CC 301 1st Edition Lecture 16 Outline of Last Lecture I. Discussion of the Greek symposium and Athenian drinking culture. Outline of Current Lecture II. PlaywrightsIII.Four Qualities of Greek DramaIV.The Greek TragedyV.The Three Greek TragediansCurrent LecturePlaywrightsTragedies:- Aeschylus - 525-456 B.C. - 80 plays, 7 extant- Euripides - 480-406 B.C. - 90 plays, 18 or 19 extant- Sophocles - 495-406 B.C.-100 plus plays, 7 extantComedies- Aristophanes - 448-338 or 380 B.C. 50 plays, 11 extant. Lysistrata, 411 B.C.45 plays extant total 32 tragedies, 12 comedies, 1 satyr play (satirical parody-short)Four Qualities of Greek Drama:1. Performed for special occasions (festivals)Athens had four festivals worshipping Dionysus -- (Bacchus inLatin, Roman) god of wine, fertility, rebirthThe son of Zeus [a god] and Semele [a mortal], reared by satyrs, killed, dismembered, and resurrected (was actually reborn) --1. Competitive -- prizes awardedActors and playwrights competed --Oedipus apparently didn't winThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.(was 2nd) -- 430 B.C.3. Choral -- singing seems to have been an important parta chorus of men (varied in size form 3 to 50) -- many think the choral song -- dithyramb-- was the beginnings of Greek drama (but origins are unclear)4. Closely associated with religion - stories based on myth or historySome believe the chorus sang, moved, dancedMost believe the chorus underscored the ideas of the play, provided point-of-view, and focused on issues of the play and implications of the action, established the play's ethical system, and participated in the actionThe Greek TragedyStructure of Greek Tragedy:1. Late point of attack2. Violence and death offstage (Sophocles's Ajax is an exception)3. Frequent use of messengers to relate information4. Usually continuous time of action (except Aeschylus's Eumenides)5. Usually single place (except Ajax)6. Stories based on myth or history, but varied interpretations of events7. Focus is on psychological and ethical attributes of characters, rather than physical and sociological."The Artists of Dionysus" seem to have been a sort of actors' union in the 3rd century B.C. The Three Greek Tragedians:1. Aeschylus - his are the oldest surviving plays - began competing 449 B.C. at Dionysus Theatre. Most of his plays were part of trilogies; the only extant Greek trilogy is The Orestia.He is Believed to have introduced the 2nd actor (Thespis was one, the 2nd added; after 468 B.C. Sophocles is believed to have introduced the 3rd actor, which Aeschylus then used.{Top of Page}Characteristics of Aeschylus's plays:o characters have limited number of traits, but clear and directo emphasizes forces beyond human controlo evolution of justice, impersonalo power of state eventually replacing personal revengeo chain of private guilt and punishment - all reconciled at end 2. Sophocles: (496-406 B.C.) won 24 contests, never lower than 2nd; believed to have introduced the 3rd actor; fixed the chorus at 15 (had been 50) Characteristics of Sophocles' plays:o emphasis on individual characterso reduced role of choruso complex characters, psychologically well-motivatedo characters subjected to crisis leading to suffering and self-recognition - including a higher law above mano exposition carefully motivatedo scenes suspensefully climactico action clear and logicalo poetry clear and beautifulo few elaborate visual effectso theme emphasized: the choices of people{Top of Page}3. Euripides (480-406 B.C.) very popular in later Greek times, little appreciated during his life sometimes known as "the father of melodrama"Characteristics of Euripides' plays:o dealt with subjects usually considered unsuited to the stage which questioned traditional values (Medea loving her stepson, Medea murdering her children)o dramatic method often unclear -not always clearly causally related episodes, with many reversals, deus ex machina endingso many practices were to become popular: using minor myths or severely altered major oneso less poetic language, realistic characterizations and dialogTragedy was abandoned in favor of melodramatic treatment.Theme emphasized: sometimes chance rules world, people are more concerned with morals than gods