The Greek Theater Chapter 17 Flashcards
Enthusiasm
The power of having the Greek gods within a person
Dionysus
Greek God (Greeks thought he personified both the spring and the vintage, and a symbol of power)
The chorus
Group of performers that sing portions of a Greek drama
Euripides
Athenian Dramatist
Deus ex machina
The appearance of a god to solve a problem of a play
Vintage
Old
Orchestra
A group of people that play instruments to set the mood of a certain scene or atmosphere
Corthurnus
a thick-soled boot or buskin worn by actors in Greek tragedy.
Buckskin
Animal skin from a male dear
Kine
Cows collectively
Ken
Ones range of knowledge or sight
How did Greek Dramas arise in Ancient Greece
The Greek Drama began as a religious observance in Honor of Dionysus . From early times stories of Dionysus life were recited at the religious festivals held in his honor and then the stories of the other gods and of the ancient heroes were told as well.
Describe the Greek Drama
A Greek drama was in many ways much simpler than a modern Drama. There were fewer characters and usually only three speaking actors aloud on the stage at once. There was only one story told and there was nothing to take the attention of the audience away from this. The Chorus though it no longer told the story, was very important to set the atmosphere and lyrics of haunting loveliness hinted at the tragedy.
Describe the role of an Athenian audience during a Drama
An Athenian audience was very critical, and hisses and shouts or groans of approval or disapproval of the play being acted. Sever plays were given in one day and a prize was always awarded to the best, so the audience would stay at the theater until sunset.
Describe the anatomy of a Greek Drama
When the play began, there will only be three actors on the stage at once. They will wear very elaborate costumes with masks and elevator shoes. The play was not divided into different acts, instead when there was a break in the action, we shall see the final catastrophe on the stage but a messenger will appear who will give us an account of what has happened
What is the play shown in the book
Iphigenia in Tauris
Who wrote Iphigenia in Tauris
Euripides
Describe the opening plot to the play
Iphigenia very briefly tells her story up to the moment when the play begins. Just as the Greeks had been ready to sail for Troy, they were wind bound at Aulis. The wise men were consulted as to the meaning of this and how the gods must be appeased so that fair winds might be in their way. Calchas, the seer, told them that Artemis demanded the sacrifice of Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon, king of Argos. She was sent with the belief that the she was to be married, but when she was about to be sacrificed, Artemis carried Iphigenia to a tribe as their priestess. These Tauri sacrificed all strangers who were cassed on their shores, and it was the duty of the priestess to consecrate each victim.
Iphigenia
Daughter of Agamemnon
Agamemnon
King of Argos
Tauri
A wild tribe
Clytemnestra
Agamemnon’s wife: killed Anon.
Orestes
Iphigenia’s brother: Killed Clytemnestra
Who tormented Orestes
The furies
What did the Oracle of Apollo tell Orestes
To go to the land of the Tauri and bring back the image of Artemis back to Attica
