AntigoneREVIEW

History of the Greek theater

Sophocles’ Impact on it

Thematic concepts of Antigone

The story of Oedipus and how it relates

The perspective and conflicts of:◦Creon, Antigone◦Haimon, Ismene◦Teiresias.

Literary Terms◦Irony, ◦Figurative Language◦Allusion◦Antagonist/Protagonist

Topics

HubrisHubrisHamartiaHamartia

PolisPolisCatharsisCatharsisPeripeteiaPeripeteia

OikosOikosPaeanPaean

DithyrambHypokritParadosSkeneOrchestraTheatronDionysus

Oedipus JocastaPolyniecesEteoclesSphinxChoragos Antigone

IsmeneCreonHaimonEurydiceTeiresiasChorusSentry

The ChorusThe chorus serves as an intermediary between the actors and the audience. They produce imagery through their words to create scenery that in those days did not exist.

Sophocles (496-406 B.C.E.)

Contributions to the development of Contributions to the development of theater:theater:

Introduction of third actor Made changes to the size of the chorus Introduced painted scenery on the Skene Introduced a new style of music to plays Abandoned the trilogy of plays for the self-contained tragedy (1 play at a time) Created characters that are more realistic, not “god-like” thus reinforcing the lessons of the play

Tragic Heroo character of high social high social

standingstanding who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw that, combined with fate and external forces, brings on a tragedy

o Hamartia: weakness or flaw in a character.o Hubris: excessive pride or

arrogance

o Experiences the following: o Peripetia: Reversal of fortuneo Catharsis: self-realization and

self-awareness

ESTABLISHING A TRAGIC HERO High Social StandingHigh Social Standing Suffers a downfall as a Suffers a downfall as a

result of result of Harmartia (flaw)Harmartia (flaw) Has a Has a peripetia (reversal) peripetia (reversal)

and has or causes a and has or causes a catharsis (purging of catharsis (purging of emotion)emotion)

Battles against FATE. Battles against FATE.

Evaluate Antigone/Creon to Evaluate Antigone/Creon to establish the Tragic Heroestablish the Tragic Hero

Written Responses

oIdentifications (IDs)oQuotations

FOLLOW RULES ON HANDOUT

oShort Essays

Responding to a Prompt1. Identify the question2. Restate the question as a thesis- the

point that you wish to prove. 3. Give 3 specific examples directly related

to the question.4. Explain how those examples prove your

point.5. Summarize your point by rephrasing

(not repeating) your thesis.

Essay ResponsePROMPT #1PROMPT #1

Antigone declares that she acts out of honor and obedience to the gods. Are these really her motives? Do her words and actions reveal other motives? In an essay, analyze Antigone’s motives and draw conclusions about why she does what she does. Use at least three details from the play to support your analysis.

Step One: Find the QuestionPROMPT #1PROMPT #1

Antigone declares that she acts out of honor and obedience to the gods. Are these really her motives? Do her words and actions reveal other motives? In an essay, analyze Antigone’s motives and draw conclusions about why she does what she does. Use at least three details from the play to support your analysis.

Step Two: Restate the question as a thesis

• Antigone declares that she acts out of honor and obedience to the gods. Are these really her motives? Do her words and actions reveal other motives?

Although Antigone claims that she Although Antigone claims that she acts out of honor and obedience acts out of honor and obedience to the gods, these are not her to the gods, these are not her real motives. Her words and real motives. Her words and actions reveal other motives.actions reveal other motives.

Step Three: Give three specific examples

• She wants to honor the brother that she has lost.

• She wants to get credit for burying Polyneices.• She wants to die.

