ANTIGONE: An ANTIGONE: An Introduction to Greek Introduction to Greek

LiteratureLiteratureWednesday and Thursday, April 10 and 11, 2013Wednesday and Thursday, April 10 and 11, 2013

Daily Learning Targets:Daily Learning Targets:

I can distinguish the characteristics of the literary I can distinguish the characteristics of the literary form of a play or dramatic literature.form of a play or dramatic literature.

I can relate a literary work to the important ideas of I can relate a literary work to the important ideas of the time and place in which it is set.the time and place in which it is set.

I can determine the effects of the author’s life upon I can determine the effects of the author’s life upon his/her work.his/her work.

Welcome to the Antigone Welcome to the Antigone WebQuest!WebQuest!

Before beginning your exploration Before beginning your exploration into the world of Antigone, you must into the world of Antigone, you must first become acquainted with first become acquainted with Sophocles and The Greek Theater.Sophocles and The Greek Theater.

Meet SophoclesMeet Sophocles(496-406 B.C.)(496-406 B.C.)

Sophocles was born and Sophocles was born and raised in Athensraised in Athens

He is regarded as one of the He is regarded as one of the world’s greatest playwrights.world’s greatest playwrights.

He frequently won 1He frequently won 1stst place place at the Dionysian festivals, at the Dionysian festivals, which were competitions which were competitions between playwrights.between playwrights.

During his life, he wrote over 100 plays, but only During his life, he wrote over 100 plays, but only 7 have7 have

survived.survived. Among these 7 are: Among these 7 are: Oedipus the King, Oedipus Oedipus the King, Oedipus at at

Colonus, and Antigone.Colonus, and Antigone.

The Greek Theater The Greek Theater Theater was a celebration in ancient Greece that was held in honor of Dionysos (the god of wine). During these celebrations, Athenians gathered to watch competitions between playwrights. It was these competitions that Sophocles often won. The plays performed at these festivals usually exposed arrogance which emphasized reverence for the gods and included tragic events. Although violence and disrespect were central to the plot of most tragic plays, violence was never depicted on stage. Instead, these events occurred off stage.

TragedyTragedy

Tragedy is a work of literature that Tragedy is a work of literature that results in a catastrophe for the main results in a catastrophe for the main character.character.

In Greek drama, the main character In Greek drama, the main character was always a significant person, a was always a significant person, a king or a hero, and the cause of the king or a hero, and the cause of the tragedy was a tragic flaw, or tragedy was a tragic flaw, or weakness in his or her character.weakness in his or her character.

Typical Structure of a Typical Structure of a TragedyTragedy

Ancient Greek playwrights used a Ancient Greek playwrights used a consistent format for most of their consistent format for most of their productions.productions.

A A ChorusChorus is used to divide the scenes is used to divide the scenes (similar to how a curtain does in present (similar to how a curtain does in present day performances) through a song that day performances) through a song that comments on the action of the previous comments on the action of the previous scene.scene.

The The ChoragosChoragos is the leader of the chorus, is the leader of the chorus, and serves as another character in the playand serves as another character in the play

The typical structure of a tragedy is The typical structure of a tragedy is as follows:as follows:

– Prologue – Prologue – exposition which provide background exposition which provide background to the conflictto the conflict

– Parados or parode – Parados or parode – Opening song or odeOpening song or ode StrophStrophê – ê – the chorus sings a stanza while the chorus sings a stanza while

moving from right to left while singingmoving from right to left while singing AntistrophAntistrophê - ê - the chorus sings a stanza while the chorus sings a stanza while

moving from left to right while singingmoving from left to right while singing Epode – Epode – included in some odes as a final included in some odes as a final

stanzastanza

– Paean – Paean – a thanksgiving to Dionysosa thanksgiving to Dionysos

– Exodos – Exodos – final exiting scenefinal exiting scene

Now that you are familiar with Greek Now that you are familiar with Greek Tragedy, you are ready to begin your Tragedy, you are ready to begin your

task…task…Your Task:Your Task:

You are a detective assigned to investigate the You are a detective assigned to investigate the death of Antigone. death of Antigone.

Before you can understand her death, you must Before you can understand her death, you must first become aware of the circumstances first become aware of the circumstances surrounding her life.surrounding her life.

