Overview
This lecture introduces the essential features, structure, and cultural context of Greek tragedy, preparing students to study works like "Oedipus the King."
The Cultural Context of Greek Tragedy
- Ancient Greece consisted of city-states like Athens, Corinth, Sparta, and Thebes during the Golden Age (480–323 BCE).
- The Golden Age was marked by advancements in democracy, philosophy, literature, art, science, and theater.
- Theater was both entertainment and a religious, competitive event held during festivals honoring Dionysus.
Key Features of Greek Tragedy
- A noble hero (high status, admired, morally convicted) experiences a downfall due to a tragic flaw (hamartia).
- Hamartia is often a mistake from ignorance/arrogance, not a moral failure.
- Anagnorisis: the hero's critical moment of realization.
- Peripeteia: the sudden reversal of fortune.
- Use of masks enabled actors to switch roles and emphasize emotions, connecting performance to ritual and myth.
- The chorus acted as a collective character, representing community values and guiding the audience.
Structure of Greek Tragedy
- Begins with a prologue introducing the story.
- Parodos: entrance of the chorus.
- Episodes: main scenes with character dialogue.
- Stasimon (plural: stasima): choral odes reflecting on events between episodes.
- Exodus: final scene and departure.
- Stories were often adapted from well-known epic poems like the Iliad and Odyssey.
Themes and Language
- Explores tension between human action and fate, the limits of human knowledge, and the dangers of pride.
- Written in verse to suit open-air performances, enhancing meaning and dignity.
- Ritual and religious aspects were central, not just entertainment.
The Greek Theater and Stage
- The theatron was the semicircular audience seating, usually carved into a hillside.
- The orchestra was a circular area for the chorus to perform.
- An altar to Dionysus was placed at the center of the orchestra.
- The proskenion was the raised stage for actors; the skene was the backdrop and changing area.
The Three Unities
- Unity of Action: one complete plot without unrelated episodes.
- Unity of Time: action confined to one day.
- Unity of Place: action occurs in a single location (imposed later, not by Aristotle).
- These principles were observations, not strict rules, and later lost prominence.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Hamartia — tragic flaw or error leading to the hero's downfall.
- Anagnorisis — the protagonist’s critical discovery or realization.
- Peripeteia — sudden reversal of fortune.
- Chorus — a collective character providing commentary and reflecting community values.
- Stasimon/Stasima — choral odes between episodes.
- Theatron — audience seating area.
- Orchestra — circular space for the chorus.
- Proskenion — raised stage for actors.
- Skene — backdrop and changing area for actors.
- Three Unities — action, time, and place principles for structuring tragedy.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Begin reading "Oedipus the King" with this background in mind.