Theatre in Ancient Greece

Question 1

what age did this take place in

Answer 1

The Golden Age (499-400 BC)

Question 2

what is the City Dionysia
list 3-4 things about it

Answer 2

• Athenian festival in honour of Dionysus
• featured dramatic presentations as a competition
  -held at the end of march in anticipation of the planting season
  -each play was produced by a wealthy citizen who would share in the fame and financial prizes

Question 3

what were the four festivals in honour of Dionysus

Answer 3

The city Dionysia
Anthesteria
Lenaia
Rural Dionysia

Question 4

List 3 things about Thespis

Answer 4

The first actor
stepped out of the chorus to engage in dialogue
From his name comes the word Thespian (actor)
Introduced the use of masks

Question 5

Aeschylus (list 3)

Answer 5

523-456 BC

introduced the second actor

reduced chorus to 12 people

father of tragedy

popularized the trilogy model in theatre through competitions

Question 6

Sophocles (list 3)

Answer 6

496-406 BC

The third actor

scene painting

Wrote Oedipus the King

Question 7

Euripedes (list 3)

Answer 7

480-406 BC

psychological playwright

controversial characters and themes

main characters often women

18 surviving tragedies

his play, ‘Cyclops’ is the only complete Satyr play that has survived

Question 8

Aristophanes (list 3)

Answer 8

446-386 BC

Father of Comedy

11/40 surviving plays

Famous work: Lysistrata

Question 9

What are the Unities of Ancient Greek Scripts

Answer 9

Time, Place, Action (unity of these three things)

Question 10

Chorus (list 3)

Answer 10

Added spectacle with movement and song

established framework of the event

expresses views of the ordinary citizens

set rhythm of plays