E vs AGT

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Ancient Greek and Elizabethan Theatre
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General Information

• In the 6th century B.C., Arion of Methymna in
  Lesbos (????µ?a) produced the first lyrics for
  the dithyramb. In the 5th century B.C., Thespis
  of Attica first introduced an actor and the
  chorus until the incorporation of more actors
  created the classical theatre. Classical plays
  followed a particular structural framework, with
  minor differences in some plays. Greek plays did
  not have intermissions. Aristotle declared that
  plays are complete and have a consistent
  structure of a beginning, middle, and end.
• Early Greek plays derived from religious
  ceremonies. They were performances of religious
  celebrations that took place in Athens.

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Elements of Greek Tragedy

• The subject is serious. Right before the end the
  climax signifies the plays resolution.
• The tragic protagonist is usually of noble birth
  and displays a greatness of spirit which the
  audience respects.
• The protagonist faces forces that are beyond
  control.
• The protagonist struggles until the end and shows
  great strength until his or her downfall.
• In the end no one gains anything except loss but
  the protagonist, despite having lost the battle,
  usually gains wisdom and self-awareness in
  retrospect.

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• The style of Greek tragedy was ceremonial.
  Although music played a significant role in the
  performance nothing has survived so that we know
  how it sounded. Also, were not certain of
  elements such as the amount of the text that was
  spoken or chanted.
• We do know that the Greek theater opted for the
  display of all sorts of vivid and exciting
  spectacles. Masks and colorful costumes were worn
  by the actors.

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Structure of Greek Tragedy

• Prologue A monologue or dialogue preceding the
  entry of the chorus, which presents the tragedy's
  topic.
• Parodos - The entry ode of the chorus. The actors
  remain on stage throughout the play. The odes
  expose the theme, comment on action, and
  contribute to the development of the story.

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• Stasimon- any extended song of the chorus after
  the parodos and at the end of each episode so
  that the chorus commented on the action.
• Episode the scene between two stasimons.
• Exodos- the final action after the last Stasimon
  and the exit song of the chorus after the last
  episode.
• Chorus - The chorus was a group of costumed men
  standing on the orchestra throughout the
  performance. They observed and commented on the
  action of the actors. It consisted of twelve to
  fifteen elders.
• The Choragos, or chorus leader often speaks for
  the entire chorus at certain moments. Also the
  term was used for the sponsor of a chorus.

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• The Messenger - plays the important role of the
  witness to events and actions that have taken
  place in other areas. He reports important action
  that has occurred offstage, usually portraying
  the violent acts that are never shown on stage
  and yet affect the course and outcome of the
  whole tragedy.

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A Greek Theatre would seat 15,000 to 20,000
spectators
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Parts of the Theatre

• Theatron The Greek theatre was called a
  theatron. The theaters were large, open-air
  structures situated on hills that had rows of
  tiered stone seats and were composed of two main
  elements the orchestra and the skene. An altar
  was located in the middle of the orchestra
  dedicated to the god Dionysus.
• Orchestra - The circular area at ground level
  which was enclosed by the crescent-shaped
  theatron.

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• Parodos a passage right and left on the sides
  of the orchestra used for the entrances and exits
  of the chorus.
• Skene it was the stage building (meaning
  tent). This was a temporary wooden building
  usually decorated as a palace, temple, or
  something else in which the actors kept their
  masks and costumes and quickly changed. The
  skene also had doors from which the actors made
  their entrance and exit. They also had access to
  the roof from behind the skene, so that actors
  who played the roles of gods and other
  supernatural characters could appear on the roof.
• Proscenium - the part where the actors performed
  in front of the skene.

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The Ancient Greek Theatre
www.youtube.com/watch?vC_gby5JoE6glistPL16D3CC0
AB4AB8DCB
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• Emergence of Drama as a Literary Art
• http//ed.ted.com/lessons/the-emergence-of-drama-a
  s-a-literary-art-mindy-ploeckelmann

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ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND QUEEN ELIZABETH I

1. 1558 to 1603 (Elizabeths I reign, 45 years The
   Golden Age).
2. Renaissance Revival of ancient classical
   mythology, literature and culture. The end of the
   Dark Ages (5th to 15th centuries AD.
3. Male dominance.
4. Protestantism a religious movement that began in
   Germany by the German monk Martin Luther in 1517
   as a reaction against Medieval doctrines and
   practices.
5. Improvement of the educational system.
6. English language gains importance.
7. Experimentation, Drama, theatre and Shakespeare.

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WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

• Born April 23, 1564 at Stratfordupon-Avon.
• Died April 23, 1616. He was 52-years-old.
• William was the child of John Shakespeare, a
  leather trader and
• Mary Arden. William attended the King's New
  School in Stratford where
• he learned Latin and studied the classics.
• He married Anne Hathaway in 1582 and had 3
  children.
• He moved to London between the mid to late 1580s.
• He was part of the acting group called The Lord
  Chamberlains Men (the
• group was named the Kings Men after the
  crowning of King James I in
• 1603).
• Shakespeare wrote more than 30 plays and 154
  sonnets.
• His Plays are divided into histories, comedies,
  tragedies and romances.

