Module 2: History of Drama
2.1. History of Ancient Drama

The history of drama begins in ancient times, when people began to create performances through theater, music, dance and other forms of art. In ancient Greece, for example, such plays as Sophocles ' Antigone and Oedipus Rex were created Aeschylus. In the Middle Ages, drama began to develop in Europe, where such genres as mystery, morality, and farce were popular. During the Renaissance, theater became more complex and diverse, with the rise of such authors as William Shakespeare, Lope de Vega, and William Congreve. In the 19th century, new forms of drama emerged, such as realism and naturalism, and in the 20th century, theater became even more diverse and experimental.

The history of ancient drama covers the period from the 5th century BC to the 4th century AD and has its own characteristics and representatives. Important features of the ancient drama include:

·        Tragedy and comedy: The two main genres of ancient drama are tragedy and comedy. Tragedies tended to involve serious and philosophical topics such as fate, morality, and the actions of the gods. Comedies, on the other hand, were satirical and comic, often dealing with everyday events and politics.

In ancient drama, comedy and tragedy had a number of characteristic features:

The tragedy:

• Serious content: Tragedies usually dealt with serious and important topics, such as fate, morality, human passions, and death.

• The central character: The main character of the tragedy was a hero with outstanding character traits, often having a flaw (destructive pride, passion, etc.), which led to his death.

• Catharsis: Tragedies caused catharsis in the audience, that is, purification and relief of feelings after experiencing strong emotions.

Comedy:

• Humor and satire: Comedies were aimed at entertainment and laughter. They often wet modern society, its shortcomings and weaknesses.

• Ease and joy: Comedy characters usually avoided tragic endings and, on the contrary, often found themselves in funny or absurd situations.

• Life-affirming character: Comedies usually emphasized the joy of life and human relationships.

Both genres were popular in Ancient Greece and Rome, and they served not only entertainment purposes, but also served as a vehicle for expressing and discussing important social and philosophical ideas.

·        Use of the chorus: In ancient drama, the chorus was an important part of the performance. The choir was a group of actors who commented on the action, expressed the opinions of the characters, and addressed the gods.

The choir in ancient drama played an important role and had the following features:

1.       Composition and number of participants: The choir usually consisted of 12-15 people representing the city or society. He acted as a collective character, expressing the opinion or emotions of the group.

2.     Role and function: The choir performed several functions, including commenting on the action, warning characters and the audience, and creating an atmosphere and musical accompaniment.

3.     Orchestras and choral ode: The choir went to the orchestra (a special area in front of the stage) and performed the choral ode, which was a structured song with certain metrical and melodic characteristics.

4.    Topics covered by the choir ranged from odes of praise to heroes to reflections on morality, justice, and fate. The choir could also engage in dialogue with the characters.

5.     Masks and costumes: Members of the choir wore masks and costumes that symbolized certain archetypes or roles, such as elders, women, warriors, etc.

6.     Ritual character: The ancient choir had a religious and ritual origin, and its participation was associated with the worship of the gods and rituals.

7.     Emotionality and expressiveness: The choir could express various emotions, from joy to grief, and enhance the emotional component of the drama.

These features made the chorus an important element of ancient drama, which contributed not only to the development of the plot, but also to enrich the emotional experience of the audience.

·        Trinity of time, place and action: Aristotle in his Poetics proposed the concept of trinity, according to which the drama should unfold during one day (time), in one place and within one plot (action).

1.       Unity of Action (ΕνόΤητα του Πράγματος): A drama should have one central storyline that develops without deviation or random events. All plot elements must be linked to the main story.

2.     Единство места (Ενότητα του Τόπου): The action must take place in the same place or its immediate surroundings. This helps to create a focus on events and characters.

3. Единство времени (Ενότητα του Χρόνου): The action should take place over the course of one day or night. This helps to concentrate events and increase dramatic tension.

These principles were especially popular in ancient Greek tragedy and were considered important for creating dramatic wholeness and harmony. However, they were not always followed in dramatic works afterwards, and over time various approaches to the structure and composition of drama developed.

·        Tragic heroes: The tragic heroes of ancient drama usually had a character flaw that led to their demise. They often faced fate, confronted the gods, and suffered misfortunes.

Tragic heroes in ancient drama:

1.    Outstanding qualities and virtues: The tragic hero was usually an outstanding individual with nobility, wisdom, or bravery.

2.   Fatal insufficiency (Hamartia): The hero had some kind of insufficiency, a mistake in character or action, which led to his collapse.

3.   Decline and disaster: As a result of the hamartia, the hero was plunged into internal or external conflict, which ultimately led to his catastrophe.

4.  Empathy from the viewer: The viewer should have felt empathy for the hero, feeling sympathy for his misfortune.

5.   Mixed feelings (Catharsis): The tragic drama was supposed to evoke mixed feelings among the audience-compassion for the hero and at the same time a sense of awe for his fate.

6.   Self-knowledge and understanding of your mistake: At the end of the drama, the hero often came to understand his fatal insufficiency and his fate.

7.   Inevitability of fate: The fate of the tragic hero was imminent, and his catastrophe was often preordained by deities or fate.

These features helped to create emotionally rich and morally significant dramatic works in ancient tragedy.

Pre-viewers of the ancient drama:

1.       Sophocles: One of the greatest ancient Greek tragedians. His works include Oedipus Rex and Antigone.

2.     Euripides: Another important tragedian. His works include "Medea" and "Bakkhantok".

3.     Aristophanes: A well-known comedian whose comedies, such as Clouds and "Lisistrata", were satirical and witty.

Ancient drama has had a significant impact on the development of European literature and theatrical art and remains an important part of the cultural heritage to this day.