The Aristotelian tradition, defined tragedy as a drama which concerns better than average people (heroes, kings, gods) who suffer a transition from good fortune to bad fortune, and who speak in an elevated language.

Comedy concerns average, or below average, people who enjoy a transition from bad circumstances too good (but not too good) and who speak everyday language.

In fifth-century BC Athens there were no regular theatrical performances. Instead, plays were performed at two great festivals held in honour of Dionysus.

There were many strange legends about Dionysus. He was the son of Zeus, but by Semele, with whom Zeus had an affair, not by his wife Hera. Hera had Semele killed by a thunderbolt, but Zeus rescued her unborn child and hid him in his thigh, from which he was eventually born.

Dionysus was especially associated with fertility, both of humans and crops. The Athenian people believed that every year, at the end of March, Dionysus brought spring back to the countryside, passing through the farms and fields of Athens, blessing the growing crops so that the harvest would be fruitful.

Since there were limitations on the number of plays, which could be presented, poets often had to submit to a selection process. They would each submit their play to the Archon, one of the nine chief magistrates of Athens.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Dionysus Seats, City Dionysia, Athens Archon, Aulis Discuss, Trojan Women, Aeschylus Sophocles, Sophocles Euripides, March Dionysus, Protagoras Euripides, Athens Aristotelian, allowed actors, euripides left athens, trojan women, wrote plays, city dionysia, aeschylus sophocles, festival held, male female, concerns average, average people, front row, festival city dionysia,
Approximate Word count = 2431
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)