What is metatheatricality? Does it have a significant function in Old Comedy?
What is 'metatheatricality'? Does it have a significant function in Old Comedy? Old Comedy's contemporariness with tragedy is a significant part of its history, and yet the fact that they are extremely different traditions cannot fail to go unnoticed (although of course there is more to Greek theatre than the simple dichotomy of comedy and tragedy, as it is more subtly nuanced than this). One of the major aspects to distinguish old comedy from its tragic counterpart is that of metatheatre. Its significance as well as its exact definition ought to be considered, with many particularly illuminative examples coming from Aristophanes' plays. Metatheatre is defined as the rupturing of the illusion, whereby the audience becomes aware that they are watching a play, due to direct attention being drawn to certain technological aspects of theatre or to the presence of the audience. This is very different to tragedy, where (apart from the chorus' parabasis) the action remains strictly grounded in realism, as the audience is intended to empathise with the characters. It would be unfair to say that metatheatre does not allow empathy, as even in the comedies it is possible to like some characters more than others. However, metatheatre does serve to alienate the audience from the illusion and allows them to look upon the comedy more objectively. Some critics go further and into more
The Odyssey: Penelope
Lea Bolen Stephen Slimp EH 301 5 Nov 2007 A Mother's Love The power of love should never be underestimated, especially that which a mother has for her child. In The Odyssey, Homer not only portrays Penelope as a loving, faithful wife but also reveals her underlying motives for these endearing traits. Penelope is a loyal wife; furthermore, she is a devoted mother. Her tremendous love for Odysseus proves no small emotion, but he has been lost to her for many years, and the threat upon her son's life and property would force her to remarry. Penelope is driven to protect Telemakhos and his possessions so that the memory of her husband would live on through him. She masks her cleverness behind femininity, and therefore enables herself to maintain control of her own destiny as well as that of Telemakhos. Countless suitors bombard Penelope with hopes of winning her hand in marriage. Determined to postpone these proposals, she tells them, "Young men, my suitors, now my lord is dead, / let me finish my weaving before I marry, / or else my thread will have been spun in vain" (II: 104-6). Penelope has to humor the suitors for the sake of Telemakhos, while in reality she has no intention of marrying any of them. She manages to deceive them for three years, "So every day she wove on the great loom- / but every night by torchlight she unwove it" (II: 112-13), until one of her maids
Thesmophoria in Athens
Kathryn Kell 064513070 CL225 Dr. Arden Williams November 10th 2008 Women and the Thesmophoria in Athens. The Thesmophoria was an exclusively female religious festival that was celebrated annually, all over Ancient Greece, in honor of Demeter and her gifts. It was celebrated in autumn, during the busiest agricultural time of the year1 and was related to both human and agricultural fertility. The Thesmophoria took women out of their matrimonial homes. During the festival women modeled their behaviour after Demeter, who, in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter is a mother solely concerned with her one, legitimate, daughter2. The Thesmophoria allows one to see the paradox which was a woman's position in society in Ancient Athens. The paradox is illustrated by the contradictions of their roles within the oikos and within the broader politico-religious sphere of the polis. Women at the same time were subservient to the men within their oikos, through the Thesmophoria, were actually responsible for "the survival of the polis [both] through food and legitimate heirs"3. In addition to bringing the complexities of the female relationship with the state in Ancient Athens to light, it also show the more tangible aspects of a woman's position in society including the importance of being a legitimate wife and the mother of legitimate heirs and her virtual exclusion from the sacrificial altar.
How did the Brutality of Apartheid Affect the Theatrical Development of Athol Fugard with Special Reference to "The Island"?
