The Performance of Greek Tragedy

Quote of the Day:

"When our work is over, we are in a position to enjoy all kinds of recreation for our spirits.  There are various kinds of contests and sacrifices regularly throughout the year" (Thuc. II.38).

Reading Assignment:

• Matthews and Platt 71-76
• Sophocles, Antigone, entire (in The Three Theban Plays)
• Background to Antigone
• The House of Laius:  Oedipus' Family Tree (one powerpoint slide)

Writing Assignment:

• Analyze the structure of the play Antigone: on the blank table (MS Word document), identify the prologue, parodos, episodes, stasima, and exodos. Also mark where these divisions occur in your copy of Antigone.
• An example

PowerPoint Presentation:

• Go to the class Blackboard site under "Course Documents" to download "The Performance of Tragedy"

Extra Feature:

• How does a modern-day theatrical performance compare to an ancient one?

Terms:

Thespis
City Dionysia
Dionysus
Theatron = “seeing place”
Orchestron = “dancing place”
Orchestra
Skene
Prologue
Parodos
Episodes
Stasimon (pl. stasima)
Exodos
Sophocles
Aristotle
Hamartia
reversal (peripeteia)

Links:

• Study Area of Didaskalia:  Ancient Theatre Today
  • Ancient Theatre: 2500 Years and Going Strong
• Dr J's Illustrated Greek Theater
• Dr J's Illustrated Greek Drama
• Ancient Greek Theater, Reed College
• Introduction to Greek Tragedy, Brooklyn College
• Greek Tragedy, course web site, Barbara McManus, College of New Rochelle
• Translation of Antigone, with introduction and notes, from Diotima site