SOLUCIÓN – Juan Pablo Arenas 11°2

TRADUCCIÓN

GREEK TRAGEDY

The Greek tragedy is a dramatic genre that emerged in Classical Antiquity. It consists of the
representation of a serious action (as opposed to comedy), whose gravity invites to release the
feelings of compassion and horror in the spectator. It is usually inspired by classical
mythology.

It is a genre that addresses issues such as the fatality of destiny, the sense of the tragic, the
human condition and the restoration of order. Added to the beauty and poetic depth of the
dialogues, these characteristics keep the Greek tragedy in force.

The origin of the Greek tragedy dates back to the 6th century BC. and it seems to be related
to religious practices. First, the sacrificial rituals of a male goat, from which comes the word
τραγῳδία (tragodia) –tragos means 'male goat', and ádein means 'ode'. Then, the dithyramb,
a poetic composition to the god Dionysus.

Initially, the songs of the dithyramb were performed by a choir. Over time, the chorus (lead
voice) began to dialogue with the chorus. Later, as the action and more characters increased,
the stage drama appeared and, with it, the specific form of the tragedy.

The arguments of the tragedy have influenced many writers and artists throughout history,
and have even transcended the theories of psychoanalysis. To understand it, let's get
acquainted with its main characteristics, as well as its most important representatives and
works.

Characteristics of the Greek tragedy

Address universal conflicts

The Greek tragedy deals with archetypal conflicts. This means that its themes are universal,
even if they are based on classical mythology. This universality is due to the fact that tragedy
reflects on human nature and the condition of its existence, interpreted in the sense of “the
tragic”.

For example, the conflict of human passions, destiny, power, betrayal, honor, error, etc.

Sense of "the tragic"

The Greek tragedy is based on the sense of "the tragic." This is understood as the tension that
arises between human actions and the conditions that determine their existence. Hence,
there is no tragedy in chance. There is only when the established order is challenged by
human action. Such defiance unleashes dire consequences and demands redress to restore
order.

For example, Agamemnon of Aeschylus. In this piece, a tragic mistake by Agamemnon has
cost the life of Iphigenia, and this unleashes the desire for revenge of her mother,
Clytemnestra.

Sense of the doom of fate

 Another fundamental element of the Greek tragedy is the fatality of destiny. Contrary to
popular belief, the doom of fate does not mean that characters always have a terrible ending.
It means that your destiny is inescapable, inevitable, regardless of what it is. Therefore,
destiny is related to the restoration of the primordial order.

Although a significant number of tragedies have a terrible outcome, there are some that are
resolved comfortably. Such is the case of Las Eumenides, where Orestes is freed from his guilt.

The hero is aware of the reasons for suffering

In Greek tragedy, the hero is usually aware of the reasons for the suffering he is going
through. The characters know that they have responsibility for their fate, and therefore are
capable of reflecting and accepting their fate.

As an example, we can refer to the work Antigone, by Sophocles. In it, Antigone is aware of
the causes of his suffering and the fate that awaits him.

The characters express their reflections

As the characters know themselves responsible for the suffering, their dialogues expose the
reasoning of their conscience. The characters elucidate about their motivations and human
limitations, and end up understanding the principles that govern life and nature.

This is the case, for example, in Sophocles' Oedipus the King, when Oedipus pronounces the
following words:

I do not know with what eyes I could look at my father when I reached the abode of Hades,
how I could also look at my unfortunate mother, for the crimes that I have committed against
them I would not atone or hang myself.

Citizen purpose

The Greek tragedy was directed at the citizens, for it had an edifying purpose. It transmitted
the universe of civic and religious values that unified the Greek polis. For example, the
tensions between tyranny and democracy, or between the will of the gods and human actions.
Thus, the Greek tragedy had a role in social construction.

This is the case of Sophocles' Antigone, who represents the opposition between the religious
order and the civic order.

Catharsis as an immediate purpose

According to Aristotle in his Poetics, the function of tragedy is catharsis. Catharsis is

understood as the liberation and relief of the feelings that the dramatic action provokes in the
viewer, moved by compassion and horror.

Chorus and characters

Among the elements of Greek tragedy are the characters and the chorus. The characters are
usually nobles, heroes and, to a lesser extent, gods, precisely because of their uplifting
character.

For its part, the choir has the function of spinning the story and sanctioning the actions of the
characters. Many times, through the choir we get to know the author's own ideas.
Structure of the Greek tragedy

As for the dramatic text, the Greek tragedy has the following form and structure:

• Prologue: it is a kind of summary that tells the background of the story.

