Greek theatre
Western drama began in ancient Athens at festivals in honour of the god Dionysus. Thespis is traditionally called the first actor (hence "thespian"). The Greek theatre had a semicircular seating area (theatron), a circular acting and dancing space (orchestra) and a stage building behind it (skene). A chorus sang and commented on the action.
The three tragedians
- Aeschylus: added a second actor. His Oresteia trilogy (Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, The Eumenides) is the only complete Greek trilogy to survive; also Prometheus Bound and The Persians.
- Sophocles: added a third actor. Plays: Oedipus Rex (Oedipus the King), Antigone, Electra and Oedipus at Colonus.
- Euripides: more realistic and questioning; strong women characters. Plays: Medea, The Trojan Women, The Bacchae and Hippolytus.
Comedy was led by Aristophanes (The Clouds, The Frogs, Lysistrata).
Aristotle's Poetics
Aristotle described tragedy as an imitation of a serious action that brings about catharsis (purging of pity and fear). He named six elements: plot, character, thought, diction, song and spectacle, with plot the most important. The tragic hero falls because of hamartia (an error of judgement).
Shakespeare (1564–1616)
English poet-dramatist of the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods; his company performed at the Globe Theatre in London.
- Tragedies: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar.
- Comedies: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, The Merchant of Venice.
- Histories: Henry V, Richard III.
- Late romances: The Tempest, The Winter's Tale.
He mixed comic and tragic scenes and used blank verse and soliloquies.
Key points
- Aeschylus 2nd actor; Sophocles 3rd actor.
- Oresteia: Aeschylus; Oedipus Rex: Sophocles; Medea: Euripides.
- Poetics: catharsis, hamartia, six elements.
- Shakespeare's four great tragedies: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth.
Common mistakes
- Crediting Oedipus Rex to Euripides.
- Thinking Aristotle ranked spectacle highest; he ranked plot first.