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greek_tragedy_2_ppt.pptGREEK TRAGEDY
- Didactic function = tragedy teaches us a moral.
Portrait of Aristotle
GREEK TRAGEDY in « Poetics » by Aristotle.
MIMESIS
In the first chapter of “Poetics”, Aristotle starts by telling us that poetry is the main art. Poetry includes different kinds of arts such as epic poetry, tragedy, comedy, dithyramb, music. He says that each art is mimesis and imitates reality in different ways. (Ex: painting imitates reality through the colors and the forms. Music imitates emotions and feelings by the way of the melody and rhythm).
So, Aristotle claims that theatre imitates human actions, nature and the world, in other words reality by the way of the dramatic action (the plot) and the actions represented on stage.
GREEK TRAGEDY in Poetics, by Aristotle.
Definition of tragedy:
“Tragedy, then, is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not of narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions”.
Aristotle, “Poetics”, VI.
GREEK TRAGEDY in Poetics, by Aristotle.
In the previous diapo (diapo 3), Aristotle defines tragedy.
He refers tragedy to Mimesis.
In his definition, “language embellished” refers to the text, the verse. The text needs to be harmonious, with a nice rhythm (in verse) and songs. This “language embellished” is included in the separate parts of the play (the structure of the play, the different scenes).
GREEK TRAGEDY in Poetics, by Aristotle.
To write a good tragedy, with a good structure, we need 6 ingredients:
- The plot.
- The characters.
- The thoughts: the way of expressing thoughts (skills of speaking, declamation).
- Diction.
- Songs (choir).
- The spectacle / show (entertainment) that includes all of the ingredients above.
GREEK TRAGEDY in Poetics, by Aristotle.
Aristotle explains the goal of a tragedy. The goal of a tragedy is CATHARSIS. Catharsis is the effect of tragedy on an audience. The goal is to provoke deep emotions in order to provide a release. The spectator identifies with the tragic characters, with their pain, their despair, their sadness, their madness, cruelty, etc. The spectator feels empathy, sympathy, compassion for the heroes, pity, fear. Feeling these strong emotions during a tragedy provide also pleasure. Catharis provokes also pleasure. We like to identify with characters in a theatrical play, or in a movie. For instance, we like to watch scary movies, or dramas where the situations move us, make us feel strong emotions, fear, pity, sadness, suspense, or any emotional state. We like to feel emotions through a fiction. We feel pleasure from this experience. Catharsis provokes pleasure. Catharsis is connected to pleasure. The goal is to arouse deep emotions in order to provide a release. The "trauma" that the spectators experience during a tragedy doesn't stay with them. It allows them to control better their own passions and emotions in their own life.
GREEK TRAGEDY
Characters is a tragedy
A Greek tragedy focuses on a person of noble birth (kings, queens) who, in some case, had risen to a great height and then fell suddenly. Greek tragedy shows a hero with an important status (influence, power), who was successful and finally fell.
These tragic characters are at the mercy of MOIRA (moira is the conception of destiny in Greek). They are at the mercy of their fate, of their destiny that they cannot control. They are submissive to MOIRA. Their fate is controled by the gods, so the characters can’t do anything to fight against his unfortune.
GREEK TRAGEDY
CATHARSIS
The main objective of Greek tragedy is to have the audience experiences CATHARSIS, which Aristotle described as a purging of passions/emotions by arousing the feelings of pity and fear during a tragedy. According to him, these are emotions that a person associates with the fall of someone in a high social station, such a king or a queen.
The main character in a Greek tragedy is always from noble birth, or royal blood.
GREEK TRAGEDY
For Aristotle, Tragedy entertains (the goal of tragedy is catharsis, and catharsis also provokes pleasure). But tragedy mostly has a didactic purpose. It means that a tragedy shows us an imitation of human actions (mimesis). Tragedy shows us the fall of a noble character. Most of the time, tragedy teaches a moral or metaphysical truth to the spectator (through catharsis).
EXAMPLE : Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles.
Watch the short story of Oedipus by clicking on the following link :
GREEK TRAGEDY : « OEDIPUS REX », by Sophocles
- Oedipus : adopted child, victim of his destiny. He kills his father and marries his mother.
- Didactic function: morality.
Oedipus and the Sphinx, Gustave Moreau, 1864, Metropolitan museum of Art, NY.
- Sophocles (495-408 BCE): important Greek playwright of tragedy from the Greek antiquity.
- Two of his most famous tragedies : Oedipus Rex, Antigone.
Tragedies have usually a didactic function. They teach us a moral or a metaphysical truth. In Oedipus Rex, the moral of the play is that humans can't choose their destiny. They're victims of their destiny, their fate. It means that gods dominate humans. Humans are like puppets. They can’t escape MOIRA. Oedipus didn't kill himself, but he bursted his eyes. He condemned himself to live in the darkness in order to take responsibility for his actions. He punished himself. For him, it's harder to live in the shame, the guilt and the dark than to die.
Portrait of Sophocles
GREEK TRAGEDY : THE STAGING during the Classical period (499-336 BCE)
SKENE (represents the building below and the raised stage).
SKENE ( raised stage for the actors).
GREEK TRAGEDY : THE STAGING during the Classical period (499-336 BCE)
- Machineries were used (cranes) to make fly away the characters over the stage.
GREEK TRAGEDY: COSTUMES during the Classical period (499-336 BCE)
- Masks
- Toga (long dress)
A choir of Greek tragedy wearing masks.
GREEK TRAGEDY: COSTUMES during the Classical period (499-336 BCE)
- Buskin (leather shoes with flat soles).
- During the Hellenistic period, actors performed on a proskenion (not on the skene anymore).
GREEK TRAGEDY: STAGING during the Hellenistic period (323-148 BCE)
CONCLUSION
- All the plays were performed in honor of Dionysus, during the festival City Dionysia.
- The orchestra was the space of the choir. The skene was the raised stage for the actors during the classical period, and the proskenion was the stage for the actors during the Hellenistic period.
- There was a temple behind the theatre. Before each tragedy, the statue of Dionysus was taken out of the temple and put on the stage.
Greek mask.
