History of Theatre

Question 1

What were some characteristics of the rites and rituals/ceremonies in the primitive phase of theatre?

Answer 1

old year vs. new, summer vs. winter, barrenness vs. fertility, light vs. dark; life is about polarities, the tragedy and conflict

Question 2

What is the city Dionysia?

Answer 2

the theatre itself as well as the festival of drama every spring

Question 3

What are dithyrambic odes?

Answer 3

songs, chants, hymns sung in Dionysus honor

Question 4

Who is Thespis?

Answer 4

B. 560 B.C. the first actor, he stepped out of the chorus

Question 5

What is the origin of the name “tragedy”?

Answer 5

tragedoi - the dark side of Dionysus worshippers

Question 6

What is the structure of classical tragedy?

Answer 6

1. prologue - intro information/exposition 2. parados - first official entrance of the chorus 3. episodes - dramatic moments/scenes 4. stasima - choral stage directions (strophe/antistrophe) 5. exodus- the final exit by the chorus

Question 7

What are the strophe and antistrophe?

Answer 7

choral stage directions, strophe - right to left and antistrophe - left to right

Question 8

What is the epode?

Answer 8

final lyrical passage after the strophe and antistrophe

Question 9

What are the ritual elements of tragedy?

Answer 9

1. Agon - struggle/conflict 2. Pathos - the suffering/ death of hero/demon/deity/god 3. Messener - elaborates and brings news of death 4. Threnos - lamentations for losses, losses of the protagonist 5. Anagnoresis - tragic recognition 6. Theophany - ressurection/epiphany

Question 10

What are the Attic Festivals?

Answer 10

1. Rural Dionysia (Dec.) 2. Lenaca (Jan.) - comedy 3. Anthesteria (Feb.) 4. City Dionysia (Mar.) - tragedy

Question 11

What is the structure of the Festival Dionysia?

Answer 11

1. Archon - person in charge of festival, selects the three playwright, and appoints the choregus 2. Choregus - wealthy citizen appointed to pay the expenses of the productions (1 per play) 3. Statutory Tetralogy - trilogy plus one satyr play

Question 12

What is the only existing Statutory Tetralogy today?

Answer 12

The “Oristea”, by Aeschylus

Question 13

What is the structure of the Greek Theatre (our knowledge based on)?

Answer 13

1. Vitruvius “de Architectura”, author discussed architecture of the theatres 2. Ruins of specific theatres 3. Plays extant

Question 14

What are the different parts that make up the theatre physically?

Answer 14

orchestra, thymele, theatron, skene

Question 15

What is the orchestra?

Answer 15

circullar area where the chorus was positioned throughout the course of the play

Question 16

What is the thymele?

Answer 16

the altar that was carried into the orchestra during the festival , with an image of DIonysus

Question 17

What is the theatron?

Answer 17

the seating section, today known as the audiorium

Question 18

What is the skene?

Answer 18

the scenic backdrop (scene hut)

Question 19

What is the para-skene?

Answer 19

entrance passage ways used by the chorus, side wings to the stage, ahd steps so they could descend into the orhestra

Question 20

That is the eccyclema?

Answer 20

platform on wheels, most likely pulled through skene doorway to center stage and depicted tableau

Question 21

What is the mechane?

Answer 21

“deus ex machina” god from machine; it was a crane/pully system that flew actors onto the stage

Question 22

What is a periaktoi?

Answer 22

A three sided “prism” with a pole for rotation, each side had scenery, rotated to change scenes

Question 23

What is a pinakus?

Answer 23

flats, painted walls (made of canvas and wood) that depicted scenery

Question 24

Who is the protagonist?

Answer 24

the central characters

Question 25

Who is the deuteroganist?

Answer 25

second strongest actor - plays several characters

Question 26

Who is the tritagonist?

Answer 26

third strongest actor (plays other small parts)

Question 27

What is a cothurnus or buskin?

Answer 27

footwear, thick soled boots that raised the stature of the actor by inches, made them more visible

Question 28

What is a chiton?

Answer 28

A long flowy robe worn by the actor, shoulderpads included

Question 29

What is the himaton?

Answer 29

A long flowing cloak worn over the chiton

Question 30

What is the onkos?

Answer 30

a crown/headdress worn on the actor’s head, indicated status of character

Question 31

What are masks?

Answer 31

they cover the actors face to create a persona, it is possible there was a megaphone inside to help magnify the sound

Question 32

What is a phallus?

Answer 32

A physical representation of a penis

Question 33

What is some basic info about the role of the phallus in greek culture?

Answer 33

the personification of a phallus was Phales, a deity. comedy evolved from fertility rights and it was believed that the penis had magical powers.

Question 34

What is the stage proper?

Answer 34

Stage area where the performance would take place

Question 35

Agon

Answer 35

Struggle/conflict

Question 36

Messenger

Answer 36

Brings news of death and other events that can’t be shown onstage

Question 37

Pathos

Answer 37

The suffering of the hero/god

Question 38

Anagnoresis

Answer 38

Tragic recognition

Question 39

Threnos

Answer 39

Lamentations for the losses of the protagonist

Question 40

Theophrastus

Answer 40

Resurrection/epiphany

Question 41

Tragic recognition

Answer 41

The hero learning something within the play

Question 42

Chlamys

Answer 42

Short cloak worn over the chiton