AntigoneAntigone Background Background NotesNotes

I. Origin of TragedyI. Origin of Tragedy

A. Religious festivals in the spring to honor A. Religious festivals in the spring to honor DionysusDionysus

Dionysus (Bacchus),

god of wine and revelry

B. Thespis, “Father of Drama” B. Thespis, “Father of Drama” (thespians)(thespians)1. introduced the first actor and dialogue1. introduced the first actor and dialogue

C. SophoclesC. Sophocles1. added third actor1. added third actor

2. fixed number of the Chorus to 152. fixed number of the Chorus to 15

3. introduced painted scenery3. introduced painted scenery

4. made each play of a trilogy separate in 4. made each play of a trilogy separate in nature (each play could stand alone)nature (each play could stand alone)Oedipus RexOedipus RexOedipus on ColunusOedipus on ColunusAntigoneAntigone

Sophocles

II. Structure of TheatreII. Structure of Theatre

A. A. theatrontheatron: “seeing” place where the audience : “seeing” place where the audience satsat

B. B. orchestraorchestra: circular dancing place where actors : circular dancing place where actors and Chorus performedand Chorus performed

C. C. thymelethymele: altar to Dionysus in center of the : altar to Dionysus in center of the orchestraorchestra

D. D. skeneskene: building used as dressing room: building used as dressing room

E. E. proskenionproskenion: façade of skene building which : façade of skene building which served as backdropserved as backdrop

F. F. paradosparados: entrance to the theatre used by Chorus: entrance to the theatre used by Chorus

Greek TheatreGreek Theatre

III. Actors and ActingIII. Actors and ActingA. The playwright took the leading roleA. The playwright took the leading roleB. All male performers (played female B. All male performers (played female

roles too)roles too)C. Never more than 3 actors (changed C. Never more than 3 actors (changed

characters)characters)1. Costumes and Masks1. Costumes and Masks1. long, flowing robes (colored symbolically)1. long, flowing robes (colored symbolically)2. high boots with raised soles2. high boots with raised soles3. large masks made of wood, linen, cork3. large masks made of wood, linen, cork

a. identified age, gender, emotiona. identified age, gender, emotionb. exaggerated features (eyes, open mouth)b. exaggerated features (eyes, open mouth)

IV.IV. The ChorusThe ChorusA. Music and DanceA. Music and Dance

1. music: flute, lyre, drums1. music: flute, lyre, drums

2. dance: expressive rhythmic movements2. dance: expressive rhythmic movements

B. Function of the ChorusB. Function of the Chorus

1. sets overall mood and expresses theme1. sets overall mood and expresses theme

2. adds beauty through song and dance2. adds beauty through song and dance

3. gives background information3. gives background information

4. divides action and offers reflection on events4. divides action and offers reflection on events

5. questions, advises, expresses opinion (usually 5. questions, advises, expresses opinion (usually through Chorus leader)through Chorus leader)

6. Meant to be a representation of society6. Meant to be a representation of society

V. Conventions of Greek V. Conventions of Greek TheatreTheatre

A. Aristotle’s UnitiesA. Aristotle’s Unities1. action (simple plot)1. action (simple plot)

2. time (single day)2. time (single day)

3. place (one scene throughout)3. place (one scene throughout)

B. The Messenger (sentry)B. The Messenger (sentry)1. tells news happening away from the scene1. tells news happening away from the scene

2. reports acts of violence not allowed to be seen2. reports acts of violence not allowed to be seen

C. Limitations of the TheatreC. Limitations of the Theatre1. the Chorus is constantly on the stage1. the Chorus is constantly on the stage

2. no intermission2. no intermission

3. no lighting, no curtains3. no lighting, no curtains

VI. Important TermsVI. Important Terms

1. 1. tragedytragedy: an imitation of a serious : an imitation of a serious action which will arouse pity and fear action which will arouse pity and fear in the viewerin the viewer

2. 2. tragic herotragic hero: a character, usually of : a character, usually of noble birth, neither totally good nor noble birth, neither totally good nor totally evil, whose downfall is brought totally evil, whose downfall is brought about by some weakness and error in about by some weakness and error in judgment (a tragic flaw)judgment (a tragic flaw)

3. 3. hamartiahamartia: a tragic flaw, weakness of : a tragic flaw, weakness of character or error in judgment which causes character or error in judgment which causes the downfall of the hero (tragic flaw)the downfall of the hero (tragic flaw)

4.4. hubrishubris: the tragic flaw of exaggerated self-: the tragic flaw of exaggerated self-pride. Hubris was a crime in classical Athens.pride. Hubris was a crime in classical Athens.

5. 5. catharsiscatharsis: the “purging” or release of : the “purging” or release of emotions the audience feelsemotions the audience feels

6. 6. deus ex machinadeus ex machina: a person or god that : a person or god that intervenes in the actionintervenes in the action

FATE: the will or principle or determining cause by which things in general are believed to come to be as they are or events to happen as they do : destiny

The Greeks believed that everything happened for a reason and that the path they led in life, was prescribed for them by the Gods and that there was no escaping their fate or destiny.

IRONY: a pretense of ignorance and of willingness to learn from another assumed in order to make the other's false conceptions conspicuous by adroit questioning

DRAMATIC IRONY: incongruity between a situation developed in a drama and the accompanying words or actions that is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play —called also dramatic irony tragic irony

Major Greek DramatistsMajor Greek Dramatists

AeschylusAeschylus 524 B.C.524 B.C.Seven Seven Against Against ThebesThebes

SophoclesSophocles 496 B.C.496 B.C.

