Greek Tragedies and Oedipus Rex

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.

• In medias res: “In the middle of the action.” Oedipus Rex begins after Oedipus’s prophecy has already been fulfilled

• Chorus- a group of actors who sing odes or chants in a collective voice in Greek drama

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

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 god’s life in song.

• Eventually, plays evolved in to more complex reenactments of well-known myths

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.

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

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.

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.

Theater at Delphi

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:1. Pity – we feel sympathy for the hero’s suffering2. Fear – We fear for him and for ourselves

Greek Tragedy Structure

• The basic structure of a Greek tragedy is fairly simple:1. The prologue (background information) is spoken by

one or more characters. 2. The chorus enters and sings the Parados (opening

song) while dancing3. “Episode” = spoken section (dialogue takes place

between actors. Like a “scene”)4. 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

5. There are several “episodes,” each separated by a Stasimon in between.

6. 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.

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

ELEMENTS OF A TRAGEDY

1. 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)

2. REVERSAL (Parapeteia- ). Because of his tragic error, the hero suffers a downfall from his respected position of leadership/royalty to suffering and misery.

3. 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.

4. PATHOS: the audience must feel pain from sympathy for the hero

5. CATHARSIS: release/cleansing of emotions

Oedipus the King

SOPHOCLES: The Playwright

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.

Sophocles: Contribution to Greek Theater

• Sophocles contributed many innovations to the Greek theater:1. Increased the number of people in the chorus2. Introduced a 3rd speaking part, allowing for more

complex dialogue3. Expanded use of machinery and sets (“special

effects”)• Example: Using a crane to lower actors on stage to

simulate gods coming down from sky

• 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

• 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

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)

LAIOS JOCASTA

OEDIPUS

MARRIED

CREON

SIBLINGS

UNCLE

POLYNEICES

ETEOCLES

ANTIGONE ISMENE

SIBLINGS

SON

MARRIED

KILL EACH OTHER IN BATTLE

ENGAGED