AntigoneAntigoneby Sophoclesby Sophocles

Introduction Introduction PreAP English 2PreAP English 2

DirectionsDirectionsWe will learn important background We will learn important background

information before reading the play information before reading the play Antigone.Antigone.

Take notes! Take notes!

History History Drama began in ancient Drama began in ancient GreeceGreece with a with a

religious ceremony called a religious ceremony called a DithyrambDithyramb, , during which masked men danced, sang during which masked men danced, sang songs, and rejoiced in the harvest.songs, and rejoiced in the harvest.

The songs told stories of the god The songs told stories of the god Dionysus, the god of Spring, agriculture, Dionysus, the god of Spring, agriculture, wine, and natural fertility.wine, and natural fertility.

He became the patron godHe became the patron godof the Greek stage. of the Greek stage.

HistoryHistory In ancient Greek In ancient Greek

drama, a drama, a choruschorus was was a group of actors who a group of actors who recited or sang in recited or sang in verse. verse.

The leader of the The leader of the chorus was calledchorus was calledchoragos. choragos.

HistoryHistory In 534 B.C., a poet named In 534 B.C., a poet named Thespis Thespis

created a character who was created a character who was separate from the chorus of singers. separate from the chorus of singers. This was the first This was the first actoractor. .

HistoryHistoryThe great poet The great poet AeschylusAeschylus (525-456 (525-456

B.C.) added a second B.C.) added a second actoractor, which , which led to more interesting dialogue and led to more interesting dialogue and conflict on stage. conflict on stage.

HistoryHistorySophoclesSophocles (496-406 B.C.) added a (496-406 B.C.) added a

third third actoractor, and the chorus became , and the chorus became more of a background narrator. more of a background narrator.

HistoryHistory In Ancient Greece, the In Ancient Greece, the

chorus explained the chorus explained the action, asked questions, or action, asked questions, or expressed opinions to expressed opinions to increase the audience's increase the audience's understanding of the play. understanding of the play.

The chorus often linked The chorus often linked the scenes of the drama the scenes of the drama and was performed to the and was performed to the accompaniment of musical accompaniment of musical instruments and with instruments and with dance movements. dance movements.

HistoryHistoryThe Chorus was most likely a survivor The Chorus was most likely a survivor

from the original rituals of the from the original rituals of the Dithyramb. Dithyramb.

During Sophocles’ time, the chorus During Sophocles’ time, the chorus also played a number of roles, such as also played a number of roles, such as a city crowd. a city crowd.

For Sophocles, the chorus was an For Sophocles, the chorus was an Athenian Athenian “everyman“everyman,” representing ,” representing the average citizen of Athens. the average citizen of Athens.

Chorus in Today’s TheaterChorus in Today’s Theater In contemporary theater, musicals In contemporary theater, musicals

often have a chorus that sings or often have a chorus that sings or dances. dances.

Chorus in Today’s TheaterChorus in Today’s Theater

The Lion KingThe Lion KingHerculesHerculesChicagoChicago

HistoryHistoryThe Greeks The Greeks

watched plays in watched plays in large outdoor large outdoor amphitheatersamphitheaters. .

The seats rose in The seats rose in a semicircle a semicircle around the around the ground-level ground-level stage. stage.

HistoryHistoryPainted scenery could be hung in the Painted scenery could be hung in the

back. back. The actors wore large masks that The actors wore large masks that

helped the audience members – even helped the audience members – even those in the back – identify the those in the back – identify the characters. characters.

The The masksmasks also helped amplify their also helped amplify their voices for the audience. voices for the audience.

HistoryHistoryGreek drama focused on myths with Greek drama focused on myths with

which the audience was familiar. which the audience was familiar.

Important TermsImportant TermsA A tragedytragedy is about the fall of a great is about the fall of a great

man or woman (though, in Ancient man or woman (though, in Ancient Greece, her part would have been Greece, her part would have been acted by a man). acted by a man).

The protagonist of a tragedyThe protagonist of a tragedyis the is the tragic hero. tragic hero.

