Ancient Greek Theater

How theatre came to Athens

By worshippers of Dionysus

Worshippers of Dionysus would travel by singing __________

dithyrambs

Dithyrambs

wild choral songs in honor of Dionysus

Dionysus

god of wine, madness, fertility, and theatre

Actors are also called _________

Thespians

Thespis

Name of the actor that stepped out of the chorus and started portraying the characters in the story

Hillside

Where the Greek Stage was built

Greek Stage

Made up of three main parts

Skene

stage and backdrop of the play. where actors (usually 3) would perform

Orchestra

circular dancing space for the chorus where they would interact w/ the actors on the skene

Theatron

Where the audience sat. Wrapped around the Orchestra.

Parados

Two gangways where actors and chorus can enter from

Image of Greek Theater

30

number of complete plays that have survived out of the 300 known tragedies

Aeschylus

Wrote 5 of the remaining complete plays

Sophocles

Wrote 7 of the remaining complete plays

Euripides

Wrote 18 of the remaining complete plays

Tragedy

a story involving the downfall of a noble hero or heroine through fate, hubris, and the will of the gods

Hubris

Excessive pride or arrogance

Tragic Hero

good person, noble intentions, takes responsibility, and acceptss fate with dignity

Deus ex Machina

Easy button ending - God in the Machine

Prologue

Section that introduces the play

Perepiteia

Reversal of fortune brought up on by the characters error in judgement (reversal)

Anagnorisis

Change from ignorance to awareness to a bond of love or hate (recognition)

Exodus

Exit scene

Ode

songs sung by the chorus

Episode

Scenes taking place between choral songs

Role of the chorus

Chant choral odes, play minor roles, sing, dance, announce entrances and exits, comment on morality of character’s actions, mimic emotions of the audience

2nd Role of the chorus

Play minor roles

3rd Role of the chorus

Sing

4th Role of the chorus

dance

5th Role of the chorus

announces entrances and exits

6th Role of the chorus

comment on morality of character’s actions

7th Role of the chorus

mimic emotions of the audience

Masks

worn by all performers to define their character as 3 actors would portray many people - also acted a a megaphone to project voices

Chiton

Item of clothing - tunic

Himation

Item of clothing - cloak

Buskins

raised platform shoes worn by tragic characters

Plain white socks

worn by comedic actors

Unity of Action

1 main story with few or no subplots

Unity of Place

takes place in 1 location

Unity of Time

takes place in 24 hours

Paid to go

Reason to go to the theater

Catharsis

Cleansing of emotion

Mimesis

Characters should mimic real life and act realistically

Aristophanes

Wrote the surviving 11 comedies