establishes ethical framework sets the moral
  standard
• Ideal spectator- reacts as playwright hopes
  audience will
• Sets mood and heightens suspense
• Adds movement, song, and dance
• Paces the action so that the audience can reflect
  on what has happened

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Origin of Drama

• Greek plays began as religious rituals honoring
  Dionysus (god of wine, fertility and procreation)
• ecstasis- an altered mental state from
  uninhibited dancing and emotional displays.
• Greeks saw drama as a way of releasing powerful
  emotions through the ritualistic sacrifice of the
  tragic hero.
• At first, plays only consisted of a chorus
  narrating the gods life in song.
• Eventually, plays evolved in to more complex
  reenactments of well-known myths

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Golden Age of Greek Theater (600-200 BC)

• Thespis- wrote formal lyrics for the dithyramb
  and is credited with the invention of the actor.
  This protagonist interacted with the chorus,
  hence the term thespian.
• Drama competitions were instituted in 534 BCE.
• Plays were performed in the daytime and
  competitions were spread over several days.
• Masks were worn that exaggerated facial
  expressions and aided in acoustics.

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The Use of Masks

• Masks were used instead of costume changes since
  only 3 actors played all of the roles
• Masks had exaggerated facial expressions to show
  emotion
• They also acted as megaphones

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Physical Space

• The Golden Age of Greek theater was defined by
  amphitheaters with wooden spectator stands built
  into hillsides that encircled a platform in which
  the chorus would stand and move.
• As theater evolved, action of the play moved from
  primarily the chorus in the orchestra area to the
  actors on the stage.

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Physical Space

• Theatron watching space- spectator area
• Orchestra dancing area- circular location for
  the chorus between the stage and theatron
• Logeion- staging area to separate actors from
  chorus
• Skene- simply means tent or hut and
  represented palaces or houses around which plays
  were set became the basis of modern scenery.

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Theater at Delphi
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Tragedy

• Tragedy A work of dramatic literature that shows
  the downfall of a person (that person is known as
  the tragic hero)
• Tragedies explore powerful emotions, such as
  love, hate, revenge, and loyalty
• According to Aristotle, a tragedy triggers TWO
  main emotions in the audience
• Pity we feel sympathy for the heros suffering
• Fear We fear for him and for ourselves

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Greek Tragedy Structure

• The basic structure of a Greek tragedy is fairly
  simple
• The prologue (background information) is spoken
  by one or more characters.
• The chorus enters and sings the Parados (opening
  song) while dancing
• Episode spoken section (dialogue takes place
  between actors. Like a scene)
• Stasimon (Choral Ode) Actors leave the stage
  and the chorus dances and sings a Stasimon, or
  choral ode, which explains or comments on the
  action of the play so far

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1. There are several episodes, each separated by a
   Stasimon in between.
2. Exodos At the end of play, the chorus exits
   singing a processional song which usually offers
   words of wisdom related to the actions and
   outcome of the play.

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THE TRAGIC HERO

• TRAGIC HERO The protagonist of a tragedy. He
  usually has the following characteristics
• He is of high birth or noble status (royalty)
• He is a brilliant leader who has gained the love
  and respect of his people
• The tragic hero is NOT perfect! We have to be
  able to see him as someone like us, just in a
  higher position in society
• Therefore, the tragic hero MUST have tragic flaw

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ELEMENTS OF A TRAGEDY

• TRAGIC FLAW (hamartia) a character weakness
  that the (tragic hero) possesses that causes his
  downfall
• The hero's downfall, therefore, is partially
  her/his own fault, the result of his own actions
  (rather than evil, outside forces)

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1. REVERSAL (Parapeteia- ). Because of his tragic
   error, the hero suffers a downfall from his
   respected position of leadership/royalty to
   suffering and misery.
2. RECOGNITION (Anagnoresis- ). The hero realizes
   that his own flaw or error has caused his
   reversal. This recognition always occurs too
   late for the hero to prevent or escape his
   reversal.
3. PATHOS the audience must feel pain from sympathy
   for the hero
4. CATHARSIS release/cleansing of emotions

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Oedipus the King
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SOPHOCLES The Playwright
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Sophocles Background

• He was born a mile northwest of Athens in 496
  B.C. in a town called Colonus.
• He was born to a wealthy family, and was
  well-educated
• Career as a dramatist began when he entered the
  Dionysia theatrical competition in 468 BC. He won
  1st prize.
• Over his lifetime, he wrote over 120 plays
• Sophocles died about year 405.

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Sophocles Contribution to Greek Theater

• Sophocles contributed many innovations to the
  Greek theater
• Increased the number of people in the chorus
• Introduced a 3rd speaking part, allowing for more
  complex dialogue
• Expanded use of machinery and sets (special
  effects)
• Example Using a crane to lower actors on stage
  to simulate gods coming down from sky

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• Oedipus Tragic Hero, King of Thebes, son of
  Laius and Jocasta, husband of Jocasta, murderer
  of Laius
• Jocasta Queen of Thebes husband is killed
  before story begins and she marries Oedipus
• Creon brother of Queen Jocasta
  brother-in-law/uncle to Oedipus
• Tiresias -  Tiresias, the old blind prophet of
  Thebes
• Antigone and Ismene daughters of Oedipus and
  Jocasta

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• Laius Oedipus father former King of Thebes and
  former husband of Jocasta (until he was killed by
  Oedipus)
• Polybus Oedipus adoptive father, King of
  Corinth
• Merope Oedipus adoptive mother, Queen of
  Corinth
• Mt. Kithairon Mountain that baby Oedipus was
  supposed to be left on to die

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Oedipus Rex Things To Be Looking For (themes,
motifs, literary devices, etc.)

• Sight v Blindness
• Fate v Free Will
• Wisdom v Knowledge
• The Crossroads
• Power
• Determination
• Irony (dramatic, verbal, situational)

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MARRIED
SIBLINGS
JOCASTA
LAIOS
CREON
SON
OEDIPUS
UNCLE
MARRIED
ENGAGED
SIBLINGS
ISMENE
ANTIGONE
POLYNEICES
ETEOCLES
KILL EACH OTHER IN BATTLE