SophoclesSophoclesBorn around 497 B.C. Born around 497 B.C. and died around 406 and died around 406 B.C.B.C.

Celebrated and Celebrated and acclaimed Greek acclaimed Greek playwrightplaywright

Wrote 123 plays, but Wrote 123 plays, but only 7 survived only 7 survived including Oedipus Rex, including Oedipus Rex, Antigone and Oedipus Antigone and Oedipus of Colonus.of Colonus.

Characteristics Characteristics of Sophocles’ of Sophocles’

Plays:Plays: emphasis on individual emphasis on individual

characters characters

reduced role of chorus reduced role of chorus

complex characters, complex characters, psychologically well-motivated psychologically well-motivated

characters subjected to crisis characters subjected to crisis leading to suffering and self-leading to suffering and self-recognition - including a higher recognition - including a higher law above man law above man

Characteristics of Characteristics of Sophocles’ Plays Sophocles’ Plays cont’d:cont’d:

exposition carefully motivated exposition carefully motivated

scenes suspensefully climactic scenes suspensefully climactic

action clear and logical action clear and logical

poetry clear and beautiful poetry clear and beautiful

few elaborate visual effects few elaborate visual effects

theme emphasized: the choices of theme emphasized: the choices of people people

Greek TheaterGreek Theater

Parts of the Greek Parts of the Greek TheaterTheater

OrchestraOrchestra (“dancing (“dancing space”)-space”)-space where the space where the chorus would dance, chorus would dance, sing, and interact with sing, and interact with the actors who were on the actors who were on the stage near the skene the stage near the skene

TheatronTheatron (“viewing- (“viewing-place”)-place”)-place where the place where the spectators satspectators sat

Parts of the Greek Parts of the Greek TheaterTheater

SkeneSkene (“tent”)- (“tent”)-the building the building directly behind the stage directly behind the stage that had at least one set of that had at least one set of doors where actors could doors where actors could make entrances and exitsmake entrances and exits

ParodosParodos (“passageways”)- (“passageways”)-are the paths by which the are the paths by which the chorus and some actors chorus and some actors made their entrances and made their entrances and exits. The audience also exits. The audience also used them to enter and used them to enter and exit the theater before and exit the theater before and after the performance. after the performance.

Structure of Greek Structure of Greek TragediesTragedies

ProloguePrologue

Spoken by one or twoSpoken by one or twocharacters before thecharacters before thechorus appears. Thechorus appears. Theprologue usually givesprologue usually givesthe mythologicalthe mythologicalbackground necessarybackground necessaryfor understanding the for understanding the

eventseventsof the play of the play

Structure of Greek Structure of Greek TragediesTragedies

ParadosParados

This is the songThis is the songsung by thesung by thechorus as it firstchorus as it firstenters theenters theorchestra andorchestra anddances. dances.

Structure of Greek Structure of Greek TragediesTragedies

First EpisodeFirst Episode

This is the first ofThis is the first of

many "episodes",many "episodes",

when the when the characterscharacters

and chorus talk.and chorus talk.

Structure of Greek Structure of Greek TragediesTragedies

First StasimonFirst Stasimon

At the end of each episode, the otherAt the end of each episode, the other

characters usually leave the stage and thecharacters usually leave the stage and the

chorus dances and sings a stasimon, or choralchorus dances and sings a stasimon, or choral

ode. The ode usually reflects on the thingsode. The ode usually reflects on the things

said and done in the episodes, and puts it intosaid and done in the episodes, and puts it into

some kind of larger mythological framework. some kind of larger mythological framework.

Structure of Greek Structure of Greek TragediesTragedies

ExodosExodos

At the end of play, theAt the end of play, the

chorus exits singingchorus exits singing

a processional song whicha processional song which

usually offers words ofusually offers words of

wisdom related to thewisdom related to the

actions and outcome of actions and outcome of thethe

play. play.

Actors and ActingActors and Acting

Actors were usually Actors were usually semi-professionalsemi-professional

Tragedies typically Tragedies typically included 3 actorsincluded 3 actors

Typically played Typically played more than one rolemore than one role

Men played all roles Men played all roles on stageon stage

Actors and ActingActors and ActingFunction of the ChorusFunction of the Chorus

1. 1. an agentan agent: gives advice, asks, : gives advice, asks, takes part takes part

2. establishes ethical framework, 2. establishes ethical framework, sets up standard by which sets up standard by which action will be judged action will be judged

3. 3. ideal spectatorideal spectator - reacts as - reacts as playwright hopes audience playwright hopes audience would would

4. sets mood and heightens 4. sets mood and heightens dramatic effects dramatic effects

5. adds movement, spectacle, 5. adds movement, spectacle, song, and dance song, and dance

6. 6. rhythmical functionrhythmical function - pauses / - pauses / paces the action so that the paces the action so that the audience can reflect.audience can reflect.

Literary TermsLiterary Terms

TragedyTragedy

A serious play in which the chiefA serious play in which the chief

character passes through a series character passes through a series ofof

misfortunes leading to a final,misfortunes leading to a final,

devastating catastrophe.devastating catastrophe.

Tragedy cont’dTragedy cont’d

Act IAct I introduces the characters in a state introduces the characters in a state of happiness, or at the height of their of happiness, or at the height of their power, influence, or fame power, influence, or fame

Act IIAct II introduces a problem or dilemma introduces a problem or dilemma Act IIIAct III problem reaches a point of crisis, problem reaches a point of crisis,

but which can still be successfully but which can still be successfully averted averted

Act IVAct IV the main characters fail to avert or the main characters fail to avert or crisis, and this disaster occurs crisis, and this disaster occurs

Act VAct V reveals the grim consequences of reveals the grim consequences of that failure that failure

Literary TermsLiterary Terms

HubrisHubris

implies both arrogant, implies both arrogant, excessive self-pride or excessive self-pride or self-confidence self-confidence

Inability to recognize Inability to recognize personal limitations or personal limitations or the humble need to the humble need to improve constantly improve constantly leads to overwhelming leads to overwhelming pride, and this in turn pride, and this in turn leads to a downfall leads to a downfall

Literary TermsLiterary Terms

HamartiaHamartia ““missing the mark”missing the mark” Signifies a tragic flaw, Signifies a tragic flaw,

especially a misperception, a especially a misperception, a lack of some important insight, lack of some important insight, or some blindness that or some blindness that ironically results from one's ironically results from one's own strengths and abilities own strengths and abilities leading to a catastrophic leading to a catastrophic resultsresults

the very trait that makes the the very trait that makes the individual noteworthy is what individual noteworthy is what ultimately causes the ultimately causes the protagonist's decline into protagonist's decline into disaster disaster

Literary Literary TermsTerms

AreteArete A humble and constant striving A humble and constant striving

for perfection and self-for perfection and self-improvement combined with a improvement combined with a realistic awareness that such realistic awareness that such perfection cannot be reached perfection cannot be reached

As long as an individual strives to As long as an individual strives to do and be the best, that do and be the best, that individual has individual has arêtearête

When the individual believes he When the individual believes he has actually achieved has actually achieved arêtearête, , however, he or she has lost that however, he or she has lost that exalted state and fallen into exalted state and fallen into

Themes in Oedipus Themes in Oedipus RexRex

1.1. Quest for identityQuest for identity

2.2. Nature of innocence Nature of innocence and guiltand guilt

3.3. Nature of moral Nature of moral responsibilityresponsibility

4.4. Human will versus fateHuman will versus fate

5.5. Abuse of powerAbuse of power

1.1. Have you heard of Have you heard of ways in which ways in which one’s destiny can one’s destiny can be predicted? Give be predicted? Give 2 examples.2 examples.

2.2. How did ancient How did ancient peoples prophesize peoples prophesize the future?the future?

3.3. Do you believe in Do you believe in prophesies? Explain prophesies? Explain why or why not.why or why not.

Individually, answer the following questions…

Can you name any politicalCan you name any political

leader(s) who has made aleader(s) who has made a

mistake which cost them theirmistake which cost them their

career (or even lives)?career (or even lives)?

What motivated them to make the mistake?What motivated them to make the mistake?

Can you think of any examples where pride was the major Can you think of any examples where pride was the major factor?factor?