AP Lit Oedipus and Ancient Greece

Dithyramb

an ode of praise and honor to the gods; composed of 50 men; precursor to amphitheater

Tetralogy

a series of four plays- 3 tragedies and 1 satyr; required to enter one of these for the Festival of Dionysus

In medias res

play that starts in the middle of the action; have to go back and explain

extant

still exists today

hubris

excessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy; distorts the ability to think clearly

satyr

a half man half goat; a comedic play

trilogy

three plays that are sequels to one another

Choragos

leader of the chorus; frequently plays the aulos; is usually a business man who is supporting a playwright

Deus ex machina (god from the machine)

The resolution of a plot by use of a highly improbable chance or coincidence (so named from the practice of some Greek dramatists of having a god descend from heaven at the last possible minute—in the theater by means of a stage machine—to rescue the protagonist from an impossible situation).

Orchestra

Circular dancing place where actors and chorus performed; altar in the middle; parados led up to it

3 unities

unity of time (24 hours), unity of place, unity of action (no subplots

catharsis

cleansing or purging of emotions; the character doesn't see things the same way after, they understand their place in the world better after

Reversal

The person on top at the beginning is on the bottom at the end

Ekkyklema

round spinning set piece that shows the aftermath of death

Recognition

understand your place in the world; also called discovery

Tragic Dilemma

A situation that forces the tragic protagonist to make one of two equally difficult choices; they seem to have a choice but they don't; lose-lose situation

Skene

dressing room where 3 actors change masks, robes, and shoes

Chitons

robes

Buskins

platform boots

strophe and antistrophe

Strophe (1/2 the chorus) chants first and the antistrophe (other half) responds

Parados

walkway; second part of play

Cosmic Irony

the idea that fate, destiny, or a god controls and toys with human hopes and expectations; no way to avoid it

Theatron

"Seeing place" where the audience sat

Stychomothy

quick one-line exchanges; people are cut off in speech; imitates natural dialogue

Dramatic Irony

audience knows more than the characters do

Aulos

double piped flute; usually played by choragos

How long was the festival of Dionysus?

5 days

How many people did a Greek amphitheater seat?

14,000-17,000

Thespis

stepped out and spoke alone- first actor

Aeschylus

525- 456 BCE; added second actor

Sophocles

\-494-406 BCE, Greek writer of tragedy Oedipus Rex

\-Wrote over 120 plays- only 7 extant- won festival 24 times \n -Introduced scenery, 15-member chorus, and third actor (to develop character and plot better) \n - Meatrode by Aristotle

Euripides

one of the greatest tragic dramatists of ancient Greece (480-406 BC)

What emotions does catharsis arouse?

Pity (for the actor and his unmerited misfortune) and fear (the character is a person like ourselves, so it could happen to us)

According to Aristotle, what happens in the most powerful plays?

Reversal and recognition occur simultaneously and create surprise

Proscenium

3ft. Raised platform directly behind the orchestra; only actors found here; used to make them more visible to audience

Emphasis on Plot/Action

-Plot should be simple, not complex

• Pity and fear must be aroused by events of plot, NOT just spectacle

• Most tragic when deed is done within a family

• Denouement should arise naturally out of plot itself

Messenger

Used to explain unseen violence

Spectacle

everything but the words; chanting, singing, dancing, instruments

Universality

The ability to be applied to everyone

Timelessness

remains relevant over many years or generations

Roles of the Chorus

• A character

• A spectator

• Provides society's outlook

• Separates episodes (denotes passage of time)

• Get across playwright's ideas

• Provides spectacle (Aristotle's term) -chanting, singing, dancing, instruments

• questions/advises characters

• Provides background information (past events very important)

• Provides foreshadowing

Tragic Flaw

A weakness or limitation of character, resulting in the fall of the tragic hero; makes the protagonist human

Organization of Greek Tragedy

1. Prologue

2. Parados (entrance of the chorus into the orchestra)

3. Episode (4 in Oedipus)

4. Statismon (in between episodes; strophe/antistrophe)

5. Exodus

Oedipus

a tragic king of Thebes who unknowingly killed his father Laius and married his mother Jocasta; answered the Sphinx's riddle and became king of Thebes, was awarded Jocasta; left on Mount Cithaeron to die as a baby but was picked up by shepherd and given to King Polybus of Corinth who raised him as his own.

Creon

Jocasta's brother, Oedipus' brother-in-law, Sent to the Oracle at Delphi to investigate the plague, Accused by Oedipus, grants Oedipus's request and banishes him from Thebes

Tiresias

blind prophet and soothsayer; always know the truth but nobody ever believes him

Peacemeal

clues revealed one piece at a time; builds tension