Types of Greek Plays - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Types of Greek Plays

Unit: Greek Theatre HistorySlide2

Questions Asked

Why are there only two types of Greek plays?

What was the most famous Greek play

?

What was the last known play?

What was more popular, comedies or tragedies?Slide3

3 types Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK-dbLiaGvU

Slide4

3 Types of Greek Plays

Tragedies

Comedies

SatyrSlide5

Tragedy

Thespis is considered to be the first Greek "actor" and originator of

tragedy

Evolved

from dithyrambs, songs sung in praise of Dionysus

each yearSlide6

Tragedy as a genre

P

erformed

by actors in which a central character called a tragic protagonist or hero suffers some serious misfortune which is not accidental

Tragedy

stresses the vulnerability of human beings whose suffering is brought on by a combination of human and divine actions, but is generally undeserved with regard to its harshness.

This genre is

not totally pessimistic in its outlook.

M

any

tragedies end in misery for the characters, there are also tragedies in which a satisfactory solution of the tragic situation is attained.Slide7

Structure of Tragedy

Prologue: exposition about past events

Parados

: entrance of chorus

Episodes: 3-6 scenes of spoken dialogue separated by choral odes

Odes

have several parts (strophe/antistrophe)

Episodes develop action; odes comment on itSlide8

Famous Tragedies

Antigone- Sophocles

Medeia- Euripides

Agamemnon-

Aeschylus

Oedipus Rex (Oedipus the King)- SophoclesSlide9

Comedy

Comedy was also an important part of ancient Greek theatre.

No

one is quite sure of the origins of comedy, but it is said that they derived from imitation.

All

comedies of note during this time are by 

Aristrophanes

.

Many times named after the chorus

Involved outlandish costumesSlide10

Structure of Comedy

The first part was the 

parados

where the Chorus of as many as 24 performers entered and performed a number of song and dance routines

The second phase of the show was the 

agon

 which was often a witty verbal contest or debate between the principal actors with fantastical plot elements and the fast changing of scenes which may have included some improvisation

The third part of the play was the 

parabasis

,

 when the Chorus spoke directly to the audience and even directly spoke for the poet.

The show-stopping finale of a comedy play was the 

exodos

 when the Chorus gave another rousing song and dance routine.Slide11

Famous Greek Comedies

The Clouds- Aristophanes

Lysistrata

- Aristophanes

Dyskolos

- MenanderSlide12

Satyr Play

Satirical

plays

D

ealt

with matter similar to that of tragedy or epic, but in a comic

way

Chorus

of satyrs: half-men, half-goatsSlide13

Let’s Answer your Questions

Why are there only two types of Greek plays?

What was the most famous Greek play?

/ What was the last known play?

What was more popular, comedies or tragedies?Slide14

Why are there only two types of Greek plays?

There are 3 types of plays

These were what the playwrights were writing

We can still today break most plays into either Comedies or Tragedies

Let’s

Answer your QuestionsSlide15

What was the most famous Greek play

?

What was the last known play

?

It is hard to say

Many Greek plays are read in drama

classes

Let’s Answer your QuestionsSlide16

What was more popular, comedies or tragedies?

More tragedies have been found in a full text versionSlide17

Mix- Freeze- Pair

What is the main difference between comedy and tragedy?

What is the main difference between comedy and satyr play?

What is the main difference between tragedy and satyr play?

What is a major characterization of a comedy?

What is a major characterization of a tragedy?

What is a major characterization of a satyr play?