Greek and Roman Theatre Greek Tragedy Is Term Paper

Greek and Roman Theatre

Greek tragedy is characterized as being composed of tetralogy, wherein the play presented consists of three tragedies and a 'satyr' play, wherein criticisms in the government and society are addressed comically. Greek tragedy also has a dramatic form and focus, and most of the stories or topics used in tragedies are from myths and legends of the Greeks. Tragedies focus on the suffering of the lead character in the play, and provide insight and enlightenment to the main character at the end of the story or play. Meanwhile, Greek comedies were incorporated to Greek festivals along with tragedies, and comedies often depict extravagantness in its appearance while attacking and insulting people or actions that concerns society, or even personal attacks on people.Greek comedies are less restrictive in its form, and do not possess the high quality of organization that tragedies possess.

The Chorus is essential to Greek tragedies because of the following functions:

The Chorus provides and informs the audience of the transitions in the scenes during the play;

The Chorus announces the characters the actors played in the tragedy; and The Chorus comments and participates on the events happening in the play, oftentimes conducting a dialogue with one or more of the characters, usually the lead character of the play.

One of the primary costumes used in Greek tragedies are masks, which are described as elaborate and 'unemphatic' in its character. Masks are important to tragic plays because it provides cover for actors playing a….....