Greek Tragedy

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Greek Tragedy

• History and the Theater

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The Tragic Form

• Originates from Greece.
• Term means goat-song possibly referring to the
  sacrifice of a goat to the god Dionysus or the
  prize given to the playwright who won at the play
  competitions.

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Dionysus

• Tragedies were performed in his honor

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Dionysus

• In Greek mythology, he was a nature god of
  fruitfulness and vegetation, especially know as a
  god of wine and ecstasy.

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Greek Tragedies

• Drawn from familiar myths of gods and mortals
  found in the works of Homer and elsewhere

• This familiarity focused the dramatic interest on
  the presentation of the changing awareness and
  responses of those involved, rather than on plot.

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Violence and Irreverence

• These scenes were not depicted on stage.
• Instead they were reported and commented upon

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Conflict

• Between the protagonist and a superior force
  (such as destiny, circumstance, or society).

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The End (resolution)

• The tragic protagonist is confronted in the end
  by an inexorable fate that ensures an unhappy
  outcome.

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Dionysus Theater-Reconstructed
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Dionysus Theater- Now
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Dionysus Theater

• Open-aired theater
• Like a semicircular football stadium
• Performance area at the bottom seating extended
  up the hillside

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Orchestra

• Orchestra circular, level space made of hard
  earth where the chorus would dance, sing, and
  interact with the actors who were on the stage
  near the skene.
• In the center of the orchestra there was often an
  altar.
• The orchestra of the theater of Dionysus in
  Athens was about 60 feet in diameter.

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Stage Area (view from the stage looking at the
orchestra)
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Theatron (seating area)

• Where the spectators sat.
• Usually part of hillside overlooking the
  orchestra, and often wrapped around a large
  portion of the orchestra
• Spectators probably sat on cushions or boards,
  but by the fourth century the theatron of many
  Greek theaters had marble seats.

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Theater Seating
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Skene

• the building or tent directly behind the stage.
  
• raised only two or three steps above the level of
  the orchestra, and was perhaps 25 feet wide and
  10 feet deep.
• usually decorated as a palace, temple, or other
  building, depending on the needs of the play.
• It had at least one set of doors, and actors
  could make entrances and exits through them.
• also had access to the roof from behind, so
  actors playing gods and other characters could
  appear on the roof, if needed.

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Parodos

• "passageways" or paths by which the chorus and
  some actors made their entrances and exits.
• The audience also used them to enter and exit the
  theater before and after the performance.

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Stage Setting

• In traditional Greek drama, little or no scenery
  was used.

• Settings today are elaborate
• They often consist of layers of settings
  including a backdrop, removable set, and layers
  of props

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Costumes
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Costumes

• They wore long robes with vertical stripes.
• Costumes were always stiff, heavy, dull, and dark
  colored to make apparent of their character's
  feelings.
• Wealthy characters wore very embroidered,
  authentic and intricately designed costumes
  giving the audience a sense of their character's
  wealth as well as personality.

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Masks

• The masks were typically made of very thin and
  delicate clay, wood, or even stiffened cloth in
  some cases.
• Then, a thin piece of linen was stretched over
  the base material of the mask.
• Then, the masks were carefully carved and
  designed to fit the role of the theatrical
  performances.

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Purpose of Masks

• Exaggerated the facial features of the actor. 
• Helped the audience tell whether the actor was
  playing a man or a woman, his or her social
  stature, and his or her expression. 
• Because the features were so much larger than
  those of a real human's face it was easy for the
  audience on the hillside to see. 
• In the mouth of the mask, there was a metal
  mouthpiece, which helped exaggerate the voice of
  the actor, making it heard through out the stands.