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2 Elements of Greek theatre

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imitation and storytelling

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Golden Age of Greece

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5th century BC; the classical period achievements in politics, philosophy, science, and the arts (theatre)

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During the golden age

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Birth of democracy Socrates and plato tried to explain the world around them Herodotus transformed history into a political science Pythagoras developed Pythagorean theorem Parthenon was built

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Dionysus

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God of wine, fertility, and revelry.

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Dithyrambic Chorus

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group of 50 men and women who sang and danced a hymn praising Dionysus

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Thespis

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performer customarily credited with transforming these hymns into drama by stepping out of the chorus and becoming an actor. Moved from reciting a story to impersonating a character and engaging in dialogue with members of the chorus. Actors were called "Thespians".

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Greek theatre is bound up with....

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Greek religion

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Central Feature of festivals

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annual festivals began to honor the Gods and theatre

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City of Dionysia

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Spring festival that honored Dionysus that lasted several days, usually a week. Tragic drama and comedy 3 days were devoted to tragedy and had time set aside for 5 comedies. Awards given for best plays of the year

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Satyr plays

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Short plays inbetween acts of tragedies and made fun of the plight of the tragic character. (Half man half goat). Chorus made up of satyrs (half men half goats).

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Festivals served as what for the people

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Catharsis (purging of emotion)

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Festivals were government sponsored events

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city state would choose the plays to be presented and appoint a choragus (producer).

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Choragus

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"producer"

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Playwrights served as what

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Directors; choose actors, supervise production, and work with the chorus.

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Myth

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a story handed down from generation to generation. often attempts to explain human behavior or natural events. Dealt with extreme family events/great adventures where the Hero had to accomplish a series of tasks EX: Hercules, Odysseus

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Tragedy

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most admired form at Greek festivals. 900 tragedies were produced in Athens during 5th century BC. Only 31 of those survived and were written by Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.

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Aeschylus

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Considered the first important Greek dramatist. Wrote when there was a chorus of 50 and 1 actor but called for a 2nd actor in his own tragedies. 2nd actor could play different parts (allowed for dramatic exchange). Reduced the size of the chorus to 12. Dramas dealt with noble families, lofty themes, and praised for their lyric poetry. Master of Trilogy (3 in 1)

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Who reduced the chorus from 50 to 12

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Aeschylus

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Trilogy

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3 tragedies that make up a single unit. EX: Oresteia by Aeschylus

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Sophocles

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Built on the dramatic form that Aeschylus had begun. Raised the number of chorus members to 15 where it would stay. Added a 3rd actor- played several parts using masks Wrote Oedipus Rex. (great work of the period)

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Euripides

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3rd great dramatist of the period. More of a rebel and considered the most modern of the 3.

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Euripides is considered the most modern playwright because

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1. his sympathetic portrayal of female characters 2. increased realism 3. his mixture of tragedy with melodrama and comedy 4. his skeptical treatment of the Gods.

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Tragic Structure of plays

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1 opening scene 2 the chorus enters 3 scene between characters 4 first choral song 5 scenes and choral songs alternate 6 final scene 7 exit of all characters and chorus

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Chorus

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key element in Greek Drama. Unique and never used the same way in any other drama. Made up of ordinary citizens.

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Functions of the Chorus

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1.eacted in a way people in the audience might react. 2. group the audience could identify with 3. gave background info 4. represented a moderate balance between extreme 5.behaviors of the characters 6. offered philosophical observations 7. drew conclusions

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Comedy

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part of the 7 day City of Dionysia festival and another festival in the winter. Greek comedy became known as Old Comedy. Only surviving old comedies were written by Aristophanes.

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Greek Comedy became known as

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Old Comedy

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Aristophanes

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wrote old comedy plays. made fun of social, political, and cultural conditions. satirized recognizable personalities (Socrates) plots were fantastic and improbable. Lysistrata- written in protest to the Peloponnesian War (women go on a sex strike and the war is stopped).

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Old Comedy

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Not Climatic in structure. More Episodic. Don't take place in one local Dont occur in a short span of time Many characters. Have 2 scenes NOT included in tragedy: Agon and Parabasis.