Good Response

Although Antigone claims that she acts out Although Antigone claims that she acts out of honor and obedience to the gods, these of honor and obedience to the gods, these are not her real motives. Her words and are not her real motives. Her words and actions reveal other motives. Firstly, actions reveal other motives. Firstly, Antigone feels responsible for burying her Antigone feels responsible for burying her brother. In the prologue, she argues with brother. In the prologue, she argues with Ismene that they have a family obligation. Ismene that they have a family obligation. She says “He is my brother. And he is your She says “He is my brother. And he is your brother, too” Another reason she does this is brother, too” Another reason she does this is to get credit for it. She tells Ismene to tell to get credit for it. She tells Ismene to tell everyone. This suggests a sense of pride. everyone. This suggests a sense of pride. Finally, she seems to have a death wish. Not Finally, she seems to have a death wish. Not only does Antigone want everyone to know only does Antigone want everyone to know what she did, before she dies, she seems what she did, before she dies, she seems happy to be able to see her dead mother, happy to be able to see her dead mother, father and brother. Therefore, Antigone’ has father and brother. Therefore, Antigone’ has many more motivations for this than just many more motivations for this than just reverence for the gods. reverence for the gods.

Reason One

Although Antigone claims that she acts Although Antigone claims that she acts out of honor and obedience to the gods, out of honor and obedience to the gods, these are not her real motives. Her words these are not her real motives. Her words and actions reveal other motives. Firstly, and actions reveal other motives. Firstly, Antigone feels responsible for burying her Antigone feels responsible for burying her brother. brother. In the prologue, she argues with In the prologue, she argues with Ismene that they have a family obligation. Ismene that they have a family obligation. She says “He is my brother. And he is your She says “He is my brother. And he is your brother, too” Another reason she does this brother, too” Another reason she does this is to get credit for it. She tells Ismene to tell is to get credit for it. She tells Ismene to tell everyone. This suggests a sense of pride. everyone. This suggests a sense of pride. Finally, she seems to have a death wish. Not Finally, she seems to have a death wish. Not only does Antigone want everyone to know only does Antigone want everyone to know what she did, before she dies, she seems what she did, before she dies, she seems happy to be able to see her dead mother, happy to be able to see her dead mother, father and brother. Therefore, Antigone’ has father and brother. Therefore, Antigone’ has many more motivations than just reverence many more motivations than just reverence for the gods. for the gods.

Reason Two

Although Antigone claims that she acts Although Antigone claims that she acts out of honor and obedience to the gods, out of honor and obedience to the gods, these are not her real motives. Her words these are not her real motives. Her words and actions reveal other motives. Firstly, and actions reveal other motives. Firstly, Antigone feels responsible for burying her Antigone feels responsible for burying her brother.brother. In the prologue, she argues with In the prologue, she argues with Ismene that they have a family obligation. Ismene that they have a family obligation. She says “He is my brother. And he is your She says “He is my brother. And he is your brother, too” brother, too” Another reason she does this Another reason she does this is to get credit for it.is to get credit for it. She tells Ismene to tell She tells Ismene to tell everyone. This suggests a sense of pride. everyone. This suggests a sense of pride. Finally, she seems to have a death wish. Not Finally, she seems to have a death wish. Not only does Antigone want everyone to know only does Antigone want everyone to know what she did, before she dies, she seems what she did, before she dies, she seems happy to be able to see her dead mother, happy to be able to see her dead mother, father and brother. Therefore, Antigone’ has father and brother. Therefore, Antigone’ has many more motivations than just reverence many more motivations than just reverence for the gods. for the gods.

Reason Three

Although Antigone claims that she acts out Although Antigone claims that she acts out of honor and obedience to the gods, these of honor and obedience to the gods, these are not her real motives. Her words and are not her real motives. Her words and actions reveal other motives. Firstly, actions reveal other motives. Firstly, Antigone feels responsible for burying her Antigone feels responsible for burying her brother.brother. In the prologue, she argues with In the prologue, she argues with Ismene that they have an family obligation. Ismene that they have an family obligation. She says “He is my brother. And he is your She says “He is my brother. And he is your brother, too” brother, too” Another reason she does this is Another reason she does this is to get credit for it.to get credit for it. She tells Ismene to tell She tells Ismene to tell everyone. This suggests a sense of pride. everyone. This suggests a sense of pride. Finally, Finally, she seems to have a death wishshe seems to have a death wish. Not . Not only does Antigone want everyone to know only does Antigone want everyone to know what she did, before she dies, she seems what she did, before she dies, she seems happy to be able to see her dead mother, happy to be able to see her dead mother, father and brother. Therefore, Antigone’ has father and brother. Therefore, Antigone’ has many more motivations than just reverence many more motivations than just reverence for the gods. for the gods.

