GTBOOKS 191 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Trojan War, Aeschylus, Odysseus
Document Summary
Even for the original audience, it is difficult to understand. Much of the meaning is carried by songs (complex) Intensely dramatic plays: everyone knew the agamemnon was going to die, this play is mostly about the anticipation and lead up to his murder. The athenians had homer performances and choral singing. Somebody in the 6th century bce had some idea of actually acting out stories instead of just telling them orally: the oresteia was first produced in 458 bce. Choral singing: groups (usually men) who would dress and sing the background story of the tragedy. Athenians built their theatre with a stage. Masks were used so that 3 actors could play all of the parts. Extras could wear the masks and play the role of any characters without actually talking. Plays alternate spoken verse (action) and singing (chorus: at this period chorus as 12.
