ANTIGONE(AN-TI-GAH-NEE)

Sophocles and Greek Tragedy

TRAGEDY IN GENERAL

Involves downfall of hero, usually ending with

his/her destruction or death (called?)

Intense emotion/horrible truth that leads to release

or “catharsis”

From Aristotle:• Arouses the emotions of pity and fear, wonder and awe• Explores the interactions of gods and mortals• Purifies the emotions

GREEK THEATER

Produced as part of religious festivals

Performed in outdoor theaters

No scene changes, simple plots, focused on one

day/setting/event

Violence took place off stage – audience told

through messengers

ACTORS AND CHORUS

All actors were men – wore masks w/megaphones and platform shoes

Chorus = Group of actors who moved/sang together – a “character” in

Greek plays.• Set the mood, summarize action, side w/certain characters, warn of disaster

Choragos – leader of the chorus

Prologue – explanation of background to set up the conflict of a story

Parodos – opening song

Strophe/ Antistrophe – group response to chorus leader (strophe right to

left, antistrophe left to right)

Ode – song from the chorus used to divide scenes, like a curtain

OTHER WORDS TO KNOW

Paean – thanksgiving to Dionysus

Exodos – final exiting scene

Catharsis – purging of emotion, usually pity or

fear (result of watching a tragedy – outcome for

audience)

Hubris – excessive pride or self-confidence

SOPHOCLES

Wrote during “Golden Age” of ancient Greece

496 BC – 406 BC: 90 years old at death = ancient

(pun intended…)

Only 7 of his 100 plays remain

Added third actor to cast of plays – previously

dramas included 2 actors and the Chorus

ANTIGONE

3rd of 3 plays about the Cadmus family (continuation of the

story of Oedipus)• Family curse for a crime committed against the gods • King and Queen leave baby in the mountains to avoid the

prophecy that the baby will kill his father and marry his mother (incest)

• Baby raised by king and queen of neighboring town (unbeknownst to the Cadmus family)

• As a man, the baby unknowingly kills the father, marries the mother, and has children --- doesn’t know the man he killed and the woman he married are his own father and mother.

ANTIGONE CONTINUED

• When mother finds out what they have done, she hangs herself. The son gouges out his own eyes and goes into exile, leaving his brother-in-law (mother’s brother) in charge of his children

• Leaves kingdom to his two sons who kill each other over power

• Brother-in-law becomes king, older brother receives burial ceremony, other younger brother does not (his soul will never rest).

• Sister buries younger brother against king’s orders (where play begins).

CADMUS FAMILY TREE

Laius (Father

)

Jocasta (Mothe

r)Oedip

us (Son)

Jocasta(Mothe

r)

Antigone (buries

Polyneices)

Ismene

Eteocles

(older)

Polyneices

(younger)

Creon (Brother)