Sophocles & Greek DramaSophocles & Greek Drama

Types of Greek DramaTypes of Greek Drama

The ancient Greeks took their The ancient Greeks took their entertainment very seriously and entertainment very seriously and used drama as a way of investigating used drama as a way of investigating the world they lived in, and what it the world they lived in, and what it meant to be human.meant to be human.

The three genres of drama were The three genres of drama were comedy, satyr plays, and most comedy, satyr plays, and most important of all, tragedy.important of all, tragedy.

Comedy, Satyr Plays, and TragedyComedy, Satyr Plays, and Tragedy

Comedy: The first comedies were Comedy: The first comedies were mainly satirical and mocked men in mainly satirical and mocked men in power for their vanity and power for their vanity and foolishness. foolishness.

Satyr Plays: These short plays were Satyr Plays: These short plays were performed between the acts of performed between the acts of tragedies and made fun of the plight tragedies and made fun of the plight of the tragedy’s characters. of the tragedy’s characters.

Tragedy: Tragedy dealt with the big Tragedy: Tragedy dealt with the big themes of love, loss, pride, the abuse themes of love, loss, pride, the abuse of power and the fraught of power and the fraught relationships between men and gods. relationships between men and gods. Typically the main protagonist of a Typically the main protagonist of a tragedy commits some terrible crime tragedy commits some terrible crime without realizing how foolish and without realizing how foolish and arrogant he has been. Then, as he arrogant he has been. Then, as he slowly realizes his error, the world slowly realizes his error, the world crumbles around him. Sophocles was crumbles around him. Sophocles was one of the great playwrights of one of the great playwrights of tragedy.tragedy.

The Origin of Greek DramaThe Origin of Greek DramaGreek drama evolved from religious Greek drama evolved from religious festivals in honor of Dionysus, the god of festivals in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine and the changing seasons.wine and the changing seasons.

Tragedy was the favorite type of Greek Tragedy was the favorite type of Greek drama.drama.

The first Greek actor was Thespis who The first Greek actor was Thespis who astounded audiences by pretending to be astounded audiences by pretending to be the person he was playing. It is from his the person he was playing. It is from his name where we get the word “thespian”.name where we get the word “thespian”.

SophoclesSophoclesSophocles was born into a rich family; his Sophocles was born into a rich family; his father got him the best tutors. These father got him the best tutors. These tutors included a famous musician who tutors included a famous musician who helped him acquire the skill he would use helped him acquire the skill he would use later in composing the music and words later in composing the music and words for the choruses in his tragedies. for the choruses in his tragedies.

Sophocles was a very prominent figure of Sophocles was a very prominent figure of his time. He often ended up being elected his time. He often ended up being elected for political positions he didn’t particularly for political positions he didn’t particularly want! want!

He wrote a whopping 123 plays, but He wrote a whopping 123 plays, but only seven tragedies survive to only seven tragedies survive to present day. present day. Sophocles and 2 other playwrights Sophocles and 2 other playwrights would present plays each year at the would present plays each year at the festival of Dionysus. Out of these festival of Dionysus. Out of these competitions that Sophocles took competitions that Sophocles took part in, he won 1part in, he won 1stst place 18 times! place 18 times! He changed the world of drama by He changed the world of drama by adding a third speaking voice, adding a third speaking voice, scenery, and increasing the number scenery, and increasing the number of people in the chorus.of people in the chorus.

Oedipus the KingOedipus the King

Although Oedipus the King was Although Oedipus the King was written almost 2500 years ago, you written almost 2500 years ago, you should recognize some of the themes should recognize some of the themes and conflicts that we encounter still and conflicts that we encounter still today: political struggle, moral vs. today: political struggle, moral vs. legal responsibility, suicide, revenge, legal responsibility, suicide, revenge, punishment, divided loyalties, punishment, divided loyalties, shame, guilt, love and death.shame, guilt, love and death.

This play won 2This play won 2ndnd place at one of the place at one of the drama festivals earlier mentioned.drama festivals earlier mentioned.

The play is set in the city of Thebes.The play is set in the city of Thebes.

The tragedy contains one of the most The tragedy contains one of the most famous riddles ever devised (the famous riddles ever devised (the riddle of the Sphinx).riddle of the Sphinx).

What goes on four legs in the What goes on four legs in the morning, two in the afternoon, and morning, two in the afternoon, and three in the evening?three in the evening?

This play is part of a trilogy.This play is part of a trilogy.

What is a tragedy?What is a tragedy?

What is a tragedy?What is a tragedy?

What are some examples of real-life What are some examples of real-life tragedies?tragedies?

What make these events tragic- and What make these events tragic- and not just sad?not just sad?

Was someone at fault?Was someone at fault?

What are some famous tragedies in What are some famous tragedies in literature?literature?

LoyaltyLoyaltyHow much loyalty do you owe your family?How much loyalty do you owe your family?Your friends?Your friends?Your nation?Your nation?What sorts of “debts” do people rack up?What sorts of “debts” do people rack up?Which debts do you think it is important to Which debts do you think it is important to pay back?pay back?What should you do when your loyalties What should you do when your loyalties are “divided”- say between loyalty to your are “divided”- say between loyalty to your parents and loyalty to your friends?parents and loyalty to your friends?

LeadershipLeadership

What makes a good leader?What makes a good leader?

Which three qualities do you think Which three qualities do you think are the most important?are the most important?

What weaknesses do many leaders What weaknesses do many leaders commonly have?commonly have?

DOLDOLour Social Studies teacher asked us who have her our Social Studies teacher asked us who have her as a teacher to write reports on the south she as a teacher to write reports on the south she said it was to be an emphasis on african said it was to be an emphasis on african americansamericans

capitalization (adjective)capitalization (adjective)

reduction (redundancy, unnecessary words)reduction (redundancy, unnecessary words)

proper nouns (geographical region, ethnic group)proper nouns (geographical region, ethnic group)

Our social studies teacher asked us to write Our social studies teacher asked us to write reports on the South with an emphasis on African reports on the South with an emphasis on African Americans.Americans.