Abstract To begin with, I wanted to focus my extended essay in an area of psychology in theatre. I began researching the play "Equus" by Peter Shaffer, as this was a play, looking at the role of a psychiatrist in a young English boy's life. However, when I started researching Shaffer's plays, I realised that, although they were fascinating, it would be extremely difficult to write a four thousand-word essay on one of them! I began to look into other areas, which interested me, such as the musical side of theatre, or different cultures and their playwrights. I soon discovered Athol Fugard. I began looking into his plays, and found that he had a reputation of being one of the most influential South African playwrights of all time. And was writing in a time of great oppression with the apartheid. I then looked into what the apartheid of South Africa, entailed. The more I read, the more I realised living in a society in which every race is kept segregated must be extremely influential on a person's writing. My focus, (still looking at Athol Fugard) soon became "How the brutality of apartheid affected the theatrical development of Athol Fugard". As my research intensified, I discovered a particularly hard-hitting play of his, called "The Island". This play tied in perfectly with my title, as it is set on Robben Island, a prison for political prisoners, which was notorious
Is there a "Universal Code of Morality"?
Name: Marwa AbdelGawad ID: 900-02-1546 Essay 2 SEMR 200 - 20 Dr. Mariam Osman Is there a "Universal Code of Morality"? "There is but one morality as there is but one geometry." Voltaire Do you think this statement is true? Is there one universal code of morality, which applies to all people at all times and in all places? Use three of the texts you have read to support your agreement, or disagreement, with Voltaire. For many years, anthropologists and philosophers have tried to find a definition to the word 'morality' which can satisfy all different perceptions that are believed by different people all around the world. It was found that there are two ways to use the term 'morality': descriptively and normatively. Descriptively refers to " a code of conduct put forwarded by a society or, some other group, such as a religion, or accepted by an individual for his/her own behavior" (Gert, 1). On the other hand, using the term 'morality' normatively refers to "a code of conduct that, given specified conditions, would put forward all rational persons" (Gert 1). This definition means that there exists a universal code of morality, which can be applied to all people in all places and at all times. Among those who believe in the normative use of the word 'morality' is the French writer and satirist, François-Marie Arouet de Voltaire, aka Voltaire. Voltaire believed "there is
"In Oedipus Tyranus, Oedipus is destroyed by his own flawed character." Asses this statement.
Henning Fotland B00339586 Prof. O'Brien Dec. 9th 2002 "In Oedipus Tyranus, Oedipus is destroyed by his own flawed character." Asses this statement. To asses the accuracy of this claim, it is first necessary to view the character of Oedipus in the historical context in which Oedipus Rex was written. The prevailing political thinking in Ancient Greece was that a man was defined by his position and role within the polis. Oedipus is unquestionably a man of the people, his opening remark "Oh my children," (Soph. OT. 1) while addressing the priests and men gathered to ask his advice, indicates his authority and compassion for the suffering of his subjects. The period in which Oedipus Tyrannus was written was also one of incredible philosophical, scientific and mathematical progress, as such, the qualities most admired by Athenian society were those of rational and logical thought. The seeds of democratic ideals were sowed through the application of these faculties in the pursuit of truth and justice. Oedipus, the man who solved the riddle of the Sphinx, is the embodiment of all these highly valued ideals, his character is also one marked by reflective but decisive action. When his parentage was brought into doubt by a guest in his adoptive parent's house, the assurance of his parents would not satisfy him. When the Oracle at Delphi prophesized his future, Oedipus fled
The analysis of pregnancy in Pietro the Fool and Peruonto
The analysis of pregnancy in "Pietro the Fool" and "Peruonto" Mathilde Jourdan Foundations in World Cultures - AHUM 1416-3 Dr. Gabrielle Popoff October 14th 2009 Both short folk stories "Pietro the Fool" by Giovanfrancesco Straparola and "Peruonto" by Giambattista Basile tell of a poor, dim and common boy who, upon being insulted by a girl from an upper social class, makes her pregnant by means of magic - and eventually marries her. Both Pietro and Peruonto are luckless heroes whose fortunes are changed by this magic act of conception. The theme of pregnancy reveals a lot about gender roles, social class issues and the kind of patriarchic society the 'heroes' live in. It ties together all kinds of interesting aspects of life in those times. Hence by analyzing these stories, one can get a better idea of the social conditions of the time those characters live in. These tales reflect a male viewpoint in which the hero seeks revenge for the emasculating comments made by a young Princess, causes her life to take a toll for the worse, and then rises to power. Both in "Pietro the Fool" and in "Peruonto", the protagonists are granted the power to make any wish come true - in the first case because he has found a magic tuna fish, and in the second case through the power of three fairies. With this power in their hands, both of these characters, true to their titles of fools and
Review of "Antigone," by Sophocles.
