Classical Tragedy, Classical Tragedy, Universal Themes: Universal Themes:

Sophocles’ Sophocles’ AntigoneAntigone

Geller’s Wonderful World Lit Geller’s Wonderful World Lit ClassClass

Spring 2014Spring 2014

Who Was Sophocles?Who Was Sophocles? Lived from approximately Lived from approximately

496-406 B.C.E. near Athens, 496-406 B.C.E. near Athens, GreeceGreece

Son of a wealthy merchantSon of a wealthy merchant One of the three great One of the three great

ancient Greek tragedians ancient Greek tragedians whose work has survived, whose work has survived, along with Aeschylus and along with Aeschylus and EuripedesEuripedes

Wrote 120 plays; only seven Wrote 120 plays; only seven have survived in their have survived in their entiretyentirety

Best known for Best known for Antigone, Antigone, Oedipus at Colonus, Oedipus at Colonus, and and Oedipus the KingOedipus the King

Background InformationBackground Information Prophesied at Oedipus’s birth that he would Prophesied at Oedipus’s birth that he would

someday kill his father and marry his mothersomeday kill his father and marry his mother To avoid this, he was left on a hillside to dieTo avoid this, he was left on a hillside to die Found and taken care of by shepherds, eventually Found and taken care of by shepherds, eventually

taken in by king and queen of Corinthtaken in by king and queen of Corinth They never told him he was adopted; EXTREMELY They never told him he was adopted; EXTREMELY

long story short, the prophesy came truelong story short, the prophesy came true Jocasta (his wife/mother) commited suicide; Jocasta (his wife/mother) commited suicide;

Oedipus blinded himselfOedipus blinded himself Oedipus asked Jocasta’s brother Creon to care for Oedipus asked Jocasta’s brother Creon to care for

his four children: two boys, Eteocles and his four children: two boys, Eteocles and Polynices, and two girls, Ismene and AntigonePolynices, and two girls, Ismene and Antigone

More Background InformationMore Background Information Eteocles and Polynices agreed to take Eteocles and Polynices agreed to take

turns ruling the kingdom of Thebes, but turns ruling the kingdom of Thebes, but they hated each other and were in they hated each other and were in constant competitionconstant competition

When it was Eteocles’ turn to rule, When it was Eteocles’ turn to rule, Polynices and his father-in-law prepared Polynices and his father-in-law prepared an attack on the seven gates of the cityan attack on the seven gates of the city

The brothers killed each other and Creon The brothers killed each other and Creon seized powerseized power

Eteocles was given a proper burial but Eteocles was given a proper burial but Creon passed a law forbidding anyone to Creon passed a law forbidding anyone to bury the traitor, Polynices.bury the traitor, Polynices.

Important to Note…Important to Note…

The ancient Greeks believed that The ancient Greeks believed that denying a proper burial was an denying a proper burial was an insult to human dignity and doomed insult to human dignity and doomed the deceased’s soul to wander for the deceased’s soul to wander for eternity, never to rest.eternity, never to rest.

As the play begins…As the play begins…

Antigone is telling her sister Ismene Antigone is telling her sister Ismene about her plans to give Polynices a about her plans to give Polynices a proper burial.proper burial.

Themes to think about…Themes to think about…

The causes and effects of shame and The causes and effects of shame and guiltguilt

Loyalty—to family, friends, and Loyalty—to family, friends, and countrycountry

Justice Justice and the law: divine/moral vs. and the law: divine/moral vs. civilcivil

Traditions and ideas surrounding Traditions and ideas surrounding death in different culturesdeath in different cultures

Elements of Classical TragedyElements of Classical Tragedy

The Greek philosopher Aristotle The Greek philosopher Aristotle defined tragedy as “the imitation of defined tragedy as “the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in having magnitude, complete in itself.” Tragedy typically includes itself.” Tragedy typically includes “incidents arousing pity and fear, “incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish the wherewith to accomplish the catharsis of such emotions.” catharsis of such emotions.”

Elements of Classical TragedyElements of Classical Tragedy Tragic Hero/Heroine as Tragic Hero/Heroine as

protagonistprotagonist Usually upper classUsually upper class Fundamentally good or Fundamentally good or

at least well-intentionedat least well-intentioned Exhibits Exhibits hamartia: hamartia: the the

tragic flawtragic flaw HubrisHubris: excessive : excessive

pridepride Âte: Âte: rashness, rashness,

excessive impulsivityexcessive impulsivity Experiences a reversal Experiences a reversal

or downfallor downfall

Chorus: a group of Chorus: a group of singers (in singers (in Antigone, Antigone, the the citizens of Thebes) who citizens of Thebes) who comment on the action comment on the action Chorus leader: Chorus leader: choragoschoragos Songs: Songs: ParadosParados (1 (1stst

song), song), OdesOdes.. Unity of time, space, Unity of time, space,

and actionand action Often occurs in a single Often occurs in a single

dayday One locationOne location One plot (no subplots)One plot (no subplots)

The Necropolis (literally, “city of the The Necropolis (literally, “city of the dead”) at Thebesdead”) at Thebes

Characters: AntigoneCharacters: Antigone

Ant-IG-uh-neeAnt-IG-uh-nee Daughter of Daughter of

Oedipus and Oedipus and Jocasta (Creon’s Jocasta (Creon’s sister)sister)

Wants to give her Wants to give her brother Polyneices brother Polyneices (polly-NEE-sees) a (polly-NEE-sees) a proper burialproper burial

Characters: IsmeneCharacters: Ismene

Izz-meanieIzz-meanie Antigone’s sisterAntigone’s sister Wants to abide by Wants to abide by

Creon’s decree and Creon’s decree and leave Polynieces’ leave Polynieces’ body exposedbody exposed

Characters: King CreonCharacters: King Creon

KREE-onKREE-on Became king after Became king after

Polyneices and Polyneices and Eteocles (eat-EE-oh-Eteocles (eat-EE-oh-klees) killed each klees) killed each other in battleother in battle

Decrees that Decrees that Polyneices will not be Polyneices will not be buried—under penalty buried—under penalty of death by public of death by public stoning!stoning!

Characters: EurydiceCharacters: Eurydice

Your-ID-uh-seeYour-ID-uh-see Creon’s wifeCreon’s wife Lost her son Lost her son

Megareus in the Megareus in the battle of Thebesbattle of Thebes

Characters: HaimonCharacters: Haimon

HI-monHI-mon Son of Creon and Son of Creon and

EurydiceEurydice Antigone’s fianceAntigone’s fiance

Characters: TeiresiasCharacters: Teiresias

Tie-REES-ee-uhsTie-REES-ee-uhs A blind prophetA blind prophet

Characters: The ChorusCharacters: The Chorus

Chorus leader=CHORAGOSChorus leader=CHORAGOS

Intro to Antigone VideoIntro to Antigone Video

In the margins of your note sheet, jot In the margins of your note sheet, jot down at least five additional facts down at least five additional facts from the video.from the video.

Make a PredictionMake a Prediction

As the play opens, Antigone is As the play opens, Antigone is planning to bury her brother even planning to bury her brother even though King Creon expressly forbade though King Creon expressly forbade it. What do you think will happen? it. What do you think will happen?