Dramatic Genre of Greek Tragedies

A textual genre that we have not discussed in class is the dramatic genre of ancient Greek tragedies written by famed poets and tragic playwrights such as Euripides, Homer, Sophocles, etc.  Conventions that can be found in almost all Greek tragedies include gods, kings, magic, hubris, adultery and a setting of somewhere in ancient Greece like Athens or Corinth.  Other conventions found in these works include love, loss, and pride which either help build to the tragic event, or are a product of it.

            Greek tragedies were written with a lesson for the entire Greek population as the simple plays convey messages and lessons warning against certain acts and thoughts that a person of any social stature was susceptible to. These plays generally warned against hubris (not paying homage, disrespecting, or doubting a god) and adultery or exhibited the fact that prophecies always came true.  When warning against hubris and adultery, a Greek play generally follows a cause and effect style way of going about teaching its lessons.  This can be seen in Euripides’ Bacchae where, in short, a king didn’t recognize the god Dionysus so he was eventually killed in an ironic and extravagant way and the city was in disarray. These tragedies often were about hubris and adultery because it was a common problem among the ancient Greek community that writers sought to combat.

            Greek tragedies were simply written, as they had to be acted out in front of citizens of all types of social, economical, and educational backgrounds.  They contain simple words and plots that were easily understood, as well as asides and soliloquys so someone watching the play rather than reading it can understand what a certain character is thinking and feeling.  Also, because these writings were written to be acted out, they had to be entertaining.  Tools used to this effect include humor, irony, and exaggeration to keep the audience enticed and involved.

            Stylistic elements that characterize a Greek tragedy include dialogue and a chorus.  Most literature that tells a story includes dialogue, but what sets a play or tragedy apart from the rest is that the play is almost all dialogue between the characters.  Because of this, choruses are written into plays.  The author includes a chorus because when the play is acted out, it provides some form of entertainment as well as background information that might not have been able to be integrated into the normal text.  The chorus often explains the setting and describes events and provides information that is crucial for the audience to be able to follow along. 

            Ultimately, an ancient Greek tragedy has many elements that distinguish it from other pieces of literature.  Irony, satire, and asides are characteristics of plays, but heroes, gods, and Greek cities are all conventions that separate Greek plays from the rest.  Greek tragedies, however, have certain conventions that distinguish them from comedies or satyrs, much like the nesting doll that is one smaller.  Death and destruction as an effect of offensive or proud behavior in a Greek setting is a key convention that sets tragedies apart from other pieces of drama.