• Párodos: it is the moment that the choir enters, thus initiating the dramatic action.

• Episodes: are the scenes themselves, where the dialogues of the characters take place.

• We are: they are the songs of the choir that, throughout the piece, appear to explain the
sequence of actions or to sanction the actions of the characters.

• Exodus: the exodus is the outcome of the dramatic conflict. It almost always represents the
hero's downfall, although on some occasions, the hero may find himself redeemed.

Main works of Greek tragedy

The most important authors of the Greek tragedy, those who have transcended to the
present, are:

• Aeschylus (ca. 525 - ca. 455 BC);

• Sophocles (496 - 406 BC);

• Euripides (ca. 484 - 406 BC).

The works of these writers have become true classics of literature and universal theater, due
to the validity of their arguments. Let's get to know some of the most important works.

Sophocles' Oedipus the King

Oedipus the King is perhaps Sophocles' best known work. It represents the conflict of
Oedipus, whom the oracle predicted that he would kill his father, Laius, and marry his mother,
Jocasta. Trying to avoid his fate, Laius tries to get rid of the boy, unaware that his actions only
ensure the fulfillment of the oracle.

This argument is the foundation of Freud's psychoanalytic theory, and is known as the
"Oedipus complex." Freud found in the work a symbolic model of the psychological tensions
between father and son, who compete for the mother's love.

Sophocles' Antigone

Antigone represents the contrast between the divine order and the civic order. Within this
question, part of its themes run through universal problems such as freedom of conscience
and the role of the State as guarantor of social order.

Antigone has decided to honor the body of his brother Polinices, killed in battle, despite the
fact that King Creon has denied her burial. While the king defies the command of the gods,
Antigone defies the authority of the civic order.

Agamemnon of Aeschylus

Agamemnon is the first work in the trilogy known as The Oresteia, focused on representing
the tension between justice and revenge. Such a question is part of the imperishable themes
of human existence.
 The conflict in this first piece arises when the King of Argos, Agamemnon, returns home after
fighting ten years in the Trojan War. His wife, Clytemnestra, has established an adulterous
relationship with Egistro, the king's cousin. Clytemnestra wishes to avenge the sacrifice of her
daughter Iphigenia, and Egistro wishes to ascend the throne. Therefore, the lovers conspire
and kill Agamemnon.

The choreographers of Aeschylus

Las coéforas is the second piece of the trilogy The Oresteia. It represents the revenge of the
children of Agamemnon, Orestes and Electra, after the murder perpetrated by Clytemnestra
and Egistro. Orestes kills Clitemnestra, who before dying she invokes the Erinyes or
Eumenides, goddesses of vengeance. They will start a persecution against Orestes.

The Eumenides of Aeschylus

In The Eumenides is the third piece of the trilogy The Oresteia. Orestes has to appear before
the court of the gods on the Areopagus. The jury deliberates whether the murder perpetrated
by Orestes is justified. Thanks to the mediation of Apollo and Athena, Orestes is found
innocent and is redeemed from his guilt.

Euripides' Medea

Medea, Jason's wife, is repudiated by the hero, who wishes to marry the daughter of Creon,
king of Corinth. Although the king orders Medea's immediate exile, he grants her a one-day
deadline. This will be the time necessary for Medea to execute her revenge against Jason,
killing the king's daughter, Creon, and her children. Medea flees in Helios' chariot.

In this work, the author highlights the conflicts typical of women as an individual against the
social order. The woman rebels against her condition that subordinates her to men, a
rebellion that will be expressed in her cruelest revenge.

Euripides' Trojans

The Trojans is a tragedy by Euripides that has transcended as a profound representation of the
consequences of war. He reflects on the human debasement that is revealed in the
relationship between winners and losers.

Euripides represents the last day of the destruction of Troy. The victors loot the city and the
women are bypassed. The cruel and unworthy actions of the victors are the preamble to
suffering terrible consequences.

