AntigoneAntigone

Greek TheaterGreek Theater• Outdoor structureOutdoor structure• Performed at springtime festival Performed at springtime festival

honoring the god Dionysus; playwrights honoring the god Dionysus; playwrights competed for prizescompeted for prizes

• All citizens attended (seats 15,000)All citizens attended (seats 15,000)• Religious; stories based on myth or Religious; stories based on myth or

history history

Features of Greek DramaFeatures of Greek Drama• Chorus: group that make poetic Chorus: group that make poetic

commentaries on play.commentaries on play.• Actors were male; usually played more Actors were male; usually played more

than one rolethan one role• Costumes: simple robes and masksCostumes: simple robes and masks

Greek ChorusGreek Chorus

• Group of performers who represent members societyGroup of performers who represent members society• Originally 50 members; Sophocles reduces to 15 Originally 50 members; Sophocles reduces to 15 • Chant, sing, move and gestureChant, sing, move and gesture• Functions:Functions:

– Comment on action of playComment on action of play– Present society’s values and beliefsPresent society’s values and beliefs– Illuminate conflicts Illuminate conflicts – Provide background informationProvide background information– Introduce character entering stageIntroduce character entering stage

• Choragos is leader of the chorus; sometimes becomes Choragos is leader of the chorus; sometimes becomes character in playcharacter in play

Choral Odes• Choral odes: begin and end each sceneChoral odes: begin and end each scene• Strophe (Turn): A stanza in which the chorus Strophe (Turn): A stanza in which the chorus

moves in one direction (toward the altar).moves in one direction (toward the altar).• Antistrophe (Counter-turn): The following Antistrophe (Counter-turn): The following

stanza, in which it moves in the opposite stanza, in which it moves in the opposite direction.direction.

• Epode (After-song): Chanted by the chorus Epode (After-song): Chanted by the chorus standing still; often omitted.standing still; often omitted.

Sophocles (496-406 B.C.E) Sophocles (496-406 B.C.E) • Colonus (near Athens)Colonus (near Athens)

– WealthyWealthy– Well-educatedWell-educated

• Wrote 120 + plays (7 survive)Wrote 120 + plays (7 survive)– Golden Age of Athens (5th c.)Golden Age of Athens (5th c.)– Won 24 prizesWon 24 prizes

• Credited with:Credited with:– Improving sceneryImproving scenery– Reducing size and importance of Reducing size and importance of

choruschorus– Placing 3rd actor on stage; more Placing 3rd actor on stage; more

interesting interactionsinteresting interactions

AntigoneAntigone

• Antigone is one play of a trilogy:– Oedipus Rex (the King)– Oedipus at Colunus– Antigone

• Myth of Oedipus:– Oracle: a source of knowledge or

wise counsel– Sphinx: mythical creature; body

of lion and head of man

Sphinx’s Riddle:Sphinx’s Riddle:

• Sphinx blocks the Sphinx blocks the gates of Thebes; gates of Thebes; will lift curse if will lift curse if someone can someone can solve riddle.solve riddle.

• Riddle: What Riddle: What creature walks on creature walks on four legs at dawn, four legs at dawn, two legs at noon, two legs at noon, and three legs in and three legs in the evening?the evening?

Fate vs. Free WillFate vs. Free Will

• Fate: predetermined course of Fate: predetermined course of events.events.

• Free Will: freedom of humans to Free Will: freedom of humans to make choices that are not make choices that are not determined by prior causes or by determined by prior causes or by divine interventiondivine intervention

Comic ReliefComic Relief

• A humorous character, scene, or witty A humorous character, scene, or witty dialogue in a serious workdialogue in a serious work

• Relieves tensionRelieves tension

• Often a bumbling, wisecracking Often a bumbling, wisecracking sidekick of the hero or villainsidekick of the hero or villain

TragedyTragedy

• Aristotle, in his book of Aristotle, in his book of literary theory called literary theory called PoeticsPoetics, recorded his ideas , recorded his ideas about tragedy.about tragedy.

• He defined tragedy as a He defined tragedy as a drama that includes the drama that includes the downfall of a character downfall of a character because of a flaw in that because of a flaw in that character.character.

Tragic CharacterTragic Character• Character holds high status in Character holds high status in

society; is noble and virtuous but not society; is noble and virtuous but not perfect.perfect.

• Character has a tragic flaw or Character has a tragic flaw or hamartia hamartia (characteristic or (characteristic or personality trait that causes him/her personality trait that causes him/her to be blind to the consequences of to be blind to the consequences of his/her actions; often his/her actions; often hubrishubris, or , or excessive pride or overconfidence) excessive pride or overconfidence) or makes an error in judgment.or makes an error in judgment.

• Character experiences a downfall Character experiences a downfall (good Fortune to bad).(good Fortune to bad).

Tragic Character (cont.)Tragic Character (cont.)

• Character’s punishment exceeds his/her Character’s punishment exceeds his/her crime.crime.

• Character gains self-awareness or discovers Character gains self-awareness or discovers something as a result of the punishment.something as a result of the punishment.

• Audience experiences pity for the character Audience experiences pity for the character and fears that what has happened to the and fears that what has happened to the character could also happen to them. character could also happen to them. CatharsisCatharsis occurs when audience sees occurs when audience sees character suffer his/her fate. Emotions of character suffer his/her fate. Emotions of fear and pity are purged. Communal fear and pity are purged. Communal function of plays.function of plays.