I.
The Origin of Greek Tragedy--
choral song
hymns sung in honor of the wine god, Dionysus
tragedy in Greek= tragoidia
=
tragos + oide
(goat)
(song)
dithyramb = the choral hymn, with mime describing the adventure of
Dionysus. It was introduced into Greek in the 7th century. BC
Dionysus Zagreus--death + rebirth
Seasonal change
Apollo + Dionysus
Tetralogy = one satyr play + a trilogy (three tragedies)
II.
The Structure of a Greek Tragedy
- 1. Prologue (開場白) = setting
forth the subject
- 2. Parodos (歌隊進場) = the song
accompanying the entrance of the chorus
- 3. Episode (場景) = scene in
which one or more actors take part
- 4. Stasimon (歌隊評唱) = song of
the chorus
Stasima are originally reflection or
expression of the emotion evoked by the preceding episode.
5.
Exodos (終場及歌隊退場)
Prologue→Parodos
1st Episode→ 1st Stasimon
2nd Episode→ 2nd Stasimon
3rd Episode→3rd Stasimon
Exodos
III.
Definition of tragedy according to Aristotle's Poetics
Tragedy is the imitation of an action
that is serious
and also having magnitude, complete in itself;
in language with pleasurable accessories, each kind
brought in separately in the parts of the work;
in a dramatic, not in a narrative form;
with incidents arousing pity and fear,
wherewith to accomplish its catharsis of such emotions.
imitation
: mimesis
action = plot = the downfall of a noble hero
complete:
beginning, middle, ending
beginning èin
medias res
parts of
the work: Structure of tragedy
catharsis: psychological effect of tragedy