TED-ED: The battle of the Greek tragedies - Melanie Sirof

The video takes us to ancient Greece, where a dramatic festival unfolds. Thespis steps out as the first actor, revolutionizing theater. Aeschylus builds on this by adding a second actor, while Sophocles introduces a third in his play Oedipus Rex. Despite these innovations, Philocles wins the competition. The festival showcases the evolution of tragedy and its lasting impact on modern theater.

What significant event is taking place on the final day of the dramatic battle?

Who are the two main playwrights competing in the dramatic battle?

What innovation did Aeschylus introduce in his play?

How did Sophocles's approach to theater differ from that of Aeschylus?

What tragic fate befalls Oedipus in the play?

What was the outcome of the competition at the end of the event?

What does the term 'catharsis' refer to in the context of Greek tragedy?