Lesson 6- the origins of tragedy- the importance of the chorus Flashcards
What is the difference between choruses in the modern day, in comparison to choruses in 5th century BC Greek theatre?
In modern day, Choruses are often less regarded and seem insignificant in comparison to the main actors on stage, however, in Ancient Greece, the chorus was the beginning of drama, the central features that gave the stories and myths that were played out on stage an immediacy to their own lives
According to Aristotle, what happened in the fifth century BC in relation to the chorus?
As the fifth century progressed, according to Aristotle, individual characters became more and more prominent and more responsible for the action that drove the play, whilst the chorus had it’s own role cut down and their significance for the play reduced.
what evidence do we have that challenges Aristotle’s ideas about the chorus’ role in the fifth century BC?
Aristotle argues the role of the chorus was reduced significantly during the fifth century BC- However, we have lots of evidence from the fourth century BC, the century following the deaths of tragedians such as Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus, that suggest the chorus continued to be an innovative element, deployed by poets for dramatic effect
The chorus might often had been the most expensive element in production- what are some of the features of the chorus that would make it so expensive?
In tragedy, the chorus was made up of up to 12-15 chorus members, this meant:
- 12-15 different salaries (although we are not entirely sure of how ancient choral performers were paid)
- 12-15 sets of costumes and props
- hiring a big enough area to rehearse such a large group
- the time to rehearse the music and choreography
- hiring specialist trainers of choral song and dance
What are some examples from our material culture that show how expensive the chorus could have been during an ancient Greek play production?
- Red Figure column krater in mannerist style, basels dancer vase: The chorus members are wearing identical military costumes, but with diadems on their heads instead of helmets. They also all have the same expressions, indicating that they are also all wearing identical masks.
- black-figure chous depicting two chorus members dressed as birds: these chorus members are shown to be wearing bird costumes, with purple crests on their heads and feathers attached to their knees
The way in which these chorus member costume are so elaborate and the fact they would have likely cost a large portion of the production indicates how vital the chorus were to the overall performance.
what is one sentence that sums up how the cost of resources shows how important the chorus were to a play production?
‘The resources put into the staging of the chorus in classical Greece demonstrate that it was always a valued part in theatrical production
How were the chorus significant in terms of the action?
The chorus were there to comment on the action of the play, and often symbolised the everyday person in society, reflecting upon the audience watching the performance themselves. However, they could also do a great deal then just comment on the action.
what is an example of a play in which the chorus take part in the action of the production?
In Aeschylus play, Eumenides. This is the third play in the trilogy of plays known as the oresteia. In this play, the chorus are the furies, the female spirits of vengenance who are pursuing Orestes, son of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, after he has avenged his father’s murder by killing his mother. Here, the chorus acts as a protagonist, driving the action of the drama and allowing it to end when their claim for retribution has been met in some way
The chorus can also get physical with the actors on stage- what is an example of this in a play?
In Sophocles’ last play, Oedipus at Colonus, the chorus surrounds his daughter, antigone to protect her from Creon, who has come to return her to Thebes. It is clear that the chorus is physically intervening on the behalf of Antigone and Oedipus.
The chorus can also get physical with the actors on stage- what is an example of this in our material culture?
- The theatre of Dionysus: From the remains of the theatre of Dionysus, we can see that there are stairs leading from the orchestra, where the chorus would perform up to the skene, where the actors would perform. This suggests a direct interaction between the chorus members and the actors on stage
- Red figure vase fragment: single actors possibly playing Perseus: This vase fragment solidifies what we know from theatre of Dionysus- we can see that there are stairs that lead from the skene to what would be the orchestra
The chorus can also be responsible for giving characters on stage crucial information and setting on a chain of other events- what is an example of a play where this is evident?
In Euripides play ‘the ion’ the chorus hears of a plot to install a new prince at Athens. The chorus informs their queen, Creusa, that she will be duped by this plot. With this new knowledge, Creusa then plans to murder this new prince, who is revealed to be her son- the eponymous ion of this play. This is clear evidence that the chorus shapes the action of the play
In other times, the speech and silence of the chorus allows for tragedy to occur- what is an example of a play where this is evident?
In Euripides play, ‘Medea’ the chorus hear of Medea’s plans to murder her children, but do not inform anyone who could take any action to prevent this from happening. This is an example of how the chorus often acts as a character in its own right, with its own motivation, backstory, character, and development throughout the play.
The chorus often acts as a character in its own right…
with it’s own motivation, backstory, character, and development throughout the play
what happens in every play that the chorus does that links to everyday Athenian life?
In every play, the chorus sing and dance what we know as odes/songs/stasima which are all connected to the plot. These songs would have deployed imagery, tunes, rythms, and even prayers that the audience would have recognised from their own song and dance practise outside of the theatre.
What did ancient Greeks do in everyday life?
For the ancient Greeks, every major life event was celebrated by coming together with others to sing and dance traditional songs- when a baby was born, at marriages, funerals, celebrations, victories (either athletic or military) and festivals for the gods. Tragedians such as Aeschylus, Euripides and Sophocles make sure to capitalise on their audiences lived experiences outside of the theatre, to make their plays resonate on a personal, universal and political level. Tragedians use their choruses to create deliberate ironic and complicated feelings in their audiences.
What is an example of the choral odes of the chorus relating to the audience’s everyday lived experiences?
in Sophocles’ ‘Oedipus’, the play opens with the chorus (representing the people of Thebes) praying to the healing god, Apollo, to end the plague that has struck Thebes. This would have resonated with all the audience who performed choral odes similar to this one during religious festivals in honour of the gods. However, it relates even more closely to the audience as the Athenians had been affected by a plague during the same year the play was performed in 429 BC.
In conclusion…
The Greek chorus were an invaluable element in the creation of powerful, dramatic works of art in ancient Greece- they brought spectacle, song and dance to the production, they acted as characters in their own right, and they provided a poetic counterpoint to the action.
