Dear Reader,
For as long as I can remember, theatre has been a vital part of my life. Therefore it was only natural that my research project would reflect it. Of course, theatre is a very, very broad term. I decided to investigate dramas from Ancient Greece because that is where theatre started. These comedies, tragedies and playwrights started it all. If it were not for Ancient Greece, theatre may have never developed, and the world would never have experienced Shakespeare, Broadway, and even television and movies. This topic especially appeals to me, as I am performing in a production of Antigone this spring. Overall, I found this topic truly fascinating.
Before I began my research, I knew some about the dramas of the Greeks. I knew, for example, of playwrights like Sophocles and Homer and I knew of a few plays, including Antigone. Furthermore, I knew that the word “thespian” came from the Ancient Greeks; I just didn’t know why. I knew little about the Festival of Greater Dionsysia, other writers and even why the Greeks participated in theatre.
When I started to research, my first question was about how theatre developed. Specifically, I searched for a general timeline that showed the development overtime. From there, I decided to research the authors that appeared to have had the most prolific careers. However, from there I had no specific goals; I just wanted to see what I could learn and what I found the most fascinating. I learned of the festival that ultimately led to the success of dramas, and I also learned the styles in which these were written and performed. In the end, I actually had a lot of information, more that I could ever use, so I used what I found the most information about and found the most interesting.
For my research, I used a lot sources, most theatre releated databases. These helped me to learn a lot about the playwrights specifically, the evolution of theatre overtime, and how Greece responded to theatre. I also used a lot of websites created by professors to inform students specifically about Grecian dramas. I was able to find all my information online.
I learned so much through this project. I learned about the specific playwrights and even the specific plays. I found, also, that theatre was mostly based around Athens; the festival of Greater Dionsysia was in Athens and most of the playwright lived their entire lives there. Through the articles, I also learned about how theatre was set up and how they evolved overtime. Finally, I also found how these dramas have survived into today.In my writing, it was a little difficult to write a cohesive paper, as I did collect so much information. I tried to focus mainly on the origins and evolution of dramas and their popularity.
My research does not particularly influence life today, but I was really interested about the origins of theatre. Plus, when I am performing these ancient dramas, it may actually help me understand the story line and how the poet intended it to be performed. I hope that other actors would feel the same way, as well. Acting is a major part of my life, and I am very happy that I can understand it a little more now.
Yours Truly,
Andrea Kout
Before I began my research, I knew some about the dramas of the Greeks. I knew, for example, of playwrights like Sophocles and Homer and I knew of a few plays, including Antigone. Furthermore, I knew that the word “thespian” came from the Ancient Greeks; I just didn’t know why. I knew little about the Festival of Greater Dionsysia, other writers and even why the Greeks participated in theatre.
When I started to research, my first question was about how theatre developed. Specifically, I searched for a general timeline that showed the development overtime. From there, I decided to research the authors that appeared to have had the most prolific careers. However, from there I had no specific goals; I just wanted to see what I could learn and what I found the most fascinating. I learned of the festival that ultimately led to the success of dramas, and I also learned the styles in which these were written and performed. In the end, I actually had a lot of information, more that I could ever use, so I used what I found the most information about and found the most interesting.
For my research, I used a lot sources, most theatre releated databases. These helped me to learn a lot about the playwrights specifically, the evolution of theatre overtime, and how Greece responded to theatre. I also used a lot of websites created by professors to inform students specifically about Grecian dramas. I was able to find all my information online.
I learned so much through this project. I learned about the specific playwrights and even the specific plays. I found, also, that theatre was mostly based around Athens; the festival of Greater Dionsysia was in Athens and most of the playwright lived their entire lives there. Through the articles, I also learned about how theatre was set up and how they evolved overtime. Finally, I also found how these dramas have survived into today.In my writing, it was a little difficult to write a cohesive paper, as I did collect so much information. I tried to focus mainly on the origins and evolution of dramas and their popularity.
My research does not particularly influence life today, but I was really interested about the origins of theatre. Plus, when I am performing these ancient dramas, it may actually help me understand the story line and how the poet intended it to be performed. I hope that other actors would feel the same way, as well. Acting is a major part of my life, and I am very happy that I can understand it a little more now.
Yours Truly,
Andrea Kout
The Dramas of Ancient Greece
From movies to television to theatre and more, drama is everywhere. Though some of these may seem relatively new, the concepts of tragedy and comedy have been around for thousands of years. As early as the 5th century BC, the ancient Greek began writing, producing and performing full length shows, some of which are still performed today. Great playwrights, such as Aeschylus and Euripides developed drama, and the theatres and plays of ancient Greece reflect those of today in many ways.
Origins
Today, the origins of Greek comedies and dramas, and therefore the origins of theatre as a whole, are a mystery to the world. As early as the 5th century BC, Greeks were questioning and searching for the origins of their famous tragedies and comedies. Among these inquisitive Greeks was Aristotle, who wrote that “[the Greek] say it began among them at the time when they became a democracy,” (qtd. in Englert). He later wrote that early poets, such as Homer, created the ideas of tragedies and comedies which grew into dithyrambic choruses (qtd. In Englert). However there are clues that can be used to help understand more specifically the origins of Greek drama. Originally, historians believed that a man named Thespis created tragedies (Damen). Most of historians’ knowledge of this man came from Horace, a roman poet, who wrote that Thespis traveled around with a cart, on which his tragedies were performed (Anthon). Although no concrete facts or works by him exist, he is widely attested to the creation of theatre, and his name is even the root of the word thespian, meaning an actor. However today, many historians believe that Greek drama arose in Athens as a worship of the god of wine, Dionysus. This belief is based on the festival of Greater Dionysia that occurred in Athens twice a year (Anthon). The great playwrights of Greece found their success at this festival, where they presented their new comedies and dramas to judges.