According to Sigmund Freud, within the mind of every individual is something called the id. It is "the element of the psyche which is the source of all basic drives" (Glassman 211). The id works solely to fulfill desires of the mind. In order to keep this drive in check, Freud suggests the idea of the ego and superego, both of which play a part in suppressing the actions of the id (Glassman 212). The mind is an equilibrium between the id, the ego, and the superego. However, sometimes this delicate balance can be disrupted. At times the id can become too powerful, causing the person to act entirely out of self interest. This kind of behavior is seen the main characters of the play "Antigone," by Sophocles. Antigone and her uncle Creon seem almost possessed by their ids, as both work to try and venerate their own images. As seen in the play, such self-righteousness has disastrous results. The tragedies of both Antigone and Creon are self-inflicted, each the result of a headstrong mission to fulfill their own selfish desires. Although Antigone seems to have moral intentions, she is only working in order to achieve the greatness that is associated with martyrdom. In the opening scene, Antigone tells her sister Ismene of her plan to bury their brother Polynices. Aware of the law forbidding this, Ismene refuses to collaborate with Antigone, trying to convince her sister to abandon
Oedipus - Write an analysis of the themes explored in Episode 2.
Hagen Dittmer English, Oedipus Episode 2 - Write an analysis of the themes explored in Episode 2 Episode two focuses mainly on the accusations towards Oedipus placed by Creon. This is also our first encounter with Jocasta, Oedipus' wife - she continually tries to quell Oedipus' suspicions brought on by Creon and the prophet, and reassure him that the God's have not pre-decided his destiny; that he is still free to 'create' his own future... The initial theme explored in Episode 2 is really a continuation on from Episode 1 - that being the sparking of the suspicion that Oedipus could in some way be linked to the murder of his predecessor, King Laius. Through the use of Creon and the prophet Tiresias, Sophocles is able to create doubt in the characters minds (particularly Oedipus), and develop the constant sense of confusion, which enhances the adventure the audience is taken on to the eventual truth. The audience however, already know of Oedipus' fate/destiny, and that he long ago, unbeknownst to him, stumbled into it - Sophocles use Episode 2 to somewhat 'moisten the appetite' of the audience, creating suspense and thrill. This is a major theme in the sense that, with the help of Jocasta's panicking and continual reassurances, it ignites Oedipus' own suspicions about himself, starting his arduous downward spiral. Although the audience is well aware of Oedipus' fate,
Language Testing Practical Task
Language Testing Practical Task Question 1: The three files provided for this task contain information about a grammar test (the test itself, the answer key and a set of data from 100 students who sat the test). Using this information, write a review of the test. The review should contain: An analysis of the test items (at least item facility & discriminability) An estimate of the internal consistency of the test An analysis of the test and answer key from a qualitative perspective (supported by the information gathered in the item and test analyses) A short discussion of why some of the items are not operating as hoped for (or why they are operating as expected) A series of recommendations for the improvement of the test (1675 words) CONTENTS Page Introduction ..............................................................3 . Analysis of the test items................................................3 .1 Item Difficulty............................................................3 .2 Item Discriminability...................................................5 .3 Internal Consistency...................................................5 2. Why are some of the items not operating as hoped?.............6 3. An analysis of the test and answer key from a qualitative perspective............................................6 4.