Classical Tragedy, Universal Themes: Sophocles’ Antigone
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Transcript of Classical Tragedy, Universal Themes: Sophocles’ Antigone
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?