Festival of Greater Dionysia
Every spring, the city-state of Athens hosted the famous Festival of Greater Dionysia. Peisistratros first introduced the festival around 530 BC; within a few years, the city of Athens funded the festival and hired an archon to plan and oversee it (Jain, Damen). Playwrights applied to the archon to perform their works, usually consisting of three tragedies and a satyr play (Nikolaou). The festival began with a procession that parade a statue of Dionysus, for whom the festival was held, a sacrifice and the enactment of the story of Dionysus’ arrival at Eleutherai (Nikolaou). From there, the festival moved into the opening ceremonies, which began by memorializing the soldiers killed that year and then presented the poets, sponsors and the performers for the year(Nikolaou). On the third day, the performances began, and citizens from every class crowded the hillside theatre (Davis). When the performances finished, judges presented prizes to the winning performances and the festival drew to a close for the year.
Types of Plays
In ancient Greece, playwrights generally wrote in three genres of drama: tragedy, comedy, and satyr plays. Perhaps the most famous of these is the legendary Greek tragedy, which often revolved around love, loss, pride and power. Paul Roche wrote that “the theme of all tragedy is the sadness of life and the universality of evil… and [life] was worth living because these obstacles were worth overcoming” (qtd. in Gale). Similarly, Aristotle stated that tragedy cleansed the heart, making us aware of the nobility in suffering (PBS). Often, the plot lines of these involved the careful relations between mortal men and the gods, telling stories of men who searched for the meaning of life or to understand the actions of the gods (Robinson). On the other hand, Grecian comedies were often satires that mocked authority and political situations (PBS). Later comedies, known as new comedies, also used personal themes and domestic life (Gill). Finally, satyr plays were often written to be performed between acts of tragedies, often mocking the characters and their situations (PBS). However, there are you few surviving examples of these plays.
The comedies and tragedies of Ancient Greece are still popular today, largely due to the themes that apply to the modern world. Timeless topics, such as love and loss, still appeal widely to audiences, perpetuating the eternality of Greek plays. Truly, we have Grecian dramas to thank for Broadway, Shakespeare, plays, even movies and TV. Though the origins may seem unimportant, the dramas of Ancient Greece are truly fascinating.
Origins
Today, the origins of Greek comedies and dramas, and therefore the origins of theatre as a whole, are a mystery to the world. As early as the 5th century BC, Greeks were questioning and searching for the origins of their famous tragedies and comedies. Among these inquisitive Greeks was Aristotle, who wrote that “[the Greek] say it began among them at the time when they became a democracy,” (qtd. in Englert). He later wrote that early poets, such as Homer, created the ideas of tragedies and comedies which grew into dithyrambic choruses (qtd. In Englert). However there are clues that can be used to help understand more specifically the origins of Greek drama. Originally, historians believed that a man named Thespis created tragedies (Damen). Most of historians’ knowledge of this man came from Horace, a roman poet, who wrote that Thespis traveled around with a cart, on which his tragedies were performed (Anthon). Although no concrete facts or works by him exist, he is widely attested to the creation of theatre, and his name is even the root of the word thespian, meaning an actor. However today, many historians believe that Greek drama arose in Athens as a worship of the god of wine, Dionysus. This belief is based on the festival of Greater Dionysia that occurred in Athens twice a year (Anthon). The great playwrights of Greece found their success at this festival, where they presented their new comedies and dramas to judges.
Festival of Greater Dionysia
Every spring, the city-state of Athens hosted the famous Festival of Greater Dionysia. Peisistratros first introduced the festival around 530 BC; within a few years, the city of Athens funded the festival and hired an archon to plan and oversee it (Jain, Damen). Playwrights applied to the archon to perform their works, usually consisting of three tragedies and a satyr play (Nikolaou). The festival began with a procession that parade a statue of Dionysus, for whom the festival was held, a sacrifice and the enactment of the story of Dionysus’ arrival at Eleutherai (Nikolaou). From there, the festival moved into the opening ceremonies, which began by memorializing the soldiers killed that year and then presented the poets, sponsors and the performers for the year(Nikolaou). On the third day, the performances began, and citizens from every class crowded the hillside theatre (Davis). When the performances finished, judges presented prizes to the winning performances and the festival drew to a close for the year.
Types of Plays
In ancient Greece, playwrights generally wrote in three genres of drama: tragedy, comedy, and satyr plays. Perhaps the most famous of these is the legendary Greek tragedy, which often revolved around love, loss, pride and power. Paul Roche wrote that “the theme of all tragedy is the sadness of life and the universality of evil… and [life] was worth living because these obstacles were worth overcoming” (qtd. in Gale). Similarly, Aristotle stated that tragedy cleansed the heart, making us aware of the nobility in suffering (PBS). Often, the plot lines of these involved the careful relations between mortal men and the gods, telling stories of men who searched for the meaning of life or to understand the actions of the gods (Robinson). On the other hand, Grecian comedies were often satires that mocked authority and political situations (PBS). Later comedies, known as new comedies, also used personal themes and domestic life (Gill). Finally, satyr plays were often written to be performed between acts of tragedies, often mocking the characters and their situations (PBS). However, there are you few surviving examples of these plays.
The comedies and tragedies of Ancient Greece are still popular today, largely due to the themes that apply to the modern world. Timeless topics, such as love and loss, still appeal widely to audiences, perpetuating the eternality of Greek plays. Truly, we have Grecian dramas to thank for Broadway, Shakespeare, plays, even movies and TV. Though the origins may seem unimportant, the dramas of Ancient Greece are truly fascinating.