Xavier University Exhibit
Honors Bachelor of Arts Undergraduate
2015-4 The Art of the Stage Machinist: A Dramatic Reconstruction of Aeschylus’ Linear Tragedy, Prometheus Bound Alexander J. Spindler Xavier University - Cincinnati
Follow this and additional works at: http://www.exhibit.xavier.edu/hab Part of the Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity Commons, Ancient Philosophy Commons, and the Classical Literature and Philology Commons
Recommended Citation Spindler, Alexander J., "The Art of the Stage Machinist: A Dramatic Reconstruction of Aeschylus’ Linear Tragedy, Prometheus Bound" (2015). Honors Bachelor of Arts. Paper 3. http://www.exhibit.xavier.edu/hab/3
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The Art of the Stage Machinist “A dramatic reconstruction of Aeschylus’ linear tragedy, Prometheus Bound”
By: Alex Spindler
Thesis submitted as partial fulfillment for the Honors Bachelor of Arts Degree
Director: Dr. Niamh O’Leary Readers: Drs. Rebecca Muich and Jo Ann Recker Course Director: Dr. Shannon Hogue
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION – “Aristotle’s Poetics ”……………………………………….... 3
CHAPTER 1 – “Physical Layout of the Theatron ”……………………………… 10
CHAPTER 2 – “Binding of Prometheus”…………………………………………13
CHAPTER 3 – “Chorus of Oceanids and Oceanus”……………………………... 38
CHAPTER 4 – “Enter Io”………………………………………………………... 53
CHAPTER 5 – “Hermes’ Arrival and the Descent into Hell”…………………… 62
CONCLUSION – “From Antiquity to Modernity”………………………………. 70
WORKS CITED ………………………………………………………………….. 76
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INTRODUCTION – “Aristotle’s Poetics ”
Aristotle’s Poetics, considered by experts to be the first extant work on dramatic theory, defines what constitutes a tragedy: στιν ο ν τραγ δία ί ησις πράξεως σπουδαίας
κα τελείας έγεθος χούσης (Aristotle, Poetics, 1449B, 23) / “Tragedy, then, is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude.” 1 Tragedy purposefully engages an audience and does not merely entertain. Its six inherent components include: