UGC NET Paper 1 Mathematical Reasoning & Aptitude.pdf
Huckabee greek tragedy introduction and padlet
1. Aristotle defined tragedy as "the imitation of an
action that is serious and also, as having magnitude,
complete in itself."
Tragedy &
The Tragic Hero
2. Greek Drama
The origin of drama as we know it today
Greek plays were inspired by religion and myths
Thespis = lyric poet; introduced the use of a single actor on
stage in addition to the chorus. The word “thespian” comes
from his name.
3.
4. Greek Drama
Festival of Dionysus = Greek religious festival; introduced
Drama competition
Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles presented plays at the
festival of Dionysus
At festivals both tragedies and comedies were presented.
Comedies offered some relief from the tragedies (comic
relief)
5. Greek Drama examines…
The consequences of an individual’s actions
The relationship of the people to the gods
The role that fate plays in life
6. Tragedy
Wisdom comes alone through suffering.”
- Aeschylus
A form of drama where the protagonist comes to an unhappy
end.
7. The three unities of Greek drama
Unity of action: the action should be one story line that
maintains the interest of the audience
Unity of place: the action should be limited to a single
location
Unity of time: the time represented should be limited to at
most one single day
8. A tragic hero is:
Larger than life; seems invincible
Neither exceptionally virtuous or exceptionally evil
Often a lonely character
Set against a force that is often incomprehensible to him/her
Illustrates human smallness in relation to the universe
9. (cont.) A tragic hero is:
Nobler than the common citizen and is often of royal birth
Endowed with a tragic flaw, and doomed to make a serious
error in judgment because of this flaw
Will fall from high esteem
Will realize they have made an irreversible mistake
10. (cont.) A tragic hero is:
Will face death with honor
Will meet a tragic end/death
Inevitably destroyed because of some tragic flaw
12. Hamartia
“Tragic flaw”
The hero is neither good nor evil, but rather very human
with a moral weakness or error
Hubris or “excessive pride” is a common hamartia.
13. Anagnorisis
“Recognition”
This is the moment of comprehension when our tragic hero
becomes aware of his hamartia.
Typically at this point the hero will attempt to rectify events
all to no avail.
14. Peripeteia
“The reversal from one state of affairs to its opposite”
This is the point at which the hero realizes all is lost.
15. Catharsis
“The purging of emotions by the audience.”
A good tragedy will evoke both pity and fear in the audience.
All of the destructive actions that take place at the close of
the drama lead to the release of this emotion.
16. Chorus
Group of 12-15 men who sing and dance in the orchestra
during the plays. They often represent the collective
community, but not necessarily the poet's thoughts. The
leader of the chorus was called the Choragus. This person
would often step forward to speak with the protagonist.
17. Organization of a Greek Tragedy
The basic structure of a Greek tragedy is fairly simple. After
a prologue spoken by one or more characters, the chorus
enters, singing and dancing. Scenes then alternate between
spoken sections (dialogue between characters, and between
characters and chorus) and sung sections (during which the
chorus danced). Here are the basic parts of a Greek Tragedy:
18. Conventions of a Greek Tragedy
All of the actors were men.
Plays were performed outdoors.
Playwrights usually directed and acted in their own plays.
Typically there were only three actors and the chorus. If
there were more than three characters the actors would
simply change masks.
19. Conventions of a Greek Tragedy (cont.)
The actors wore masks in order to: have their characters be
easily recognized by the audience, be heard by the audience
(they contained megaphones), and to play multiple roles.
Greek plays were performed as part of religious festivals in
honor of the god Dionysus, and unless later revived, were
performed only once.
21. Conventions of a Greek Tragedy (cont.)
Tragedies almost exclusively dealt with stories from the
mythic past (there was no "contemporary" tragedy).
Plays were funded by the polis (the “city state”), and always
presented in competition with other plays, and were voted
either the first, second, or third (last) place.
22. Conventions of a Greek Tragedy (cont.)
Greek tragedies examined:
the consequences of an individual’s actions.
the relationship of people to the gods.
the role fate plays in life.
23. Sophocles (496-406 BC)
Sophocles lived during the Classical Period in Athens,
Greece (5th
century B.C.)
classical period = a time of great political and cultural
achievement; a renaissance of sorts
Sophocles was loved by the people of Greece; held political
positions in addition to writing great dramas
24. Sophocles (496-406 BC)
Sophocles demonstrates great insight into human suffering
Sophocles’ writing explores
the struggle for self-knowledge.
the conflict between personal and social values.
Only seven of Sophocles’ 123 plays survive today.
25. 3 Facts 1 Visual
The Parthenon
The Acropolis
The Theater of Dionysus
The Oracle of Delphi
Dionysus
Aeschylus
Sophocles
Euripides
Thespis
Aristotle
Go to
www.huckabeeclassroom.com
English 2/Greek Tragedy
Padlet -8B
You will post your 3 facts and
your visual on this all.
Post ONLY your first name
and then your 3 facts and
your visual. Please do not
intentionally post on top of a
classmate’s work.
