Characteristics of Greek Theatre

1
Characteristics of Greek Theatre

• Performed for special occasions (Festivals to
  worship the Gods)
• Competitive- 3 playwrights competed, as did
  actors
• Choral singing was important. The chorus was all
  men and varied from 3 to 50 people.
• Closely associated with religion. Stories were
  based on myth and history.

2
The Actors

• The actors wore large, colorful, decorative robes
• They wore extra-large white gloves
• They wore masks that had over-exaggerated
  features and contained large mouths that were
  shaped like a megaphone
• They wore large, platform shoes
• They were all men, and only one-three actors
  played all of the parts

3
The Dramatic Structure

• Ancient Greek Theatre

4
The Prologue
The opening portion of the play that sets the
scene and contains the exposition.
5
The Parados

• The entrance song
• of the chorus.

6
Episodes

• Scenes in the action of the drama. The episodes
  are performed by the actors. There are usually
  four episodes in a Greek tragedy.

7
Stasimons (Odes)

• Choral passages alternating with the episodes of
  the plot of the drama. The chorus sang and
  danced these tragic odes. There are usually four
  stasimons in a Greek tragedy.

8
The Strophe The Antistrophe

• During the strophe, the chorus danced one way
  around the orchestra.

• During the antistrophe, the chorus changed
  directions and went the opposite way around the
  orchestra.

9
The Exodos

• The concluding section of the tragedy that ends
  with the chorus singing their final lines as they
  exit.

10
Characteristics of a Greek Tragedy
11
Characteristics of Greek Tragedy

• Late point of attack
• Violence and death offstage
• Frequent use of messengers to relate information
• Continuous time of action
• Single setting
• Stories based on myths
• Focus is on the psychological and ethical
  attributes of characters, not physical and
  sociological.

12
Characteristics of a Tragic Hero
13

• The tragic hero is a character of noble stature
  and greatness. The character must occupy a high
  position in society.

14

• The tragic hero is good, but they are not
  perfect. The audience should be able to identify
  with the hero.

15
Peripeteia

• A reversal of intention
• something occurs that is the opposite of what
  the hero intended.

16

• The character brings about his own downfall.
  Usually, this occurs through hamartia, their
  tragic flaw.

17

• The hero undergoes anagnorisis a scene of
  recognition where the character makes a critical
  discovery
• The fall is not pure loss. The hero usually
  gains some self-knowledge or learns something
  because of their fall.

18

• The hero undergoes a reversal of fortune. Their
  status at the end of the tragedy is completely
  diminished.

19
Catastrophe

• There is often a final scene of suffering, such
  as death on stage, bodily injury, or wounds.

20

• The heros misfortune is not entirely deserved.
  Their punishment is usually greater than their
  crime.