Transitions

Although Antigone claims that she acts Although Antigone claims that she acts out of honor and obedience to the gods, out of honor and obedience to the gods, these are not her real motives. Her words these are not her real motives. Her words and actions reveal other motives. and actions reveal other motives. FirstlyFirstly, , Antigone feels responsible for burying her Antigone feels responsible for burying her brother. In the prologue, she argues with brother. In the prologue, she argues with Ismene that they have a family obligation. Ismene that they have a family obligation. She says “He is my brother. And he is your She says “He is my brother. And he is your brother, too” brother, too” Another reason Another reason she does this she does this is to get credit for it. She tells Ismene to tell is to get credit for it. She tells Ismene to tell everyone. This suggests a sense of pride. everyone. This suggests a sense of pride. FinallyFinally, she seems to have a death wish. Not , she seems to have a death wish. Not only does Antigone want everyone to know only does Antigone want everyone to know what she did, before she dies, she seems what she did, before she dies, she seems happy happy to be able to see her dead mother, to be able to see her dead mother, father and brother. father and brother. ThereforeTherefore, Antigone’ has , Antigone’ has many more motivations than just reverence many more motivations than just reverence for the gods. for the gods.

Essay ResponsePROMPT #2PROMPT #2

As the new head of state, Creon forbids Polyneices’ burial. In an essay, investigate the character of Creon. What do his decision and the reasons for his decision say about him? What are the strengths and the weaknesses of his character? Use at least three details from the play to support your investigation of Creon’s character.

Step One: Find the QuestionPROMPT #2PROMPT #2

As the new head of state, Creon forbids Polyneices’ burial. In an essay, investigate the character of Creon. What do his decision and the reasons for his decision say about him? What are the strengths and the weaknesses of his character? Use at least three details from the play to support your investigation of Creon’s character.

Step Two: Write a Thesis• As the new head of state, Creon forbids Polyneices’

burial. In an essay, investigate the character of Creon. What do his decision and the reasons for his decision say about him? What are the strengths and the weaknesses of his character?

Creon’s decision and the Creon’s decision and the reasons for this choice say reasons for this choice say much about him and much about him and reveal both his strengths reveal both his strengths and weaknessess. and weaknessess.

Essay ResponsePROMPT #3PROMPT #3

In your opinion, what accounts for the strong appeal Antigone has had for centuries? In a short essay, explain why Sophocles’ classic tragedy remains relevant to modern life. Support your opinion with at least three details from the play.

Step OnePROMPT #3PROMPT #3

In your opinion, what accounts for the strong appeal Antigone has had for centuries? In a short essay, explain why Sophocles’ classic tragedy remains relevant to modern life. Support your opinion with at least three details from the play.

Essay ResponsePROMPT #4PROMPT #4

With which character in Antigone did you identify most strongly? In a short essay, explain how and why you identified with this character. Discuss what you discovered about the character and the play. Use at least three details from the play to support your explanation.

Essay ResponsePROMPT #5PROMPT #5

Who do you believe is the tragic hero in Antigone—Antigone or Creon? In a short essay, state your opinion and support it with reasonable evidence from the play. Use at least three details from the play to support your opinion.

Vocabularyo Sated- Satisfied; provided with more than enough o Sententiously- In a way that shows excessive fondness

for wise sayings; in a lecturing tone o Deflects- Turns or makes go to one side o Edict- A public order or decree o Brazen- Shameless; bold o Waver- Show indecision; fluctuate o Deference- A yielding to the ideas, wishes, and so on of

another o Contempt- Scorn; the attitude of someone who looks

down on something or someone else o Vile- Evil; low; extremely disgusting o Piety- Loyalty and devotion to family, the divine, or some

other object of respect o Lamentation-Expression of grief; weeping o Rash- Too hasty in speech or action; reckless

Images of Antigone