Evolution of Tragedy

Tragedy is not a narrative, but a drama. This means that it is a play or script and not a story.

Tragedy originated from the Greek word, Tragodia meaning "goat song"
Tragedy began as a religious ritual where a group of men would come together in a circular dancing place (called orchestra) and they would sing a choral or group lyric. This song was specifically called a Dithyramb because it payed tribute to Dionosys, a Greek god. Dionosys was the God of wine, agriculture and fertility. He was son to Zeus and a mortal woman, but when his mother died he was raised by Nymphs, spirits of nature. He was the patron of the stage and he enjoyed intoxication and believed in drugs, etc.
The men that participated in these religious rituals were dressed as Satyrs (half men, half goats) because they were said to be friends of Dionosys, the God they were worshiping.
The choral song they sang eventually widened into a story of heroes and myths.
An actor was introduced to these rituals to answer questions posed by the group. Later on a playwright, Aesechylus added a second actor so there could then be conflict between the two. (Aeschylus also wrote Prometheus Bound and Mary Shelly's husband wrote Prometheus unbound which ties in the story Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelly, which we will read later this year) Following Aesechylus, the playwright, Sophocles, author of Antigone, added a THIRD actor to these rituals, creating them into more of a play.
The actors would then wear masks and sang or spoke poetically. (also like plays)
The ceremonies included three parts: the Strophe, Antistrophe and the Epode. These resemble modern day acts and scenes from a play.
Tragedy was recognized as an official state cult for the first time in Athens during the year 534 BC.
This religious festival, or now closer to play would take place in late March or early April in honor of Dionosys, being the God of nature as well.
This event ended in a contest of three playwrights, over three consecutive days, competing to judge which play was best. These theaters they were held in could hold 12,000 people.
Tragedy depicts the downfall of a noble hero or heroine through some combination of excessive pride, fate, and/or will of Gods.
"Oedipus the King", written by Aristotle, outlines the qualities of a tragedy today.
We will soon be getting into Aristotelian Tragedy.