Greek Tragedy

outdoors

a chorus and three actors

masks

religious festivals in honor of Dionysus, god of wine

tragedies and comedies

stories that dealt with the mystic past

dealt with contemporary problems

At first riotous and obscene celebrations

• They became more serious.  began with a solemn procession
• entire city attended free of charge

group of actors who moved and sand together; functions as a character in the play

to set the mood, to give background information; to give possible public opinion; might side with one of the characters

real time; only one place; only those things that can be displayed on stage

violence, physical injuries, murder

• comes from nobility or high rank (King, Queen, President, Celebrity)
• tragic flaw (greed, lust, envy, gluttony, sloth, wrath, excessive pride)

hubris

experiences a reversal of fortune and has a downfall that arouses pity, fear, wonder, and awe

recognizes his mistakes and is purified by a release of emotional tension producing  a feeling of calm.

the release of tension

father of tragedy; wrote 90-100 plays; added a second actor

497-406 B.C.; came from a wealthy family; most successful of competitors at Athenian Dionysia festival; added a third actor; developed scene painting

525-456 B.C.

in the middle of the action

the turning point for the tragic hero

the moment when the hero knows the truth

under a curse; ill-fated; doomed

reparation for a wrong or injury; amends

divination

having not basis, unfounded

any of several diseases that wither or kill plants; something that damages or spoils

disastrous

to spoil the purity of

a prophecy

provided with ability, talent, or quality

doctrine that all events and conditions are predetermined by fate and cannot be altered by man

lacking in reverence for gods or a god; irreligious

• involving marriage or a sexual relationship between two persons who are closely related
• (parent/child, brother/sister)

accusation or criticism

direct descent from an ancestor

to treat or address with ridicule or contempt

divinely inspired priest, priestess or other medium through whom certain ancient gods, as Apollo, answered the questions of the worshippers shrine or temple of a god, as that at Delphi, where answers were given

care;concern

obstinately silent or withdrawn as a display of bad humor or resentfulness

those who earnestly beg

earnest request or humble prayer

Thebes

Corinth

• part lion/part woman (body of a lion, wings of an eagle and head of a woman)
• plagues Thebes

What walks on four legs in the morning, on two legs at noon, and on three legs in the evening?

• location of the temple of Apollo
• all Greek men would journey there to discover their fate
• Oracle prophet of Delphi who told one's fate
• Greek concept of fate-no free will; life pre-planned; pre-destined

• Laius-former King of Thebes, supposedly killed by robbers
• Jocasta-widow of Laius; now married to Oedipus
• Oedipus- King of Thebes by marriage and due to answering the riddle of the Sphinx

• Creon- Jocasta's brother
• Teiresias- blind prophet
• Antigone
• Ismene- daughters of Jocasta and Oedipus

• Polybus-King of Corinth
• Merope-Queen of Corinth
• Corinthian messenger
• Palace messenger
• Old Shepherd