Aristotle
Parts of an Ancient Greek Stage
Theatre Festival
Concepts and Machinery
Elements of Drama
100

Aristotle defines this word as, "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.”

What is "Tragedy"?

100

The “seeing place”, the audience sat here.

What is the Theatron?

100

Theatre festival held in honor of Dionysus in Athens. Each competing playwright would submit a trilogy of tragedies and a satyr play.

What is City Dionysia?

100

Leader of the Chorus.

What is Choragus?

100

Central Story/Situation

What is Plot?

200
These are Plot, Character, Though/Theme, Diction, Music, Spectacle

What are the 6 Elements of Drama?

200

The “dancing place” This is where the chorus would dance, most of the action of the play would happen here

What is the Orchestra

200

The god of agriculture, fertility, wine and theatre.

Who is Dionysus?

200

Crane like machine that would hoist the actors above the stage.

What is Mechan?

200

Figures represented in the play - often represent different moral qualities

What is Character?

300
True or False: Aristotle wrote over 200 treaties

True

300

Building at the back of the performance space. Served as a background/backdrop for the action of the play. Also used for costume/mask storage

What is the Skene?

300

Said to have been the first actor because he arranged for spoken word in the middle of the choral odes.

Who is Thespis?

300

“God from the machine” Something, usually another character, that comes in at the last second and solves all the problems.

What is Deus Ex Machina?

300

Central decisions made by characters in the tragedy

What is Thought/Theme?

400

This young conquerer that Aristotle tutored

Who is Alexander the Great?

400

Raised platform in front of the skene building-- Modern word Proscenium

What is the Proskenion?

400

Type of comedy that accompanied a trilogy of tragedies at the festival City Dionysia.

What is a Satyr play?

400

Understanding that the events you see portrayed onstage are not real.

What is Aesthetic Distance?

400

The overall presentation, as well as the overall design and special effects.

What is Spectacle?

500

Aristotle studied 15 different subjects. Name 5

What are anatomy, astronomy, chemistry, embryology, geography, geology, meteorology, physics, politics, zoology, education, ethics, foreign customs, literature and/or poetry

500

Located on either side of the theatre, this is where the chorus would enter and exit- basis for the modern word “parade”

What is the Parados?

500

Greek word meaning “goat song.” Root of the word “tragedy.”

What is Tragos?

500

Wheeled platform used to help create different scene.

What is Ekkyclema?

500

How language is used in the play

What is Diction?