sophocles the greatest of greek playwrights
DESCRIPTION
Sophocles The Greatest of Greek Playwrights . 496 – 406 BC ?. Wrote 120 tragedies Festival of Dionysus Moral lesson Introduced painted sets “Theban Tragedies” 40 years King Oedipus of Thebes Started with Antigone. The Greeks…. Characteristics of the CHORUS. 15 men Sang lyric poetry - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
SophoclesThe Greatest of Greek Playwrights
496 – 406 BC ?• Wrote 120 tragedies• Festival of Dionysus • Moral lesson• Introduced painted sets• “Theban Tragedies”
• 40 years• King Oedipus of Thebes• Started with Antigone
The Greeks…
Characteristics of the CHORUS
15 men Sang lyric poetry Performing was regarded as a civic duty Wore robes and masks
Function of the CHORUS
Often the voice of reason in the play Reflected upon what happened Asked or answered questions Advised central characters Separated scenes of action
Terms for Greek Theatre
Antistrophe Strophe Choragos Ode Orchestra Parados
Paean Prologue Skene Theatron Thespian Tragedy (see Aristotle)
The Greeks…
Were notable for clarity of thought Symmetrical, logical, balanced = UNITY The Golden Mean Purpose of drama was to entertain, educate
and raise questions Ambiguous: what is right? Wrong?
FORM is IMPORTANTThere must be complete UNITY:
Time Place Action
ClimaxRising Action Falling Action
Exposition Denouement
(Freytag’s Pyramid)
Aristotle: THE POETICS The function of tragedy is to arouse pity
and fear in the audience so that we may be purged, or cleansed, of these unsettling
emotions - Catharsis Tragic Hero
Why read TRAGEDY?
Strength of character Perseverance Courage Inspiration The dignity of the
human spirit
Oedipus Rex
