Greek tragedy

orchestra

dancing space; circular; where chorus would dance and interact with actors

theatron

"viewing place," where spectators sat; usu. hillside for acoustics

skene

"tent," building directly behind the stage; used to raise characters higher as gods; also decorated as part of set; costume changes

parodos

"passageways," for actors entrances and exits

Dithyramb

poetry or songs dedicated to the Greek god Dionysus

Dionysus

god of fruitfulness and wine; god of partying; huge groups of dancing people;
Some say: god of fluid identity

Theater of Dionysus

Main Greek theater in Athens; Great Dionysia held there every year

Great Dionysia

huge spring festival, 6 days long:

tragedian trilogy; 3 parts of a play; 1 hr.5 per play:
always have a satyr play: lewd comedy: women had to leave: accentuated scatological humor: 15 min skits
Comedies interspersed throughout week

Thespis

Thespian comes from Thespis; playwright; transforms drama from chanting to acting; put an actor on the stage

Sophocles

added another actor (3) and wanted to portray men as they were

Euripides

another great playwright; known for satire and strong women characters

Aeschylus

"the father of tragedy", expanded # of actors to allow for more interaction

Aristotle and the Poetics

collection of lectures by A; ancient Greece's most important philosopher. It breaks down and explains tragic plays: World's first work of literary criticism; ideas of tragic hero and catharsis

satyr plays

emotional break; scatological humor

comedy

story of play with upward movement to harmony - unity-marriage-treaty

Tragedy

from "goat song" - play with downward movement; evokes emotions of pity and fear; emotional catharsis (idea from Aristotle)

Chorus

Like Oompa Loompas! Danced, sang, and commented upon action of play

Choragos

Chorus leader; sometimes breaks away from group and becomes a part of the action of the play

Ode

stylized poem dedicated specifically to something (i.e. an ode to love)

Paean

in Antigone, towards the end: a praising poem, appeasing poem: attempt to convince gods not to allow tragedy to happen

Three Unities

Time, Place, Action

Deus ex machina

god of the machine; god that came down from sky to end violence and tragedy; now come to mean any sudden, unexplained, or artificial device to end story coming out of the blue

Ekkyklema

moblile scenery; all purpose rolling device, "special effects'

Mechane

used to show characters in flight; frequently used for gods

Proskeneon:

open area where most of the action took place