GLOSARIO

1. Desagravio: Reparación o compensación de una ofensa o perjuicio.

2. Ineludible: Que no puede ser evitado.
3. Expiar: Sufrir un castigo por haber cometido una falta, delito o culpa.
4. Tiranía: Forma de gobierno en la que el gobernante tiene un poder total o absoluto,
no limitado por unas leyes, especialmente cuando lo obtiene por medios ilícitos, y
abusa de él.
5. Catarsis: Entre los antiguos griegos, purificación de las pasiones del ánimo
mediante las emociones que provoca la contemplación de una situación trágica.
6. Edificante: Que sirve de ejemplo para actuar bien o incita a la virtud.
7. Hilar: Convertir una fibra textil en hilo.
8. Prólogo: Escrito colocado al comienzo de una obra en el que se hacen comentarios
sobre la obra o su autor, o se introduce en su lectura; a menudo está realizado por una
persona distinta del autor.
9. Párodos: Se refiere a la sección de la obra que le sigue al prólogo, donde el coro entra
coreando o cantando versos (alternando estrofas y antiestrofas) que proveen el
trasfondo de los eventos de la obra.
10. Episodios: Suceso circunstancial, pasajero y de poca relevancia.
11. Estásimos: Se refiere a cada uno de los cantos de la antigua tragedia griega que
cantaba el coro entre episodios.
12. Éxodo: Marcha de un pueblo o de un grupo de gente del lugar en que estaban para
buscar otro lugar en que establecerse.
13. Redimir: Librar a alguien de una mala situación o dolor.
14. Trascendido: Exhalar olor vivo y penetrante.
15. Oráculo: Mensaje o respuesta que las pitonisas y sacerdotes daban en nombre de los
dioses a las consultas y peticiones que los fieles les formulaban.
16. Psicoanálisis: Teoría psicológica que concede una importancia decisiva a la
permanencia en el subconsciente de los impulsos instintivos reprimidos por la
conciencia.
17. Sepultura: Cavidad excavada en la tierra, construcción u otro lugar en que se entierra
uno o varios cadáveres.
18. Cívico: De la ciudadanía o de los ciudadanos o relacionado con ellos.
19. Imperecedero: Que es inmortal o eterno.
20. Confabular: Trate algo entre dos o más personas.
21. Perpetrar: Cometer, consumar un delito o culpa grave.
22. Tribunal: Conjunto de personas autorizadas que se reúnen para juzgar algo, como un
examen o una oposición.
23. Repudiar: Rechazar una cosa de forma taxativa o tajante, especialmente por motivos
morales.
24. Exilio: Acción o efecto de exiliar o exiliarse.
25. Conceder: Atribuir una cualidad o una condición a una persona o una cosa.
26. Subordina: Hacer que una persona o una cosa dependa de otra considerada más
importante.
27. Envilecer: Hacer vil y despreciable a una persona o una cosa.
28. Indignación: Sentimiento de intenso enfado que provoca un acto que se considera
injusto, ofensivo o perjudicial.
29. Preámbulo: Explicación o advertencia que se incluye antes de un discurso o al
comienzo de un escrito acerca de lo que se va a tratar.
30. Olivo: Árbol de tronco corto, grueso y torcido, corteza lisa de color gris, copa ancha y
ramosa, hojas perennes y opuestas, de color verde oscuro por el haz y gris plateado
por el envés, flores pequeñas, blancas y agrupadas en racimos y fruto (oliva o
aceituna) en forma de drupa carnosa y aceitosa de la que se extrae el aceite de oliva;
puede alcanzar hasta 10 m de altura.
31. Sedente: Que está sentado.
32. Fructífero: Que produce fruto.
33. Infecundo: Que no puede reproducirse por medios naturales.
34. Implorar: Pedir una cosa con gran humildad y sentimiento, tratando de provocar
compasión.
 35. Antaño: Indica un tiempo pasado indeterminado que queda lejano del presente.
36. Augurio: Señal o indicio que se interpreta como el anuncio de un hecho futuro.
37. Sumido: Poner a una persona o una cosa debajo del agua, de la tierra o en un lugar
hondo.
38. Frondoso: Que tiene gran cantidad de hojas y ramas.
39. Aflicción: Abatimiento y tristeza.
40. Soberano: Que se gobierna a sí mismo sin estar sometido políticamente a otro.
41. Mancilla: Mancha moral, perjuicio en la honra o el honor de una persona, familia o
linaje.
42. Regir: Dirigir un asunto o gobernar o administrar una organización.
43. Despavorido: Que siente gran pavor o miedo.
44. Rigor: Rigidez o firmeza en el trato o en el cumplimiento de ciertas normas.
45. Audacia: Capacidad para emprender acciones poco comunes sin temer las dificultades
o el riesgo que implican.
46. Congregar: Reunir a un conjunto de personas en un lugar atrayéndolas de algún modo
o con un fin determinado.
47. Preservar: Proteger o resguardar a alguien o algo, intentando conservar su estado, de
un daño o peligro.
48. Precipitar: Arrojar algo o a alguien desde un lugar alto.
49. Yacer: Estar echada, acostada o tendida una persona. Por extensión se aplica a
descansar, o dormir en esta posición, y a reposar o estar enterrado.
50. Peán: Canto de fiesta, de victoria o de guerra de la antigua Grecia.