Important TermsImportant TermsA A tragic hero tragic hero possesses the following possesses the following

traits: traits: Noble birth Noble birth Great or virtuous Great or virtuous Destined for defeat, failure, death Destined for defeat, failure, death Possesses a tragic flaw that leads to his or Possesses a tragic flaw that leads to his or

her downfall her downfall Intelligent, and therefore aware of (or Intelligent, and therefore aware of (or

learns) the consequences of his or her learns) the consequences of his or her actions actions

Important TermsImportant Terms A tragic hero is destroyed by his or A tragic hero is destroyed by his or

her her hamartiahamartia – a tragic flaw within – a tragic flaw within his or her own character. his or her own character.

The tragic hero’s flaw is The tragic hero’s flaw is often often hubris, hubris, or or excessive pride.excessive pride.

Important TermsImportant TermsFate Fate is central is central

to Greek Drama. to Greek Drama. Fate is the force Fate is the force that will ensure that will ensure the tragic the tragic downfall. Fate is downfall. Fate is the force beyond the force beyond the tragic hero’s the tragic hero’s control. control.

Common ThemesCommon ThemesHuman excess (pride, passion) Human excess (pride, passion) The limitations of human knowledge, The limitations of human knowledge,

sympathy, and foresight sympathy, and foresight All decisions involve living with the All decisions involve living with the

unforeseen consequencesunforeseen consequences

Dramatic StructureDramatic Structure Ancient Greek playwrites followed a format: Ancient Greek playwrites followed a format: Prologue: Prologue: presents background on the presents background on the

conflict conflict Parodos: Parodos: opening song, followed by the opening song, followed by the

first scene first scene Odes: Odes: additional songs, followed by more additional songs, followed by more

scenes. scenes. Paean: Paean: thanksgiving to Dionysosthanksgiving to Dionysos Exodos: Exodos: the final scene the final scene

Dramatic StructureDramatic Structure The Chorus performed the songs, while the The Chorus performed the songs, while the

actors performed the scenes. Odes typically actors performed the scenes. Odes typically followed this structure: followed this structure:

During the During the strophestrophe (the first part of the ode), (the first part of the ode), the chorus would move / dance from right to the chorus would move / dance from right to left. left.

They moved in the opposite direction during the They moved in the opposite direction during the antistropheantistrophe, a verse answering the , a verse answering the strophestrophe. .

Sometimes the ode ended with an Sometimes the ode ended with an epode, epode, an an added song. added song.

Dramatic StructureDramatic StructureThe Chorus helped divide the play The Chorus helped divide the play

into scenes, as the Greek stage did into scenes, as the Greek stage did not have curtains or lighting. not have curtains or lighting.

Background to Background to AntigoneAntigoneTo understand this play, you must To understand this play, you must

know the know the myth of Oedipus..

Oedipus: Dysfunctional Oedipus: Dysfunctional Family DeluxeFamily Deluxe

Laius and Jocasta, the king and queen of Laius and Jocasta, the king and queen of Thebes, desperately wanted a child to be their Thebes, desperately wanted a child to be their heir.heir.

The Oracle at Delphi told Laius he would have a The Oracle at Delphi told Laius he would have a son, but the son would kill him.son, but the son would kill him.

When his son was born, Laius ordered a servant When his son was born, Laius ordered a servant to nail the baby to a mountain and leave him to nail the baby to a mountain and leave him there to die.there to die.

Instead, the servant gave the boy to a Instead, the servant gave the boy to a shepherd, who turned over the baby to the king shepherd, who turned over the baby to the king of Corinth, Polybus.of Corinth, Polybus.

OedipusOedipus When the baby, Oedipus, grew up, he also sought advice When the baby, Oedipus, grew up, he also sought advice

from the oracle. He was told to avoid his homeland from the oracle. He was told to avoid his homeland because he might be a danger to his family.because he might be a danger to his family.

Oedipus, not wanting to hurt Polybus, decides to leave Oedipus, not wanting to hurt Polybus, decides to leave home forever and travels down the road toward Thebes.home forever and travels down the road toward Thebes.

Meanwhile, a plague has attacked the city of Thebes and Meanwhile, a plague has attacked the city of Thebes and a Sphinx (woman’s head and lioness’s body) is wreaking a Sphinx (woman’s head and lioness’s body) is wreaking havoc on the people. The only way to end the plague is havoc on the people. The only way to end the plague is to answer the Sphinx’s riddle so the curse is lifted. Laius to answer the Sphinx’s riddle so the curse is lifted. Laius is traveling toward to oracle to seek help and encounters is traveling toward to oracle to seek help and encounters Oedipus at the crossroads. The fight over who has the Oedipus at the crossroads. The fight over who has the right of way, and Oedipus kills Laius.right of way, and Oedipus kills Laius.

