Early Greek Theatre
A wild choral hymn of ancient Greece, especially one dedicated to Dionysus.
What are Dithyrambs?
Originally a Greek poet and performer of dithyrambs, this person was credited as the first actor and the one who created the first Greek tragedy.
Who is Thespis?
Used to help define the characters the actors were playing using exaggerated expressions; allowed the same actor to play multiple roles.
What are masks?
Aristotle believed this was the least important aspect of Tragedy.
What is Spectacle?
Satyr plays had a chorus that was dress like this mythological creature.
In Aristotle's Poetics, "the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.
What is Catharsis?
A ruler of ancient Athens, this person created festivals in Dionysia (Athens) in Dionysus's honor that included wine, food, music, dancing, animal sacrifices, and theatre.
Who is Peisistratus?
"The viewing place;" where the spectators sat.
What is the Theatron?
Aristotle believes this "holds the chief place among the embellishments," of the aspects of tragedy.
What is Song?
What is the Leanea?
Dithyrambs were performed by this number of men or boys dancing in a circular formation, who may or may not have been dressed as Satyrs.
Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides are examples of playwrights of this genre of Greek theatre.
What is Tragic/Tragedy?
"God in the machine;" a cart that an actor playing a god could be lowered down onto the stage from.
What is Deus Ex Machina?
Aristotle says, "the expression of the meaning in words; and its essence is the same both in verse and prose," to describe this aspect of tragedy.
What is Diction?
A speech in which the chorus addresses the audience directly (breaking the fourth wall).
What is Parabasis?
A wealthy Athenian citizen who assumed public duty of financing the preparation for all aspects of dramatic production. It was an honor to be picked for this position.
What is the Choregos?
This person was a philosopher who theorized multiple things about the structure and needs of Greek theatre.
Who is Aristotle?
A small altar of Dionysus standing in the middle of the orchestra.
What is the Thymele?
"The ideal is to have a mostly noble and illustrious character whose misfortune is brought about not by vice or depravity, but by some error or frailty," describes this type of character.
What is a Tragic Hero?
- Set in the Present
- Urban Setting
- Rely on order and conclude with a compromise
- Offers absurd suggestions to real problems
These describe this genre of Greek Theatre.
What are Comedies?
Dithyrambs were the next step, after this topic, towards theatre.
What is Ritual?
This person wrote 40 plays, but we only have 11 of them. They are known as the most famous figure of classical comedies.
Who is Aristophanes?
A large passageway used by the actor/chorus' entraces and exits.
Reversal, Recognition, and this are the 3 Major Plot Points as described by Aristotle.
What is a Scene of Suffering?
- Set in the Mythic Past
- Rural setting
- Rely on Chaos
- Not necessarily any reconciliation at the end of the play
These describe this genre of Greek Theatre.
What are Satyr plays?