TRADUCCIÓN

1. Redress: Reparation or compensation for an offense or injury.

2. Inescapable: That cannot be avoided.
3. Atone: Suffer a punishment for having committed a fault, crime or guilt.
4. Tyranny: Form of government in which the ruler has total or absolute power, not
limited by laws, especially when he obtains it through illegal means, and abuses it.
5. Catharsis: Among the ancient Greeks, purification of the passions of the mind through
the emotions caused by the contemplation of a tragic situation.
6. Edifying: That serves as an example to act well or encourages virtue.
7. Spinning: Converting a textile fiber into yarn.
8. Prologue: Writing placed at the beginning of a work in which comments are made
about the work or its author, or it is introduced in its reading; it is often done by
someone other than the author.
9. Párodos: Refers to the section of the work that follows the prologue, where the choir
enters chanting or singing verses (alternating stanzas and antiestrophies) that provide
the background for the events of the work.
10. Episodes: circumstantial, temporary and of little relevance.
11. Estásimos: It refers to each of the songs of ancient Greek tragedy that the chorus sang
between episodes.
12. Exodus: March of a town or a group of people from the place where they were to find
another place to settle.
13. Redeem: To rid someone of a bad situation or pain.
14. Transcended: Exhale sharp, sharp odor.
15. Oracle: Message or response that the fortune tellers and priests gave in the name of
the gods to the queries and requests that the faithful made.
16. Psychoanalysis: psychological theory that gives decisive importance to the
permanence in the subconscious of instinctual impulses repressed by consciousness.
17. Burial: A cavity dug in the ground, construction or other place where one or more
corpses are buried.
18. Civic: Of the citizenship or of the citizens or related to them.
19. Imperishable: That is immortal or eternal.
20. Collusion: Try something between two or more people.
21. Perpetrate: Committing, consummating a crime or serious guilt.
22. Court: A group of authorized persons who meet to judge something, such as an
examination or opposition.
23. Repudiate: Reject something in an exhaustive or categorical way, especially for moral
reasons.
24. Exile: Action or effect of exile or exile.
25. Grant: Attribute a quality or condition to a person or thing.
26. Subordinate: Make a person or a thing depend on another considered more
important.
27. Vile: Make a person or thing vile and despicable.
28. Outrage: Feeling of intense anger that provokes an act that is considered unfair,
offensive or harmful.
29. Preamble: Explanation or warning that is included before a speech or at the beginning
of a writing about what is going to be discussed.
30. Olive tree: Tree with a short, thick and crooked trunk, smooth gray bark, wide and
branchy crown, evergreen and opposite leaves, dark green on the upper side and silver
gray on the underside, small, white flowers grouped in bunches and fruit (olive or
olive) in the form of a fleshy and oily drupe from which the olive oil is extracted; it can
reach up to 10 m in height.
31. Sedente: Who is sitting.
32. Fruitful: That produces fruit.
33. Infecund: That it cannot reproduce by natural means.
34. Beg: Ask for something with great humility and feeling, trying to provoke compassion.
35. Old: Indicates an indeterminate past time that is far from the present.
36. Augury: Sign or indication that is interpreted as the announcement of a future event.
37. Submerged: Putting a person or thing under water, on the ground or in a deep place.
38. Leafy: Having a lot of leaves and branches.
39. Affliction: Dejection and sadness.
40. Sovereign: Who governs himself without being politically subject to another.
41. Stain: Moral stain, damage to the honor or honor of a person, family or lineage.
42. Governing: Directing an issue or governing or managing an organization.
43. Terrified: Who feels great dread or fear.
44. Rigor: Rigidity or firmness in dealing or in compliance with certain rules.
45. Audacity: Ability to take unusual actions without fear of the difficulties or risks
involved.
46. Congregate: Gather a group of people in a place attracting them in some way or with a
specific purpose.
47. Preserve: Protect or protect someone or something, trying to preserve its status, from
harm or danger.
48. Precipitate: Throw something or someone from a high place.
49. Lying: A person lying down, lying down or lying down. By extension it applies to
resting, or sleeping in this position, and to resting or being buried.
50. Peán: Song of celebration, victory or war of ancient Greece.