Intro to Tragedy
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The document discusses key aspects of Greek tragic theater including that tragedies involved a central character suffering misfortune as a result of their actions, exciting pity and fear according to Aristotle. Major playwrights included Sophocles, Aeschylus, and Euripides who wrote trilogies performed at the Theater of Dionysus in Athens in the 5th century BCE as part of religious festivals also used to demonstrate Athens' power.
Intro to Tragedy
- 1. The Greek Tragic Theater
- 2. Tragedy A literary composition in which a central character suffers some serious misfortune. This misfortune is not accidental, but is a logical result of the character’s actions. Tragedy stresses the vulnerability of human beings whose suffering is brought on by a combination of human and divine actions, but is generally undeserved with regard to its harshness.
- 3. Aristotle’s “Poetics” Tragedy excites pity and fear Character between two extremes of good and evil is needed Of high renown Misfortune brought about by some error or frailty (“tragic flaw”)
- 5. Theater of Dionysos today (ruins c. 86BCE), Lycurgos
- 6. Artist’s Rendition of the Theater of Dionysos, 4 th century BCE. Est. capacity: 17,000
- 7. When and Why C. 5 th century BCE, at festivals throughout the year Main one in Athens: festival in honor of Dionysos Used to demonstrate Athens’ political and military power Presentation of tribute
- 8. Where Major festival at Athens Other places had festivals Most cities had a place for performances of plays
- 9. Pompeii
- 10. Greek Theater, Berkeley, CA
- 11. Who: Playwright Three playwrights Sophocles (24) Aeschylus (13) Euripides (5) Wrote trilogies of three tragic plays and one satyr play Only surviving trilogy: Oresteia
- 12. What Stories from the mythology of Greece Agammemnon Ajax Medea Oedipus the King The Bacchae
- 13. Who: The Actors Actors No more than three actors Protagonist, deuteragonist, tritagonist Male Masks / Costumes
- 14. Who: The Chorus 12-15 young men Amateurs Recruited, trained, and paid for by a wealthy citizen named as that year’s choregos (producer) Sang and danced
- 15. Key physical components of the theater Orchestra skene mechane ekkyklema
- 17. Five “W”s of Greek Tragedy Who Professional actors (2-3) Amateur chorus (12-15) Playwright What stories from mythology Where Outdoor theaters in Athens and other places When C. 5 th century BCE, at festivals throughout the year Why Both a religious festival and a display of cultural and political power Not “entertainment”, but certainly entertaining
Editor's Notes
- #17: Note the locations of the ekuklema and the mechane