The Function Of The Tragic Greek Chorus - 1295 Words

In â€Å"The Function of the Tragic Greek Chorus Theatre,† Albert Weiner, who is known for editing Hamlet: The First Quarto, 1603, explains that the Chorus in Greek drama was a troupe of actors who described and commented on the main action of the play through song, dance and recitation (205). Weiner goes on to explain that Greek tragedy began with choral performances dating back to the 5th century B.C. (205). In Weiner’s article, he pulls a quote from Chapter 18 of Aristotle’s Poetics, where Aristotle makes a crucial claim as to what the Chorus should be: â€Å"the Chorus too should be regarded as one of the actors; it should be an integral part of the whole, and share in the action† (qtd. in Weiner, 205). Aristotle goes on to say that â€Å"[the Chorus] should be a part of the whole enterprise and share in the action† (205). The more the Chorus is integrated into the play, the more it becomes more of a character. Christopher Marlowe’s Doct or Faustus, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet as well as his Macbeth’s witches all serve as a tool for play progression and representation of theme; by identifying these points, the Chorus becomes an actor in its own right. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the Chorus sets the scene by acting as the prologue to the play. It is here that the Chorus describes a â€Å"pair of star-cross’d lovers;† that by taking their lives end the feud between their families (I.Prologue. 5-6). Then the Chorus explicitly says that the two lovers and the strife between theirShow MoreRelatedThe Chorus as a Homonym 1168 Words   |  5 Pages In Jean Anouilh’s Antigone and in Euripides’s Medea the Chorus is both a tool for characterization and representation of theme; however, the ways they function in their respective plays are noticeably different. The differences in the way the Choruses function in each respective play make the name of the character  "the Chorus† a homonym, same name different meaning. The Chorus in Antigone functions to incorporate the technique of metatheatre. The purpose of metatheatre is to provide a separationRead MoreOedipus Rex1350 Words   |  6 PagesGreek Tragedy The Greek drama Oedipus Rex is clearly a tragedy. It definitely meets the five main criteria for a tragedy: a tragic hero of noble birth, a tragic flaw, a fall from grace, a moment of remorse, and catharsis. Interestingly, even though Oedipus the King came before Poetics, Sophocles’ play illustrates Aristotle’s rules for classical drama. Oedipus the King particularly displays a tragic emotion, a tragic character, and a tragic fall. Aristotle also writes that such a drama ought to haveRead MoreEssay on The Function of the Greek Chorus1002 Words   |  5 Pagesmilestones, and popular morality. 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The chor ic function is just one of these conventions. This essay hopes to explore various uses of the Chorus within Greek tragedies by Aeschylus and Sophocles, and then to analyse how traits of a Greek Chorus, and the choric function can be found within 20th Century Theatre. The Chorus in Greek tragedy was a large group (itRead MoreRole Of The Chorus : Viewer Or Participant?1567 Words   |  7 PagesThe Role of the Chorus: Viewer or Participant? Throughout the canon of Greek Tragedy, playwrights have told many stories with a wide range of characters. Tales of revenge, redemption, lust, greed, and pride, as told by gods, kings, heroes, and murderers among many others. Throughout all of these works, one aspect remains consistent: that of the chorus. This group, which interjects periodically throughout the play to sing in unison, is a feature common to all Greek tragedies. That being said, whenRead MoreThe Dramatic Importance of the Role of Alfieri in A View From the Bridge1115 Words   |  5 Pagesmodern world while encountering the difficulty of how to deal with the responsibility of individuals as seen in Greek tragedies. This was a big aim for Arthur Millers play to have made a Modern Greek tragedy with all the main ingredients of one. These main attributes for a Greek tragedy can all be seen in A view from the bridge and some of these include the chorus who is in the form of Alfieri while other aspects include the antagonist, a catastrophe, a prologue, a protagonistRead MoreThe Role Of The Chorus And Its Impact On The Audience2287 Words   |  10 Pages THE ROLE OF THE CHORUS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE AUDIENCE IN OEDIPUS THE KING Angad Dev Singh History of Drama and Theater I Optional Research Paper Tenth of December 2014 The chorus is an essential feature of Greek classical drama. Instances of various types of dance, singing, and speech are some elements of a Greek chorus. â€Å"Composed of similarly costumed men, they performed on the orchestra located beneath the stage. The chorus stayed in the orchestra for