Tragedy

Question 1

what did tragedy originate from

Answer 1

the Dithyramb

Question 2

when were Satyr plays put on

Answer 2

after tragedy to provide comic relief

Question 3

what were Satyr plays

Answer 3

Light hearted parodies of tragedies

Question 4

what was Aeschylus famous for

Answer 4

Introducing a second speaking actor on the stage

Question 5

How many plays did Aeschylus write and how many survived

Answer 5

he wrote 80 and just 6 survived

Question 6

what is Aeschylus mocked for in Frogs

Answer 6

writing long and tedious dramas full of long sentences

Question 7

when was Aeschylus alive

Answer 7

525-456BC

Question 8

what is a criticism of Aeschylus’ work

Answer 8

His language was dense

Question 9

when was Sophocles alive

Answer 9

496-406BC

Question 10

what two things was Sophocles famous for

Answer 10

• supposedly introduced the third speaking actor.
• increased chorus from 12 to 15 members

Question 11

how many contests did Sophocles win

Answer 11

at leat 18 and didn’t come third in anything

Question 12

how many plays did Sophocles write and how many survived?

Answer 12

He wrote 120+ but only 7 survive

Question 13

what did Sophocles change with backstories of characters

Answer 13

Rather than doing a ‘whats happened so far’, Sophocles made it more natural by incorporating background into the play

Question 14

how many speaking actors were there on stage

Answer 14

three

Question 15

how big were choruses

Answer 15

usually made up of 15 citizens

Question 16

how seriously was chorus training taken?

Answer 16

so seriously that they were relieved of military service

Question 17

role of chorus (actor)

Answer 17

Chorus were usually part of the action, typically portraying towns folk

Question 18

role of chorus (Scene setting)

Answer 18

choral odes sometimes gave the audience important background information

Question 19

role of chorus (Commentator)

Answer 19

the chorus often stepped back from the actors and offered a commentary or moral opinion on the events of the play

Question 20

role of chorus (Wider context)

Answer 20

the chorus put the events of the play into a broader context by connecting them to other myths

Question 21

role of chorus (Background mood)

Answer 21

• acting like the soundtrack to a modern film
• Could build suspense before an act of violence or lament a death

Question 22

role of chorus (Scene break)

Answer 22

creating a break for actors to change and prepare for their next scene

Question 23

what is a monody

Answer 23

Often sung at times of great distress or intensity

Question 24

what is a Kommos

Answer 24

A sung dialogue between actor and chorus at moments of heightened emotion during the play

Question 25

Typical features of masks

Answer 25

• typically solemn expressions
• openings for eyes and mouth
• made of wood or cork

Question 26

what is a chilton

Answer 26

full length tragic robe

Question 27

what is a Himation

Answer 27

Knee length tragic robe

Question 28

features of Tragic costumes

Answer 28

Costumes were: close fitting, ornate, colourful and had sleeves

Question 29

what are kothorinoi

Answer 29

knee high leather boots

Question 30

Drawbacks of using Aristotles ‘Poetics’

Answer 30

• written a century after many tragic plays known to us
• Don’t know if 5th century Athenians shared his view
• At times its unclear what he mens in his text

Question 31

Aristotles definition of a tragic hero

Answer 31

a person who is not outstanding in either virtue or behaviour, who falls into bad fortune through not vice or wickedness, but through some mistake (hamartia), one of those who ejoys great reputation and prosperity

Question 32

3 key elements to a good tragedy according to Aristotle

Answer 32

suffering, recognition and reversal