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fandomhigh2005-11-08 01:37 pm
geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2005-11-08 01:37 pm
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Introduction to Western Literature, Lesson Three
Tuesday, November 8, 1:00PM FST
[Professor Chaucer is sitting in his chair, feet propped up on the desk, writing in a leather-bound journal. He waves the students in as they arrive, but he doesn't put up his writing until the class is assembled.]
It's good to see all of you today. I want to let you know that I've made arrangements with a teaching assistant, whom I hope will be able to join us for next week's class. Today we'll begin with the remainder of our discussion on Beowulf, before moving on to the lecture.
[Discussion] We talked about how epic poetry was originally used as a conduit for oral history. Using the latter section of Beowulf as an example -- where the king does battle with the great dragon -- I'd like the class as a whole to discuss how fictional epics can be used to transmit a people's history.
[Lecture] Moving on to the lecture portion of our class...Today we begin our study of another type of literature, the drama. Your reading assignment for next week, The Clouds by Aristophanes, is one of the few surviving examples of Greek "Old Comedy", as well as one of the first instances of self-referential theater. Aristophanes made heavy use of satire in his plays, which often reflected the political climate of the times. The Clouds presents an irreverant look at Greek academia, incorporating a particularly unusual portrayal of the philosopher Socrates.
In outward form, the "Old Comedy" of ancient Greece was a burlesque. In its license of word and gesture, on its audacious directness of invective, no restriction was placed by the dramatist, the audience or the authorities. The satire and abuse were directed against some object of popular dislike, often represented as saying and doing everything that was contemptible, as suffering everything that was ludicrous and degrading.
Borrowing heavily from the older dramatic form of Tragedy, the Greek comedy also incorporated choral dances and masked actors, and made use of the same poetic meter and language. Greek tragedy -- and therefore, by extension, comedy -- has a characteristic structure in which scenes of dialogue alternate with choral songs. This arrangement allows the chorus to comment in its song in a general way on what has been said and/or done in the preceding scene. Most Greek dramas begin with an opening scene of expository dialogue or monologue called a prologue.
After the prologue the chorus marches into the orchestra chanting the parodos. The existance of a chorus is particular to the Greek drama, and is something that seems rather foreign to modern readers. The first function of the chorus was to chant an entrance song, or parodos, as they marched into the orchestra. Once the chorus had taken its position in the orchestra, its duties were twofold. It engaged in dialogue with characters through its leader, the Coryphaeus, who spoke the lines of dialogue assigned to the chorus. The chorus's most important function was to using and dance choral songs called stasima (singular stasimon).
Following the prologue comes a scene of dialogue called an episode, which in turn is followed by the first stasimon. The alternation of episode and stasimon continues until the last stasimon, after which there is a final scene of dialogue called an exodos or "exit scene". The exodos is in general a scene of dialogue, but, as in the case of episodes, sometimes songs are included.
An example of a typical structure:
* Prologue
* Parodos
* First Episode
* First Stasimon
* Second Episode
* Second Stasimon
* Third Episode
* Third Stasimon
* Fourth Episode
* Fourth Stasimon
* Exodos
***Assignment for next week: Read The Clouds and come prepared to discuss it in class.***
NOTE: Please also note that the final project requirements have changed. Please see me after class or stop by my office hours to dicuss your plans.
[Professor Chaucer is sitting in his chair, feet propped up on the desk, writing in a leather-bound journal. He waves the students in as they arrive, but he doesn't put up his writing until the class is assembled.]
It's good to see all of you today. I want to let you know that I've made arrangements with a teaching assistant, whom I hope will be able to join us for next week's class. Today we'll begin with the remainder of our discussion on Beowulf, before moving on to the lecture.
[Discussion] We talked about how epic poetry was originally used as a conduit for oral history. Using the latter section of Beowulf as an example -- where the king does battle with the great dragon -- I'd like the class as a whole to discuss how fictional epics can be used to transmit a people's history.
[Lecture] Moving on to the lecture portion of our class...Today we begin our study of another type of literature, the drama. Your reading assignment for next week, The Clouds by Aristophanes, is one of the few surviving examples of Greek "Old Comedy", as well as one of the first instances of self-referential theater. Aristophanes made heavy use of satire in his plays, which often reflected the political climate of the times. The Clouds presents an irreverant look at Greek academia, incorporating a particularly unusual portrayal of the philosopher Socrates.
In outward form, the "Old Comedy" of ancient Greece was a burlesque. In its license of word and gesture, on its audacious directness of invective, no restriction was placed by the dramatist, the audience or the authorities. The satire and abuse were directed against some object of popular dislike, often represented as saying and doing everything that was contemptible, as suffering everything that was ludicrous and degrading.
Borrowing heavily from the older dramatic form of Tragedy, the Greek comedy also incorporated choral dances and masked actors, and made use of the same poetic meter and language. Greek tragedy -- and therefore, by extension, comedy -- has a characteristic structure in which scenes of dialogue alternate with choral songs. This arrangement allows the chorus to comment in its song in a general way on what has been said and/or done in the preceding scene. Most Greek dramas begin with an opening scene of expository dialogue or monologue called a prologue.
After the prologue the chorus marches into the orchestra chanting the parodos. The existance of a chorus is particular to the Greek drama, and is something that seems rather foreign to modern readers. The first function of the chorus was to chant an entrance song, or parodos, as they marched into the orchestra. Once the chorus had taken its position in the orchestra, its duties were twofold. It engaged in dialogue with characters through its leader, the Coryphaeus, who spoke the lines of dialogue assigned to the chorus. The chorus's most important function was to using and dance choral songs called stasima (singular stasimon).
Following the prologue comes a scene of dialogue called an episode, which in turn is followed by the first stasimon. The alternation of episode and stasimon continues until the last stasimon, after which there is a final scene of dialogue called an exodos or "exit scene". The exodos is in general a scene of dialogue, but, as in the case of episodes, sometimes songs are included.
An example of a typical structure:
* Prologue
* Parodos
* First Episode
* First Stasimon
* Second Episode
* Second Stasimon
* Third Episode
* Third Stasimon
* Fourth Episode
* Fourth Stasimon
* Exodos
***Assignment for next week: Read The Clouds and come prepared to discuss it in class.***
NOTE: Please also note that the final project requirements have changed. Please see me after class or stop by my office hours to dicuss your plans.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LECTURE
DISCUSSION: Beowulf
CHATTING
OOC
Re: DISCUSSION: Beowulf
Re: DISCUSSION: Beowulf
Re: DISCUSSION: Beowulf
Re: DISCUSSION: Beowulf
Re: DISCUSSION: Beowulf
Re: DISCUSSION: Beowulf