Senecen (Greek) Tragedy is very different from Roman Tragedy. These types of tragedies are not meant to be performed. The Greeks, really didn't have drama or plays. They preferred Colosseum-type entertainment (such as gladiators). In Greek dramas, there is no humanity. Readers cannot identify to any character, and they do not learn anything by the end of the play. It is pretty much pointless.
Thyestes is the last tragedy that we have to read this semester. It is actually the most violent and most gruesome drama every created by an ancient playwright. It is a critic of Nero's reign. Nero is supposed to be Atreus, and Seneca is Nero's advisor in the play. (Seneca put himself into the play.)
In the House of Atreus, there is a history of repeat canabalism and insest. A really gross part was when Pelops was cut up by Tantalus, his father, and fed to the gods. All of the gods knew what was going on, except Thetis, Achilles' mother, who actually ate his shoulder. (Sick!) The gods then pieced him back together. Every part is accounted for, except for his shoulder, so they made him a new shoulder out of ivory. (This shoulder is the equivalent to Achilles' heel.)
This was a crazy story to read. It was greusome, pointless, and violent. Who cuts up theirr own child just because they want to trick the gods? The only one who is fooled is Thetis.... but luckily she only ate the shoulder. I am very glad we didn't have to read very many of these types of tragedies. It is good literature, but bad at the same time.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
The Song of Roland
This is a poem telling the story of the betrayal by Ganelon towards Roland by selling him out to the pagans. The man's only request: he gets to kill Roland. This guy comes up with a plan to split Charlemagne's army up, half would go through the mountain pass towards home, and the other half would stay. In reality, only Roland and 11 other barons stay with 20,000 men fighting under them.
When they realize they are against an army with over 200,000 men, they really only need to kill the other 12 leaders from the opposing army. Once a leader is killed, there is no need for his followers to stay and fight. (There is 20,000 followers per leader) So after killing off 10 out of 12 leaders, Roland's group of 20,000 is now only facing 40,000 people. Not as bad of odds.
The way these people fought in these days was by jousting to the death. (What a weird way to battle!) The leaders joust it out with others just standing around watching!
Now the story itself is cut into three main pieces. The first part is Ganelon's treason. He betrays Charlemagne by setting up the plan to split up the army. He sells out Roland to the opposing army only for the pormised price that he alone gets to kill Roland.
The second piece is the battle itself. This is where Roland's army kicks the opposing army's ass. Each leader from the opposing army was killed off, one by one, by Roland's leaders. They fought by jousting. The most gruesome death is in section 109. This is where Roland kills Chernubles.
The last part of the poem's story is Roland's death. We haven't read that section yet, but it is supposed to be the most climatic part of the poem. In section 110, Roland's death is actually fortold. (One thing that was crazy was the unexplained solar eclipse and a storm with an earthquake at high noon.)
This poem is actually Christian allegory. Charlemagne is supposed to be Christ. Ganelon is Judas. Roland is Peter. Charlemagne is like Jesus by leaving the fighting group and coming back later with vengance. Ganelon is like Judas because he betrays Charlemagne by selling him out to the pagans. (Just like Judas sold out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.) Roland is like Peter because he denies calling Charlemagne back to fight three times. (The only difference, is Peter denied Jesus because of shame and fear, Roland denies Charlemagne out of honor.)
When they realize they are against an army with over 200,000 men, they really only need to kill the other 12 leaders from the opposing army. Once a leader is killed, there is no need for his followers to stay and fight. (There is 20,000 followers per leader) So after killing off 10 out of 12 leaders, Roland's group of 20,000 is now only facing 40,000 people. Not as bad of odds.
The way these people fought in these days was by jousting to the death. (What a weird way to battle!) The leaders joust it out with others just standing around watching!
Now the story itself is cut into three main pieces. The first part is Ganelon's treason. He betrays Charlemagne by setting up the plan to split up the army. He sells out Roland to the opposing army only for the pormised price that he alone gets to kill Roland.
The second piece is the battle itself. This is where Roland's army kicks the opposing army's ass. Each leader from the opposing army was killed off, one by one, by Roland's leaders. They fought by jousting. The most gruesome death is in section 109. This is where Roland kills Chernubles.
The last part of the poem's story is Roland's death. We haven't read that section yet, but it is supposed to be the most climatic part of the poem. In section 110, Roland's death is actually fortold. (One thing that was crazy was the unexplained solar eclipse and a storm with an earthquake at high noon.)
This poem is actually Christian allegory. Charlemagne is supposed to be Christ. Ganelon is Judas. Roland is Peter. Charlemagne is like Jesus by leaving the fighting group and coming back later with vengance. Ganelon is like Judas because he betrays Charlemagne by selling him out to the pagans. (Just like Judas sold out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.) Roland is like Peter because he denies calling Charlemagne back to fight three times. (The only difference, is Peter denied Jesus because of shame and fear, Roland denies Charlemagne out of honor.)
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