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ELIZABETHAN THEATRE
THE GLOBE THEATRE It was one of the most famous
Elizabethan theatres. It was composed of three
levels of galleries surrounding a circular yard.
Shakespeares plays were performed in this
theatre. He was part owner of the theatre. The
acting company had about 25 actors, all were
male.
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Parts of the Globe Theatre
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• During the Performances
• The groundlings stood in the yard while the
  richer patrons sat in the more expensive seats in
  the balconies.
• People were allowed to eat during performances
  and shout at the actors if something the actors
  did or said displeased them.
• The performances did not have any scenery except
  for props such as a throne, a bed or a cannon.
  But the actors wore colourful and extravagant
  costumes.

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• The Globe theatre was burned to the ground in
  1613. A prop cannon used for special effects
  during the first night of the performance of
  Henry VIII exploded and burnt the thatched roof.
• It was rebuilt on the same site in 1614.
• It was finally closed in 1642 and demolished in
  1644 by the Puritans.
• A replica was built in 1997.

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The End of the Globe Theater - the Puritans

• In 1642, the Puritans forced the English
  Parliament to close down all the theatres.
• The Puritans also known as Parliamentarians were
  a religious group that was against the Roman
  Catholic Church and in favour of simpler church
  structures. They also disapproved of social
  activities that were characterized by frivolous
  behaviour and finery.
• In 1642 the English Civil war broke out between
  the Puritans whose leader was Oliver Cromwell and
  the Royalists lead by King Charles I.
• In 1644 the Globe Theatre was demolished by the
  Puritans.

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• In 1647 stricter rules were applied regarding
  stage plays and theatres.
• In 1648 all playhouses were pulled down. All
  players were seized and whipped, and the audience
  was fined five shillings.
• In 1649 the Puritans executed King Charles I.
• In 1653 Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of
  England.
• In 1658 Cromwell died and his ideas and followers
  declined.
• In 1660 King Charles II reopened the theatres.
  But the Globe was never re-built.
• In the 20th century (1997) a reconstruction of a
  New Globe Theatre was built near the spot. 

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• The Theatre in Shakespeares Time
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vgDkt1MlLdgc

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Ancient Greek and Elizabethan Theater
differences and similarities

• Much like Elizabethan England, ancient Greece
  only allowed men to participate in the plays.
  Both had minimum scenery. Actors wore masks and
  costumes.
• The main dissimilarity was that the Greek drama
  was rooted in religion and not entertainment.
  Performances of Greek tragedy involved ritual.
  Tragic festivals were religious in nature because
  they were celebrations of the god Dionysus, god
  of wine and fertility. Initially the theater was
  part of the temple. The plays were performed each
  year at the Festival of Dionysus, in which great
  writers would compete. On the other hand
  Shakespeares plays involve ghosts, spirits and
  witches, that is supernatural elements.
• Plays are tragedies, comedies, tragicomedies and
  romances.
• Both theatres have similarities in structure.
  They seat the audience in a semi-circular or
  circular tiered design, have a stage and the
  Elizabethan theatre is partly roofed.
• Both the Aside (something spoken by an actor,
  intended to be heard by the audience, but not by
  those on stage) and the Chorus secretly provided
  information about the characters and plot only to
  the audience.
• Tragic heroes in both theatres experience their
  downfall after the climax and then the dramas
  resolution takes place. Tragedies provide
  philosophical insight and in particular the
  heros self-awareness or enlightenment in the
  Ancient Greek Tragedies. Not all Elizabethan
  characters are benevolent tragic heroes, Macbeth
  for instance is not. The tragic hero could excite
  two emotions in the audience fear and pity.
  Finally, the restoration of order provided the
  experience of Catharsis in both the hero and the
  audience.

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Webography

• http//web.eecs.utk.edu/mclennan/Classes/US210/Gr
  eek-play.html
• http//narrativestructures.wisc.edu/aristotle
• http//academic.reed.edu/humanities/110tech/theate
  r.htmlstructure
• http//ucbclassics.dreamhosters.com/djm/classes/St
  ructure.html
• http//www.thefreedictionary.com/PReCEDE
• http//encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/theatron
  
• http//www.crystalinks.com/greektheater.html
• http//www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/
• http//www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/479892/P
  rotestantism
• http//www.biography.com/people/william-shakespear
  e-9480323
• http//www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/122
• http//www.william-shakespeare.info/william-shakes
  peare-globe-theatre.htm
• http//skaourisclass.wikispaces.com/TheGlobeThea
  ter
• http//www.oocities.org/trichard_ca/Globe.html
• http//www.britannica.com/shakespeare/article-2481
  50
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vo978_nEhyMM
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vC_gby5JoE6glistPL
  16D3CC0AB4AB8DCB
• http//ed.ted.com/lessons/the-emergence-of-drama-a
  s-a-literary-art-mindy-ploeckelmann
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vgDkt1MlLdgc

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Exercises

• When was the Ancient Greek Theatre developed?
• What was the orchestra?
• What was the parodos?
• What was the Skene?
• What were the general features of Ancient Greek
  tragedy?
• When was Shakespeare born and when did he die?
• In which town was Shakespeare raised?
• Who was the reigning monarch during Shakespeares
  life?
• Where were his plays performed?
• What were the two names of the Shakespeares
  Acting Company?
• What were the main differences/similarities
  between Ancient Greek and Elizabethan Theater?

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Quizzes

• http//quizlet.com/23777057/test?writtenonmatchi
  ngonmult_choiceontfonprompt-with1limit18
• http//quizlet.com/23777057/ancient-greek-theatre-
  flash-cards/
• http//www.myvocabulary.com/word-game-puzzles/shak
  espeare-vocabulary/definition-match/