In a tragedy, a person struggles to overcome difficulties but fails. As a result the story has an unhappy ending.
In a comedy, the story ends happily. Today we use the word to describe a story filled with humor. The word actually means any drama that has a happy ending.
Greek stories dealt with questions such as:
What is the nature of good and evil?
What rights should people have?
What role do gods play in our lives?
In a comedy, the story ends happily. Today we use the word to describe a story filled with humor. The word actually means any drama that has a happy ending.
Greek stories dealt with questions such as:
What is the nature of good and evil?
What rights should people have?
What role do gods play in our lives?
The three best known writers of Greek tragedies were Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. The best known writer of Greek comedies was Aristophanes.
Aeschylus: Early Greek tragedies only had one actor. Aeschylus was the first person to introduce two actors instead of one. He also introduced costumes, props, and stage decorations. One of his best known plays is a group of 3 plays called the Oresteia. He wrote the plays in 458 B.C.
Sophocles: He was a general and writer of plays who developed drama even further. He used three actors in his stories instead of one or two.He also painted scenes and made them as a backdrop behind the action. Some of his most famous plays are Oedipus Rex and Antigone.
Euripides: He tried to take Greek drama beyond heroes and gods. His characters were more down to earth and his plots show a great interest in real life situations. He questioned traditional thinking, especially about war.
Aristophanes: His works are good examples of comedies. They made fun of leading politicians and scholars. They encouraged the audience to think as well as laugh. Many of his plays included jokes.
Aeschylus: Early Greek tragedies only had one actor. Aeschylus was the first person to introduce two actors instead of one. He also introduced costumes, props, and stage decorations. One of his best known plays is a group of 3 plays called the Oresteia. He wrote the plays in 458 B.C.
Sophocles: He was a general and writer of plays who developed drama even further. He used three actors in his stories instead of one or two.He also painted scenes and made them as a backdrop behind the action. Some of his most famous plays are Oedipus Rex and Antigone.
Euripides: He tried to take Greek drama beyond heroes and gods. His characters were more down to earth and his plots show a great interest in real life situations. He questioned traditional thinking, especially about war.
Aristophanes: His works are good examples of comedies. They made fun of leading politicians and scholars. They encouraged the audience to think as well as laugh. Many of his plays included jokes.