Antigone & Greek Antigone & Greek Drama NotesDrama Notes

Purpose of Greek DramaPurpose of Greek Drama

Presented at annual religious festivals, honoring Presented at annual religious festivals, honoring Dionysus (god of wine and fertility) Dionysus (god of wine and fertility)

Purpose was to ensure ethical and moral Purpose was to ensure ethical and moral improvement of spectator and to ensure spiritual improvement of spectator and to ensure spiritual survival of community survival of community

Mechanics of Greek DramaMechanics of Greek Drama Actors all maleActors all male Wore masks, robes and elevated shoesWore masks, robes and elevated shoes Scenes were always outdoors; indoor actions Scenes were always outdoors; indoor actions

were reported by messengerswere reported by messengers No violence on stageNo violence on stage Unity in plot—no subplots or irrelevanciesUnity in plot—no subplots or irrelevancies Action always took place in one dayAction always took place in one day Stories/Legends well-known to AtheniansStories/Legends well-known to Athenians Told in trilogy formatTold in trilogy format No curtains or intermissions No curtains or intermissions

CHORUS IN GREEK DRAMACHORUS IN GREEK DRAMA The function of the chorus (group of The function of the chorus (group of

15) was to :15) was to : interpret eventsinterpret events relieve the tensionrelieve the tension generalize meaning of the actiongeneralize meaning of the action converse with and give advice to converse with and give advice to

the actorsthe actors give background informationgive background information Represented response of ordinary Represented response of ordinary

ppl to tragic events in playppl to tragic events in play Leader (Leader (choragoschoragos) acted as ) acted as

spokesman for the groupspokesman for the group

Why Tragedy? Why Tragedy?

“ “ Out of great tragedy comes wisdom” Out of great tragedy comes wisdom” Arouses emotions of pity, fear, wonder, Arouses emotions of pity, fear, wonder,

and awe.and awe. Tragic her must be a man or woman Tragic her must be a man or woman

capable of great suffering.capable of great suffering. Tragedy explores the question of the ways Tragedy explores the question of the ways

of God to man.of God to man. Tragedy purifies the emotions (catharsis).Tragedy purifies the emotions (catharsis). Tragedy shows how man or woman is Tragedy shows how man or woman is

brought to disaster by a single flaw in his brought to disaster by a single flaw in his or her own character.or her own character.

Antigone Antigone andand Greek Theatre Greek Theatre Terms Terms

prologueprologue – opening scene (introduction) – opening scene (introduction)

paradosparados—opening song; chorus marching in from —opening song; chorus marching in from left or rightleft or right

scenescene—division of play; no acts—division of play; no acts

odeode—song dividing scenes sung by chorus which —song dividing scenes sung by chorus which develops importance of the action; similar to develops importance of the action; similar to modern-day curtainmodern-day curtain

paeanpaean—part of play giving thanks to Dionysus—part of play giving thanks to Dionysus

exodusexodus—final scene of play—final scene of play

Terms Cont. Terms Cont.

skeneskene—wooden building with three doors through —wooden building with three doors through which actors made their entrances and exitswhich actors made their entrances and exits

orchestraorchestra—dancing place of the chorus—dancing place of the chorus thymelethymele—altar to Dionysus on which sacrifices —altar to Dionysus on which sacrifices

were madewere made prosceniumproscenium—level area in front of skene on which —level area in front of skene on which

most the the action took placemost the the action took place strophestrophe—a turning, right to left, by chorus—a turning, right to left, by chorus antistropheantistrophe—a turning, left to right, by chorus—a turning, left to right, by chorus epodeepode—the part of a ode following the strophe —the part of a ode following the strophe

and antistropheand antistrophe

Greek Terms Greek Terms

Hubris—excessive pride or arroganceHubris—excessive pride or arrogance

Humartia– error in judgment, Humartia– error in judgment, especially resulting from a defect in especially resulting from a defect in the character of a tragic hero; tragic the character of a tragic hero; tragic flawflaw

Oedipus MythOedipus Myth

Just listen: Just listen: Laios—Iocaste (Jocasta)Laios—Iocaste (Jocasta)Oedipus—Iocaste (Jocasta)Oedipus—Iocaste (Jocasta)Eteocles—Polyneices—Ismene—Eteocles—Polyneices—Ismene—

AntigoneAntigone

Cast of CharactersCast of Characters

Antigone—daughter of OedipusAntigone—daughter of Oedipus Ismene—daughter of OedipusIsmene—daughter of OedipusCreon—King of Thebes, uncle of Creon—King of Thebes, uncle of

Antigone and IsmeneAntigone and IsmeneHaemon—Creon’s son; engaged to Haemon—Creon’s son; engaged to

AntigoneAntigoneEurydice—wife of CreonEurydice—wife of CreonTeiresias—blind prophetTeiresias—blind prophet