greek drama sophocles’ antigone. a review need to know: need to know: definition of drama...
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Where the word tragedy comes from Where the word tragedy comes from When did the play begin? When did the play begin? Who is Thespis? Who is Thespis? What are the two basic types of drama? What are the two basic types of drama?TRANSCRIPT
Greek DramaGreek DramaSophocles’ AntigoneSophocles’ Antigone
A reviewA review need to know: need to know: definition of dramadefinition of drama Basic structureBasic structure HistoryHistory
Drama originated from religious Drama originated from religious ceremoniesceremonies
Early Greek drama from religious Early Greek drama from religious ceremonies in honor of the god Dionysusceremonies in honor of the god Dionysus
Where the word tragedy comes fromWhere the word tragedy comes from When did the play begin?When did the play begin? Who is Thespis?Who is Thespis? What are the two basic types of What are the two basic types of
drama?drama?
A little more on Greek DramaA little more on Greek Drama 66thth Century BC: the songs sung by Century BC: the songs sung by
the chorus began to be acted out by the chorus began to be acted out by actorsactors
Annual spring festival of Dionysus-Annual spring festival of Dionysus-god of wine—playwrights competed god of wine—playwrights competed in a contest for the best tradegyin a contest for the best tradegy
Sophocles was a frequent winner of Sophocles was a frequent winner of thesethese
The Greek theaterThe Greek theater
The actorsThe actors Chorus: large group of men (about 50 Chorus: large group of men (about 50
total)total) Later this was reduced to about 12 menLater this was reduced to about 12 men The chorus was used to reflect, The chorus was used to reflect,
comment, tell the future, and voice comment, tell the future, and voice emotions of audienceemotions of audience
No more than three actors were usedNo more than three actors were used All menAll men
Actors con’tActors con’t Wore bigger than life size masksWore bigger than life size masks
Greek TragedyGreek Tragedy Tragedy showed what happened when Tragedy showed what happened when
people disobeyed the god’s lawspeople disobeyed the god’s laws The wrongs of people will be punished The wrongs of people will be punished
by Fateby Fate Story of the downfall of a good and Story of the downfall of a good and
noble person, who has a fatal flawnoble person, who has a fatal flaw Hubris or pride that unwittingly tempt Hubris or pride that unwittingly tempt
Fate and begins sufferingFate and begins suffering
Tragedies con’tTragedies con’t Based on Greek mythology that the Based on Greek mythology that the
audience knew so wellaudience knew so well Purpose of tragedy: to bring about a Purpose of tragedy: to bring about a
catharsis: a purification of the catharsis: a purification of the emotions so as to bring about emotions so as to bring about spritual renewal or release of tensionspritual renewal or release of tension
Classical UnitiesClassical Unities One plotOne plot One dayOne day One placeOne place
For Antigone: For Antigone: All in Thebes, no real subplots, all All in Thebes, no real subplots, all
one dayone day
Antigone by SophoclesAntigone by Sophocles Know the story of her father OedipusKnow the story of her father Oedipus He was born to the King and Queen He was born to the King and Queen
of Thebes and they were told that of Thebes and they were told that their son was destined to kill his their son was destined to kill his father and marry his mother. So father and marry his mother. So they abandoned him in the they abandoned him in the mountains. He was found and raised mountains. He was found and raised by another...by another...
Marries Jocasta and they have four Marries Jocasta and they have four children: Polynices, Eteocles, children: Polynices, Eteocles, Antigone, and IsmeneAntigone, and Ismene
When Oedipus finds out what he has When Oedipus finds out what he has done, he gouges out his eyes and done, he gouges out his eyes and Jocasta hangs herself.Jocasta hangs herself.
The deal with trading off each year for The deal with trading off each year for ruling Thebes b/w the two brothersruling Thebes b/w the two brothers
Eteocles won’t let Polynices have his Eteocles won’t let Polynices have his turn, they fight and kill each other.turn, they fight and kill each other.
In one day: Creon comes to power as In one day: Creon comes to power as King of Thebes, makes it a crime to King of Thebes, makes it a crime to bury Polynices, Antigone buries him, bury Polynices, Antigone buries him, she is sentenced to death, Haemon she is sentenced to death, Haemon goes to save her, she has hung goes to save her, she has hung herself, he kills himself, and then his herself, he kills himself, and then his mother also commits suicide.mother also commits suicide.
What to know for AntigoneWhat to know for Antigone Basic plotBasic plot The charactersThe characters Be able to identify the speaker of Be able to identify the speaker of
certain key passagescertain key passages
““Then in future I will not bid you help Then in future I will not bid you help me; nor henceforth, though you me; nor henceforth, though you desire, shall you, with my good will, desire, shall you, with my good will, share what I do. Be what seems share what I do. Be what seems right to you; him will I bury.”right to you; him will I bury.”
AntigoneAntigone
p. 3p. 3 ““Obedience is due to the state’s Obedience is due to the state’s
officer in small and great, just and officer in small and great, just and unjust commandments;”unjust commandments;”
CreonCreon
p. 26p. 26 ““Do not persist, thenm, to retain at heart Do not persist, thenm, to retain at heart
one sole idea, that the thing is right which one sole idea, that the thing is right which your mouth utters, and nought else your mouth utters, and nought else beside. For all men who believe beside. For all men who believe themselves alone wise, or that they themselves alone wise, or that they possess a soul or speech such as non possess a soul or speech such as non other, turn them inside out, they are found other, turn them inside out, they are found empty; and though a man be sie, it is no empty; and though a man be sie, it is no shame for him to live and learn”shame for him to live and learn”
HaemonHaemon
p. 27p. 27 ““And be thou sure of this: thou shalt And be thou sure of this: thou shalt
not tell many more turns of the sun’s not tell many more turns of the sun’s chariot wheel, ere thou shalt render chariot wheel, ere thou shalt render satisfaction, one from they own loins satisfaction, one from they own loins in payment, dead for dead, for that in payment, dead for dead, for that thou hast made Life join hands with thou hast made Life join hands with Death and sent a living soul Death and sent a living soul unworthily to dwell within a tomb”unworthily to dwell within a tomb”
TiresiasTiresias
p. 40p. 40 ““What, would you bury him? Against What, would you bury him? Against
the proclamation?”the proclamation?”
You are mad! When Creon has You are mad! When Creon has forbidden it?”forbidden it?”
IsmeneIsmene
p. 2p. 2 ““Wisdom first for a man’s well-beingWisdom first for a man’s well-being Maketh, of all things.Maketh, of all things. Heaven’s insistence nothing allows of Heaven’s insistence nothing allows of
man’s irreverence;man’s irreverence; And great blows great speeches And great blows great speeches
avenging, dealt on a boaster, teach avenging, dealt on a boaster, teach men wisdom in age, at last.”men wisdom in age, at last.”
ChorusChorus