Oedipus the Oedipus the King, King, Oedipus at Oedipus at Colonus, & Colonus, & AntigoneAntigone

EuripidesEuripides 480 B.C.480 B.C. MedeaMedea

DramatistDramatist BornBorn WroteWrote

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

•He wrote 123 or more plays during the course of his life

•For almost 50 years, he was the dominant competitor in the dramatic competitions of ancient Athens that took place during the religious festivals of the Lenaea and the Dionysia.

•His first victory was in 468 BC, although scholars are no longer certain that this was the first time that he competed.

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

•He wrote 123 or more plays during the course of his life

•For almost 50 years, he was the dominant competitor in the dramatic competitions of ancient Athens that took place during the religious festivals of the Lenaea and the Dionysia.

•His first victory was in 468 BC, although scholars are no longer certain that this was the first time that he competed.

Sophocles: The Three Theban Plays (Oedipus Rex)Sophocles: The Three Theban Plays (Oedipus Rex)

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

Sophocles influenced the development of the drama, most importantly by adding a third character and thereby reducing the importance of the chorus in the presentation of the plot.

He also developed his characters to a greater extent than earlier playwrights such as Aeschylus.

Sophocles influenced the development of the drama, most importantly by adding a third character and thereby reducing the importance of the chorus in the presentation of the plot.

He also developed his characters to a greater extent than earlier playwrights such as Aeschylus.

Sophocles: The Three Theban Plays (Oedipus Rex)Sophocles: The Three Theban Plays (Oedipus Rex)

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

Only seven of his tragedies have survived into modern times with their text completely known.

•The most famous of these are the three tragedies concerning Oedipus and Antigone: these are often known as the Theban plays or The Oedipus Cycle, (Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, & Antigone) although they were not originally written or performed as a single trilogy.

Only seven of his tragedies have survived into modern times with their text completely known.

•The most famous of these are the three tragedies concerning Oedipus and Antigone: these are often known as the Theban plays or The Oedipus Cycle, (Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, & Antigone) although they were not originally written or performed as a single trilogy.

Sophocles: The Three Theban Plays (Oedipus Rex)Sophocles: The Three Theban Plays (Oedipus Rex)

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

VII. The Original Dysfunctional VII. The Original Dysfunctional FamilyFamily

King Menoeceus

King Laius

Jocasta Creon Eurydice

King Oedipus

Jocasta

Eteocles Polyneices Ismene

Antigone

Megareus

Haemon

King Laius and Jocasta have a son, King Laius and Jocasta have a son, Oedipus. The Oracle predicts Oedipus. The Oracle predicts Oedipus will grow up and kill his Oedipus will grow up and kill his father, so Laius drops Oedipus over a father, so Laius drops Oedipus over a cliff into the ocean.cliff into the ocean.

Baby Oedipus is rescued by a shepherd. He Baby Oedipus is rescued by a shepherd. He grows up and hits the road. Meets the grows up and hits the road. Meets the Sphinx. Answers the Sphinx’s riddle. Sphinx. Answers the Sphinx’s riddle. Sphinx kills herself.Sphinx kills herself.

Do you know the Sphinx’s riddle?Do you know the Sphinx’s riddle?

Oedipus argues with and kills a man on Oedipus argues with and kills a man on the road who, unbeknownst to Oedipus, the road who, unbeknownst to Oedipus, is his father Laius. Oedipus continues is his father Laius. Oedipus continues and when he reaches Thebes, he is and when he reaches Thebes, he is rewarded for killing the Sphinx that has rewarded for killing the Sphinx that has been plaguing their town (no one has been plaguing their town (no one has been able to come and go since the been able to come and go since the Sphinx has been guarding the road). Sphinx has been guarding the road). Oedipus is given the newly widowed Oedipus is given the newly widowed queen to marry. Look back at the queen to marry. Look back at the family tree…family tree…

Oedipus and his “wife” have four Oedipus and his “wife” have four children. Eventually, a new plague children. Eventually, a new plague strikes Thebes and the Oracle is strikes Thebes and the Oracle is consulted again. The soothsayer, consulted again. The soothsayer, Teiresias, tells them that Thebes is Teiresias, tells them that Thebes is suffering because of Oedipus and suffering because of Oedipus and Jocasta’s crime against nature.Jocasta’s crime against nature.

Jocasta hangs herself and Oedipus Jocasta hangs herself and Oedipus takes her brooch and blinds himself. takes her brooch and blinds himself. He is exiled from Thebes, and He is exiled from Thebes, and Antigone and Ismene, his daughters, Antigone and Ismene, his daughters, dutifully lead their father through the dutifully lead their father through the lands during his exile.lands during his exile.

A civil war breaks out about who will be A civil war breaks out about who will be the new ruler of Thebes. Eteocles and the new ruler of Thebes. Eteocles and Polyneices fight to be heir to the throne. Polyneices fight to be heir to the throne. They kill each other and their Uncle They kill each other and their Uncle Creon steps up. He believes one was the Creon steps up. He believes one was the rightful heir (the oldest son) and other rightful heir (the oldest son) and other was a traitor to the state for challenging was a traitor to the state for challenging him. Creon refuses a proper burial for him. Creon refuses a proper burial for the “traitor” and this makes Antigone the “traitor” and this makes Antigone angry; she believes BOTH her brothers angry; she believes BOTH her brothers deserve a proper burial.deserve a proper burial.

Remember your mythology?Remember your mythology?

Why was a proper burial so Why was a proper burial so important to the Greeks?important to the Greeks?

You need to get to Hades!You need to get to Hades!

Once a person has died, s/he must pay the Once a person has died, s/he must pay the ferryman, Charon, to take him/her across ferryman, Charon, to take him/her across the River Styx to the Underworld. the River Styx to the Underworld. Otherwise, the soul will not be able to Otherwise, the soul will not be able to rest.rest.

Michelangelo’s

Last Judgment