Ancient Greek Playwrights
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Questions and Answers

What is the term used to describe the purgation or cleansing of the emotions of pity and fear in the theatre?

  • Tragic Flaw
  • Deep Comedy
  • Deep Tragedy (correct)
  • Hamartia
  • In ancient Greek plays, what role does the tragic flaw play?

  • It is a virtue of the protagonist
  • It brings out the disaster of the protagonist (correct)
  • It has no impact on the protagonist's fate
  • It brings out the success of the protagonist
  • What is Oedipus' tragic flaw in Oedipus Rex?

  • Jealousy
  • Cowardice
  • Lack of courage
  • Overweening pride (Hubris) (correct)
  • What model did English writers of drama follow during the Elizabethan age?

    <p>Senecan model</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term often used synonymously with 'tragic flaw'?

    <p>Hamartia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What influenced the development of tragedy in the Mediaeval period?

    <p>Miracle and morality plays</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was rediscovered during the Renaissance period?

    <p>Classical tragedy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the result of the purgation of emotions in the theatre?

    <p>A changed emotional state and balance for an appreciable time</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of Harrison's statement about private reading?

    <p>It contrasts private reading with the experience in the theatre</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a tragic flaw, according to the Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms?

    <p>A trait that is normally considered a virtue</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Greek Tragedy

    • Greek tragedies focus on the ideas of justice and vengeance in relation to human existence and suffering in the world.
    • They explore the relationship between godly justice and human actions, highlighting the consequences of excessive pride (hubris) and the downfall of characters.
    • Greek writers believed that gods did not approve of human greatness and would intervene to punish excessive pride.

    Sophocles

    • Sophocles' plays reflect the intense suffering of humans as a natural consequence of their own actions.
    • Aristotle praised Sophocles' masterpiece Oedipus Rex for its dramatic conventions and plot construction.
    • Sophocles' plays are still widely studied and performed today, with many considering him a master of Greek tragedy.

    Menander

    • Menander was born in 342 BC and is considered the chief proponent of New Comedy.
    • New Comedy focuses on average characters, with no supernatural or heroic elements in its plot.
    • Menander strongly influenced the development of European comedy, despite not being considered successful during his lifetime.
    • He wrote over a hundred plays, but only one has survived.

    Key Elements of Tragedy

    • A well-constructed plot should have a proper beginning, middle, and end.
    • The tragic hero should have a tragic flaw (hamartia) that leads to their downfall.
    • The hero should not be perfectly virtuous or depraved, but rather have a weakness that leads to their reversal of fortune.
    • Tragedy aims to evoke emotions of pity and fear in the audience, resulting in catharsis (purification) of these emotions.

    Development of Tragedy

    • In ancient Greek plays, the tragic flaw brings about the disaster of the protagonist, as seen in Oedipus Rex.
    • In Mediaeval tragedy, the role of the tragic flaw is minimized, and the downfall of the protagonist is influenced by fate.
    • During the Renaissance, classical tragedy was rediscovered, and Elizabethan Senecan tragedies emerged as a popular genre.

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    Description

    This quiz is about two ancient Greek playwrights, Sophocles and Menander, and their contributions to Greek drama. It covers their plays, styles, and influences.

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