OedipusOedipusBack in Thebes, they’ve heard that Back in Thebes, they’ve heard that

Laius is dead and the people are Laius is dead and the people are panicking about finding a proper panicking about finding a proper ruler since there is no heir. Creon, ruler since there is no heir. Creon, Jocasta’s brother, offers up the Jocasta’s brother, offers up the queen’s hand to the first person who queen’s hand to the first person who can solve the riddle of the Sphinx.can solve the riddle of the Sphinx.

OedipusOedipus Guess who shows up in Thebes? That’s right Guess who shows up in Thebes? That’s right

– Oedipus arrives in what is a “foreign” city – Oedipus arrives in what is a “foreign” city to him (but really his homeland), and right to him (but really his homeland), and right away, he is able to answer the riddle. (What away, he is able to answer the riddle. (What animal walks on four feet in the morning, animal walks on four feet in the morning, two feet in the afternoon, and three feet in two feet in the afternoon, and three feet in the evening? The answer: a human crawls the evening? The answer: a human crawls on all fours at the beginning of its life, walks on all fours at the beginning of its life, walks upright on two feet as an adult, and uses a upright on two feet as an adult, and uses a cane during the twilight years.)cane during the twilight years.)

OedipusOedipus Oedipus marries Jocasta (not realizing that Oedipus marries Jocasta (not realizing that

she is his mother!!!) and they have four she is his mother!!!) and they have four children: Polyneices, Eteocles, Ismene, and children: Polyneices, Eteocles, Ismene, and Antigone.Antigone.

The plague continued to ravage Thebes, The plague continued to ravage Thebes, though, so much time and effort was spent though, so much time and effort was spent trying to find out what they might have done trying to find out what they might have done to anger the gods. King Polybus, old and to anger the gods. King Polybus, old and dying, sends a messenger to Thebes asking dying, sends a messenger to Thebes asking his “son” to come and visit. Oedipus refuses, his “son” to come and visit. Oedipus refuses, remembering the words of the Oracle. remembering the words of the Oracle.

OedipusOedipusThe messenger is the same man who The messenger is the same man who

gave the baby to Polybus years ago, so gave the baby to Polybus years ago, so he finally reveals the truth to Oedipus. he finally reveals the truth to Oedipus.

Jocasta is ashamed and kills herself. Jocasta is ashamed and kills herself. Oedipus gouges out his eyes and Oedipus gouges out his eyes and roams the earth until the gods take roams the earth until the gods take pity on him and sweep him away from pity on him and sweep him away from the earthly life. (Note: Antigone the earthly life. (Note: Antigone travels with him.) travels with him.)

At the beginning of the At the beginning of the AntigoneAntigone……

Polyneices and Eteocles, both Polyneices and Eteocles, both sons of Oedipus, decided to sons of Oedipus, decided to share the throne. Eteocles share the throne. Eteocles would rule for one year, and would rule for one year, and then Polyneices, etc.then Polyneices, etc.

After one year, Eteocles After one year, Eteocles refused to give up the throne refused to give up the throne to Polyneices. They fight and to Polyneices. They fight and kill one another. kill one another.

Creon, their uncle, is now king.Creon, their uncle, is now king. Creon decides that Eteocles Creon decides that Eteocles

will receive a proper burial, will receive a proper burial, but Polyneices is treated as an but Polyneices is treated as an enemy of Thebes. He will not enemy of Thebes. He will not be buried. be buried.

AntigoneAntigone: Characters: Characters AntigoneAntigone Ismene, Antigone’s sisterIsmene, Antigone’s sister King Creon, Antigone’s uncleKing Creon, Antigone’s uncle Queen Eurydice, Antigone’s auntQueen Eurydice, Antigone’s aunt Polyneices, Antigone’s brotherPolyneices, Antigone’s brother Eteocles, Antigone’s brother Eteocles, Antigone’s brother Haimon, Antigone’s fiance and cousinHaimon, Antigone’s fiance and cousin Teiresias, a blind prophet Teiresias, a blind prophet Chorus Chorus