The word "tragedy" in Greek means "the song of the goat", which is related to Dionysus. Around the 6th century BC, the Greeks began to worship Dionysus, the god of wine. In sacrificial activities, people wear sheepskin, horns and beards. Later, this ritual activity gradually turned into a tragic performance, and the theme gradually expanded from praising Dionysus to other mythological themes.
Ancient Greek tragedy
The ancient Greek tragedy originated from the celebration of Dionysus. Most plays are based on myths, the legend of heroes and epics, so the theme is usually serious. Aristotle once discussed the meaning of tragedy in Poetics. He believes that the purpose of tragedy is to arouse the audience's pity for the characters in the play and their fear of fickle fate, so as to purify their feelings. Conflicts described in tragedies are often difficult to reconcile and are fatalistic.
Historical origin
In the long evolution of the ancient Greek world, the primitive sacrificial activities gradually developed into an artistic style accompanied by chorus, performed by actors and shaped by curtains, backgrounds and masks, which is the embryonic form of western drama. Most ancient Greek dramas are based on myths, the legend of heroes and epics, so the themes are usually very serious.
Aristotle once discussed the meaning of tragedy in Poetics. He believes that the purpose of tragedy is to arouse the audience's pity for the characters in the play and their fear of fickle fate, so as to purify their feelings. Conflicts described in tragedies are often difficult to reconcile and are fatalistic. The hero in tragedy often has a strong and unyielding character and heroism, but he always fails in the process of fighting against fate.
form
Tragedy is mainly composed of poetry, dance and music, in which the music part includes chorus and solo, accompanied by Aphrodite and Kitaraqin. A performance usually includes four parts: prologue, entrance song, drama scene and exit.
Representative composer
1, Aeschylus: the music is simple and implicit, with chorus passages, and Prometheus is imprisoned and secluded.
2, Sophocles: strong sense of drama, accompanied by melody, strong narrative, "Oedipus the King".
3, euripides: highly lyrical, complex melody mode, "Effie is in the heat".