You will obtain background information about You will obtain background information about Anigone’s family life, and the society in which Anigone’s family life, and the society in which she lived, by following the trail of clues linked to she lived, by following the trail of clues linked to her death.her death.

Family Life – Antigone’s DadFamily Life – Antigone’s Dad AntigoneAntigone, is part of a trilogy about , is part of a trilogy about

the royal family of Thebes. The the royal family of Thebes. The trilogy includes; trilogy includes; Oedipus the King, Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus and AntigoneOedipus at Colonus and Antigone

Follow the two links below to learn Follow the two links below to learn more about Antigone’s father, more about Antigone’s father, Oedipus:Oedipus:– Oedipus’ Early Life– Oedipus’ Exile

A Tragedy between BrothersA Tragedy between Brothers

As if the tragedy surrounding her As if the tragedy surrounding her father’s life and exile was not horrific father’s life and exile was not horrific enough, Antigone must now face the enough, Antigone must now face the death of her brothers.death of her brothers.

Click here to learn more about Click here to learn more about Eteocles and Polyneices Eteocles and Polyneices

Greek SocietyGreek Society

ReligionReligion

GovernmentGovernment

Funeral Rites – Funeral Rites – only read the first only read the first paragraphparagraph

Role of Women – Role of Women – click on the “Daily click on the “Daily Life” tab and then click on “Women’s Life”Life” tab and then click on “Women’s Life”

Hubris – Find the definitionHubris – Find the definition

The following information can be The following information can be used to fill out your STUDY used to fill out your STUDY

GUIDE…GUIDE… Title: AntigoneTitle: Antigone Author: SophoclesAuthor: Sophocles Publication Date: 442 B.CPublication Date: 442 B.C Setting: The city of Thebes – AncientSetting: The city of Thebes – Ancient

GreeceGreece Genre: DramaGenre: Drama

Name:Name: Relationship Relationship to Others:to Others:

PersonalitPersonality:y:

Situations:Situations:

AntigoneAntigoneDaughter of Daughter of

Oedipus, sister Oedipus, sister of Ismene, niece of Ismene, niece

of Creonof Creon

Strong, firm Strong, firm in her beliefsin her beliefs

Main Main character, in character, in conflict over conflict over the laws of the laws of the gods vs the gods vs laws of manlaws of man

IsmeneIsmeneDaughter of Daughter of

Oedipus, Oedipus, Antigone’s sisterAntigone’s sister

TimidTimid Also in Also in conflict over conflict over the laws of the laws of the gods vs the gods vs laws of manlaws of man

EurydiceEurydiceCreon’s wife, Creon’s wife,

mother of mother of HaimonHaimon

Obeys her Obeys her duties as the duties as the King’s wifeKing’s wife

Wife of the Wife of the KingKing

Name:Name: Relationship Relationship to Others:to Others:

PersonalitPersonality:y:

SituationsSituations::

CreonCreonHusband of Husband of

Eurydice, father Eurydice, father of Haimon of Haimon

Firm in his Firm in his belief, belief,

unbending, unbending, an absolute an absolute

rulerruler

Recently Recently became King became King

of Thebes of Thebes

HaimonHaimonSon of Creon Son of Creon

and Eurydice, and Eurydice, Level headedLevel headed

Engaged to Engaged to AntigoneAntigone

TeiresiasTeiresias prophetprophet Wise Wise He is a very He is a very respected respected

blind prophetblind prophet

The Plot of The Plot of AntigoneAntigonehttp://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~loxias/antigone.htm~loxias/antigone.htm

AntigoneAntigone: Part One: Part One

http://www.schooltube.com/video/http://www.schooltube.com/video/05b98d0e984c446fa9ab/Antigone05b98d0e984c446fa9ab/Antigone%201/11%201/11

Explain how the beginning of the film Explain how the beginning of the film makes you feel? Why is this technique makes you feel? Why is this technique used?used?

Predict what will happen next.Predict what will happen next.

Read Scene 1: Make sure to use Read Scene 1: Make sure to use expression in your voice.expression in your voice.

Exit Slip: Compare and contrast Exit Slip: Compare and contrast Antigone and Ismene.Antigone and Ismene.