greek theatre

where is modern threatre founded

ancient greeks

where do we get the words threatre and drama

ancient greeks

theatron

threatre (means to see)

dran

drama (means to do)

something that is done

drama

something that is seen

theatre

what two things were heavily influenced by the ancient Greeks

story and genre

who did the greens honor with a 5 day celebration through the city of Athens

dionysus

who is dionysus

god of wine, fertility and theatre

what two things did the Dionysia festival honor

arts and atheletics

what did athens become during the festival

arts and athletics

what was considered a civic duty

attend theatre

entrances and exits

parados

alter honoring dionysus

thymele

the place where the actors performed

orchestra

What was the location/purpose/components of the Dionysia festival?

Its a celebration in the city of athens to honor arts and athletics 

How did the ancient Greeks view attending theatre?

as a civic duty

How were Greek amphitheatres designed? Why were their designs smart?

They were designed in an outdoor, round, open aired area. Their designs were smart because the performances were visible to all and everyone was able to hear. 

In ancient Greek theatre, who were the Actors and the Chorus? What were their roles/functions/rules?

The actors were the main characters it was three on the stage at a time. The chorus were those who helps tell the story through singing and dancing. 

What three drama genres emerged in ancient Greece?

Tragedy, comedy, and satyr. 

What was the typical schedule and rules for the festival’s Drama Competition?

The schedule was 3 playwrights each competition, they were assigned money and three tragedies play in one day and one satyr. On the fourth day, they devoted it to 5 comedy plays. 

Why does Greek theatre have a complicated relationship with women?

They werent seen as equals. 

What are three Greek plays that center on women’s perspectives?

Madea, The trojan women, antigone

What themes were popular in ancient Greek theatre?

Tragedies 

What does the concept of a character having a “tragic flaw” mean?

Depicting stories where central characters are heroes who ultimately bring about their own undoing. 

What are Aristotle’s Six Components of Drama?

Plot, Character, Theme, Language, Rhythm, Spectacle 

What are Aristotle’s Three Major Groupings of a Performance?

Preplay, Play, Postplay

What are the three plays that Sophocles wrote about the Oedipus myth? What is each one about?

Antigone: about oedipus daughter, Oedipus the King: about the fall of oedipus, Oedipus at Colonus: death of oedipus

What are Sophocles’ three Oedipus plays in order of being written? What are they in order of story?

Antigone, Oedipus the king, Oedipus Colonus. Oedipus the king, Oedipus at colonus,  Antigone

Oedipus the King is regarded as the greatest of all Greek

tragedies

1. Ancient Greece historians refer to ‘Musical Theatre’ as “ ____ Theatre”.

Lyric

What was the parabasis in Greek theatre?

A part of the play where the main character leaves the stage and the chorus performs multiple songs 

What famous musical play was written by Greek playwright Aristophanes?

the birds

How successful was The Birds in its drama competition?

won 2nd place

Why can the play The Birds be argued as a ‘musical’?

The chorus and parabus were used to have music during storytelling

What brought an end to Greek Theatre?

decades of war

what two functions did amphitheatres allow

audience to sit close to performers, made it to where sounds could travel through the entire area

how many people did greek theatres hold

10,000 - 20,000

who were thee two types of people that were on stage

actors and chorus

who did actors play

main characters

who did chorus play

helped tell the story through singing and dancing

what is the chorus similar to in terms of modern theatre

ensembles

how many actors were on stage at one time

three

what did greek performers wear

mask

what did the mask visually inform the audience about

characters specific traits

what 4 traits did the mask visually tell

age, gender, class, dominant emotion

why did the actors wear the mask when the characters on stage?

instantly recognizable

what are 3 genres of Greek theatre?

tragedy, comedy, satyr

greek mythology with dark subjects (murder, revenge, suicide, incest)

tragedy

light stories with happy endings (often directly addresses audience)

comedy

vulgar comedy, involves mythological race, half man/ half beast living n perpetual and visible sexual arousal

satyr

what did tragedies challenge audiences to do?

ponder moral dilemmas that come with human existence

what did comedies allow audiences to do

enjoy lighthearted entertainment

what did satyr plays do?

fed adult humor full of sex jokes and vulgarity

what is the symbol for theatre?

a pair of smiling/ frowning mask

what are the masks the symbol for theatre?

how the genres tragedy and comedy were developed

how many playwrights were chosen for the drama competition?

3

what was each playwright given and what were they assigned to do? how many plays did they have to present?

money and three tragedies play in one day

what types of plays were presented?

3 tragedies and 1 satyr

what happen on the fourth day?

it was devoted to 5 comedy plays

what 4 awards were given out at the drama competition?

best play, directors, producers, actors

how many plays were presented in 4 days?

17

how long was each play?

1.5-2 hours

how were women viewed in the Greek society

not as equals

who wrote, performed, and primarily watched theatre?

men

who were the most complex and compelling characters in the plays?

women

who wrote Madea?

eupides

who wrote the trojan women

euripidese

who wrote antigone

suphocles

if a person can truly be in control of their own destiny

fate vs. free will

what 3 questions did Greeks challenge audiences to ponder?

what makes a true hero? are you truly in control of your own future? which tragic flaw do you have that could be a story if you let it?

who was the father of drama

thespis

what did thespis win

first drama prize in 535 BC

what did thespis introduce the idea of

first actor on stage

thespis means

actor

who was aeschylus

introduced second actor

what did aeschylus encourage

face to face conflict

who was choragus

a wealthy patron

what did choragus act like

producer/ director

a famous Greek philosopher known to have ideas about both science and arts

aristole +

first scientist in history

aristole -

who had revolutionary ideas about drama? specifically how story telling should be organized

aristole..

the arrangement of events that occur on stage

plot

the agents of the plot

character

important meanings of the story

theme

what should involve clearly defined problems for characters to solve

plot

what provides the motivation/ reasons for the event in the plot

character

what is the reason to write the play

theme

characters who are facing and overcoming obstacles need to express themselves through

langauge

the heartbeat of the play; the pacing/ energy of the performance that establishes mood and trajectory

rhythm

everything seen or heard on stage

spectacle

3 major components aristole believed quality components consistened of

preplay, play, post play

actual staged performance which consist of typical story structure

play

background information audience needs to understand what's going on in the action of the play

exposition

situation becomes dramatic

conflict

dramatic explosion of the conflict

climax

the resolution

denoument

final bows and applause

post play

part of the performance that emphasizes letting public griw interest in productio before they actually see it

preplay

most accomplished author of Greek tragedy

sophocles