Classical Tragedies Study Guide

Classical tragedys

5 Parts to Tragedy

Prolgoue        a character describes the setting, characters the location and the problem. The stories begin right in the  middle of a problem.        

Parados        This is the chorusus opening dance. The chorus is usually the voice of the disenfranchised. There is three parts to the parados, the strophe (turn), antistrophe (turn around), and the epode (still).

Episode        main character enters the stage and has a converstation.

Stasimon         is the choruses response to the episode. It is like a conversations. Or Call and response.

Exode        is the exit song of the chorus, it is usually strong and concise, and can be like a quote/parting advice.

Dionysia        large festival, in the spring to honor Dionysus. Tragedies and comedies were performed.

Dionysis God of wine and change, also fertility,

Panathenaea        every 4 years a august festival for Athena.

Trilogy        three plays that are related. Sometimes a tetraology which are very intense plays that end with a satyr play which is  comedic relief.

Ekkyklema        is a rolling platform that would be used for plays.

Mechanr        A crane to help move things. Was like magic.

Choregos        is the leader of the chorus. Spoke for everyone.

Agon        the opposing viewpoint/ contest with an argument.

There are different views of tragedy.

Medon Agon                nothing in excess. (stay in your place be happy with the place where the Gods put you)

Hubris        Insolence break barrier between God and Man. “An act of Hubris”

Gnothi Seauton                Know thyself, don’t go with your passions, instead control your impulses. Act in a moderate way.

Melodrama                clear agonist, clear problems, good guy vs. bad guy. External problems, and a nice closure.

Tragedy        Internal conflict within the protagonist.  There is an impulse which feel like doing VS. the Imperative which is the ought to do. Or longer good.

Seiden sticker        that’s so raven  tragic dialectic.

Hamartia         “intellectual mistake” action caused downfall.

Peripeteia                Complete plot reversal. Pauper into king.

Quiz

What is Peripetia?

A cute potato                A plot reversal                A tragic dialectic