ANTIGONE WEBQUEST

An Introduction to Greek Tragedy

Welcome to the Antigone WebQuest!

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

The following pages will provide you with the information you need.

Meet Sophocles (496-406 B.C.)

Sophocles was born and raised in Athens

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

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

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

survived.

Among these 7 are: Oedipus the King, Oedipus at

Colonus, and Antigone.

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.

Tragedy

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

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

Typical Structure of a Tragedy

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

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

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

The typical structure of a tragedy is as follows:

– Prologue – exposition which provide background to the conflict

– Parados or parode – Opening song or ode

Strophê – the chorus sings a stanza while moving from right to left while singing

Antistrophê - the chorus sings a stanza while moving from left to right while singing

Epode – included in some odes as a final stanza

– Paean – a thanksgiving to Dionysos

– Exodos – final exiting scene

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

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

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

– Oedipus’ Early Life

– Oedipus’ Exile

A Tragedy between Brothers

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

Click here to learn more about Eteocles and Polynices

Hubris

The Greek term hubris is difficult to translate directly into English. It is a

negative term implying both arrogant, excessive self-pride or self-confidence,

and also a hamartia , a lack of some important perception or insight due to

pride in one's abilities. It is the opposite of the Greek term arête, which implies

a humble and constant striving for perfection and self-improvement combined

with a realistic awareness that such perfection cannot be reached. As long as

an individual strives to do and be the best, that individual has arête. As soon as

the individual believes he has actually achieved arête, however, he or she has

lost that exalted state and fallen into hubris, unable to recognize personal

limitations or the humble need to improve constantly. This leads to

overwhelming pride, and this in turn leads to a downfall.

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

Title: Antigone

Author: Sophocles

Publication Date: 442 B.C

Setting: The city of Thebes – Ancient

Greece

Genre: Drama

Name: Relationship to Others:

Personality: Situations:

Antigone

Daughter of Oedipus, sister of Ismene, niece of

Creon

Strong, firm in her beliefs

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

man

Ismene

Daughter of Oedipus,

Antigone’s sister

Timid Also in conflict over the laws of the gods vs laws of man

Eurydice

Creon’s wife, mother of Haimon

Obeys her duties as the King’s wife

Wife of the King

Name: Relationship to Others:

Personality: Situations:

Creon

Husband of Eurydice, father of

Haimon

Firm in his belief,

unbending, an absolute ruler

Recently became King

of Thebes

Haimon

Son of Creon and Eurydice,

Level headed

Engaged to Antigone

Teiresias

prophet

Wise

He is a very respected

blind prophet