AntigoneAntigoneA Greek Tragedy by Sophocles

The etymology of the word The etymology of the word "tragedy" is "tragos"+"ode", "tragedy" is "tragos"+"ode",

which means the hymn of which means the hymn of goats.goats.

Tragoi (the goats) were the Tragoi (the goats) were the priests of god Dionysus.priests of god Dionysus.

Greek Theater came out of festivals that were given to

honor the Greek God DionysusDeveloped over several hundred years.

Eventually, it evolved into modern theater (over thousands of years)

Sophocles introduced a number of changes to the theater

The God: DionysusThe God: Dionysus• God of Fertility and Wine• Some Athenians worshiped

him. They were the cult of Dionysus. – Drank wine– Ate raw flesh

• The Dionysiac ceremonies were simple at the beginning– little by little became more complex and

were accompanied by flute, and drums.

ChorusChorus

• The chorus was considered to be the mouthpiece of society (in The chorus was considered to be the mouthpiece of society (in its humble form) and morality and suffered along with the heroes. its humble form) and morality and suffered along with the heroes.

• After Sophocles, the chorus had 15 members and stood in a After Sophocles, the chorus had 15 members and stood in a circlecircle

Architecture of Ancient Architecture of Ancient Greek TheaterGreek Theater

• Greek theatre buildings were called a theatron ('seeing place')

• The theatres were large, open-air structures constructed on the slopes of hills.

The centerpiece of the theatre was the orchestra, or "dancing place", a large circular or rectangular area.

Site of the choral performances, the religious rites, and, possibly, the acting. An altar was located in the middle of the orchestra; in Athens, the altar was dedicated to Dionysus.

SKENE-Behind the SKENE-Behind the orchestraorchestra used as a "backstage" area where used as a "backstage" area where actors could change their costumes actors could change their costumes and mask, Sophocles first started and mask, Sophocles first started painting scenery to the façade of the painting scenery to the façade of the

skene.skene.

Paraskenia

Ancient Greek MasksAncient Greek Masks• The use of masks in ancient greek theater draw their origin from the

ancient dionysiac cult.

• The members of the chorus wore masks, usually similar to each other but completely different from the leading actors

• Because the number of actors varied from one to three, they had to put on different masks, in order to play more roles.

• The actors were all men. The mask was therefore necessary to let them play the female roles.

TragedyTragedy• A drama or literary work in which the main

character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances.

SophoclesSophocles• Greek dramatist. Together with

Euripides and Aeschylus, he is considered one of the greatest dramatists of ancient Greece. His surviving plays include Ajax, Oedipus Rex, Antigone, and Oedipus at Colonus

• A man of wealth, charm, and genius, Sophocles was given posts of responsibility in peace and in war by the Athenians. He was a general and a priest; after his death he was worshiped as a hero

• He composed about 123 dramas, winning first place about 20 times and never falling lower than second

• A definitive innovator in the drama, he added a third actor—thereby tremendously increasing the dramatic possibilities of the medium—increased the size of the chorus, abandoned the trilogy of plays for the self-contained tragedy, and introduced scene painting.

AntigoneAntigone• a a tragedy written in written in

442 BC by by Sophocles• chronologically the chronologically the

third of the third of the three Theban plays but was written firstbut was written first– Oedipus the King – Oedipus at Colonus – Antigone

• After Oedipus is After Oedipus is exiled, he leaves the exiled, he leaves the ruling rights of ruling rights of Thebes to his two Thebes to his two sons, Eteocles and sons, Eteocles and Polynices who must Polynices who must take it in turns to rule. take it in turns to rule.

• Eteocles rules first but Eteocles rules first but the two become the two become enemies after enemies after Eteocles refuses to Eteocles refuses to give up the throne, give up the throne, and Polynieces is and Polynieces is exiled. exiled.

• At the beginning of At the beginning of the play, both the play, both brothers are dead, brothers are dead, apparently slain by apparently slain by the other's hand. the other's hand.

• The current The current ruler, Creon, has ruler, Creon, has made a decree: made a decree: Since Polynices Since Polynices fought against fought against Thebes, he shall Thebes, he shall not be buried. not be buried. Meanwhile, Meanwhile, Eteocles is to be Eteocles is to be buried with full buried with full military honors.military honors.

• Antigone, the daughter Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus and the of Oedipus and the sister of the dead sister of the dead brothers, believes this brothers, believes this proclamation to be proclamation to be against the gods' against the gods' orders. orders.

• She confides her plan She confides her plan to bury Polynices to bury Polynices herself to her sister herself to her sister Ismene. The more timid Ismene. The more timid of the two, Ismene of the two, Ismene refuses to take part out refuses to take part out of fear, but agrees with of fear, but agrees with her motive.her motive.

Why study Antigone?Why study Antigone?• Ancient Greek Drama is the basis for all

modern drama and film• The story gives many important clues to the

Ancient Greek culture and character• Tragedies still contain the basic elements that

they originated with

Film Versions of AntigoneFilm Versions of Antigone• AntigoneAntigone (1964) (1964)

Directed by Yorgos Javellas, Directed by Yorgos Javellas, Sophocles’ play about the daughter Sophocles’ play about the daughter of King Oedipus caught in a moral of King Oedipus caught in a moral dilemma about whether to obey the dilemma about whether to obey the laws of the state or to follow her laws of the state or to follow her conscience is brought to the screen conscience is brought to the screen with Irene Papas performing the title with Irene Papas performing the title role. English subtitles role. English subtitles

• AntigoneAntigone (1974) (1974)Directed by Gerald Freedman, this Directed by Gerald Freedman, this screen adaptation of Sophocles’ play screen adaptation of Sophocles’ play stars Genevieve Bujold, Stacy Keach, stars Genevieve Bujold, Stacy Keach, and Fritz Weaver.and Fritz Weaver.

• AntigoneAntigone (1984) (1984)Don Taylor directed this made for TV Don Taylor directed this made for TV adaptation of Sophocles’ play adaptation of Sophocles’ play