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Old Comedy has 2 scenes that are not included in Tragedy

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Agon- debate between 2 forces representing opposite sides of a political issue. Parabasis- addressed to the audience making fun of them in general and even specific audience members.

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New Comedy

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4th Century BC. Old comedy gave way to new comedy.

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Menander

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New comedy play discovered in 1957. Dyskolos (the grouch) Won a prize in the dionysus festival Dealt with romantic and domestic problems

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First thrust space existed during Greek theatre where

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in amphitheaters cut out of a hillside could seat up to 17,000

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Orchestra

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at the base of a hillside, circular playing area

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Skene

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scene house was behind theatre

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All performers during Greek theatre were

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male

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Major element of greek theatre was the

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mask

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The mask

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covered the entire head and included hair showed an emotional state made it possible for males to play females

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Dramatic Criticism in Greece

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first work of dramatic criticism appeared 4th century BC. EX: The poetics by Aristotle

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The Poetics by Aristotle

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First literary critique of drama. Most important piece of DC

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Aristotle's 6 Elements of Drama

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Plot- arrangement of incidents Character- people represented Thought or Theme- ideas exposed Language- dialogue or poetry Spectacle- scenery/visual elements Music/Song

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The Hellenistic Age

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-2 centuries after Aristotle. -Revivals of plays were presented. -Focus shifted from playwright to the actor -Wore huge platform shoes, head dresses, and large masks to draw attention to performers -Artists of Dionysus was formed (much like actors equity today) -Permanent theatre structures built -Theatre began to flourish after the 2nd century BCC but was not purely Greek

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Rome Theatre

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recognized for its practical achievements in law, engineering, and military conquest. Rome was more down to earth, so was its theatre. Focused on comedy and other entertainments. Strongly influenced by Greeks. Borrowed from Greek old comedy. Entertainments appealed to ALL levels of society. Theatrical in nature and had live performers.

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Ludi Romani

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240 BC first major Rome festival to incorporate theatre.

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Circus Maxima

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150,000-200,000 people

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Other popular Rome entertainments

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chariot racing wrestling acrobatics naumachia equestrian performances prize fighting gladiatorial combats (fight until death) mime (gymnastics,juggling,songs,and dances) short comedic skits that were risqué pantomime (single dancer, chorus, musical accompanists)

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Roman Playwrights

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Comedy- Plautus and Terence Tragedy- Seneca

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Plautus

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Based comedies on Greek new comedy. Wrote on domestic situations and trials of romance. Made use of stock character types (parasites who live off others, courtesans, lovers, and overbearing parents). Most dialogue was sung. Use farcical devices (mistaken identity,complicated plots)

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Menaechmi

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Plautus wrote; comedy of errors.

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Terence

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Plots are just as complicated as Plautus's but his style was more literary and less exaggerated. In Phormio, there is less slapstick and more emphasis on verbal wit. Emphasized spoken dialogue. Wrote Roman Comedy.

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Seneca

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Wrote Roman Tragedy Different from Greek tragedy in that the chorus is not an integral part of the action, violence was emphasized and seen on stage, and he also made use of supernatural beings. Influenced Shakespeare's work (Hamlet influenced by Senecan revenge tragedy).

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Dramatic Criticism in Rome- Horace

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Based off the work of others, especially Aristotle. Horace outlined his theory of correct dramatic technique in Ars Poetica.

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Horace's Ars Poetica (The Art of Poetry)

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outlined his theory of correct dramatic technique. 1. argued that comedy and tragedy should eb distinct genres 2. tragedy should deal with royalty 3. comedy should depict common people 4. stressed that drama should not only entertain but teach a lesson

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Dominus

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would be hired by the Roman government for Roman festivals as head of the troupe. They made financial arrangements, bought dramas from playwrights, hired musicians, and obtained costumes.

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Acting Companies

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had at least 6 members, all male. ignored the 3 actor rule of Greece.

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Roman acting technique

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emphasized detailed pantomime, broad physical features, and beautiful vocal delivery- because of the size of the theaters.

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Fall of the Roman Theatre

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Came with the fall of the Roman Empire Rise of Christianity- church opposed theatre because of it's connections with pagan beliefs. Thought seeing evil characters and sexuality on stage taught immorality. Issued edicts condemning theatre.

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