Story Structure in Ancient Times

Nothing just springs into existence, one thing is caused by another and so on and so forth, so when we think of stories this should become more evident because stories are engraved into us, they are always around us and illuminate everything that has come before us. When following the breadcrumbs back, we could go to Samaria, we could examine the stationary cave painting, but the Greek stage doesn’t just provide detailed plays with amphitheaters full of people. It always provided an insight as to how these plays came about. Going back further in history, survival was the main object, so stories took on a more informational nature, telling people about the gods that sustain them, telling them how to kill animals, telling them how to survive. As time went on we got better at this, trying and failing, empires rising and falling, setting the Greek stages with tragedy and comedy for the common people. Early beginnings of wide spread entertainment, but it was tailored towards the values of Greek society.

The idea of catharsis is big in Greek theater, this process of experiencing and pruning of intense emotion leading to a sense of renewal. Entering the world anew, so you could be more moral and understand the world around you with new eyes.

This goal makes a lot of sense when you examine Greek society and more specifically their emphasis on knowledge and wisdom. When ancient philosophy is mentioned most names that come up are Greek philosophers, Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, Diogenes rolling down Greek streets in his barrel. Their…