Sophocles’ Antigone 5th century B.C.

Greek Tragedy Greek tragedy is usually centered on the suffering of a major character and ends in disaster.

No one knows for sure how tragedy writing began but by the time Sophocles wrote, tragedy was a highly developed dramatic form. Tragedy is strongly linked with religious ritual and artistic performance. It uses poetic language and song.

Greek Religion The Greeks believed that the good will of the gods determined the city’s welfare. The fulfillment of religious duty and patriotism were often synonymous. The citizens must follow the gods’ orders or they would bring evil on their city.

Tragedy Characters Characters had human traits but were larger than life. The characters often symbolize universal ideas.

The Trilogy Tragedies were presented as a part of a trilogy. Much of the plays were based on myths that were familiar to the Greeks of this time. This made it possible for the playwright to include allusions without having to explain the allusion.

Greek Theater Theater was a celebration in ancient Greece. Festivals were held to honor Dionysos NOTE: Watch for allusions to Dionysos during the play.

One of the twelve major gods of Mount Olympus God of poetry, drama, the song, and wine Son of Zeus and Semele (or Persephone)

Believed to be able to take the form of animals to be sacrificed Worshipped during the festival and given credit for being able to have drama He was believed to have died every winter and revived every spring.

During these festivals, the Athenians would watch competitions between playwrights. The plays would depict events that exposed arrogance and that emphasized reverence for the gods. Thousands of people would watch the plays in the outdoor theaters.

Seats rose in a semicircle from a level orchestra area. Plays had limited number of characters No curtains to allow for change of scenery so scenes were interspersed with songs.

There was no violence or irreverence shown on stage. Both ideas (violence and irreverence) were important to the plots of many plays. All the violent acts happened off stage and were reported to the audience and characters through dialogue.

Masks Made of linen, wood, or cork “Larger than life” Identified age, gender, emotion Exaggerated features- large eyes, open mouth Amplified sound

Presentation of Plays Playwrights used the same format for most of their plays. Plays opened with a Prologue or Exposition The Prologue presented the background information of the conflict.

The chorus always sang a parodos, or an opening song. This was followed by the first scene. The chorus song, called an ode, divided scenes. So what serves the same purpose as the chorus in modern theater?

The Chorus The role of the chorus was central to the production and important in interpreting the meaning of plays. During the odes, a leader (called the choragos), would sometimes have a discussion with others in the chorus. At the conclusion of the play, the chorus would give thanks to Dionysos and there would be an exodos (final exiting scene).

Chorus Contained 15 men who chanted and danced Choragos--the spokesman or leader of the chorus Commented on the action of the play and interpreted its meaning for the audience in chants and odes

Function of the Chorus Sets the overall mood and expresses theme Adds beauty (theatrical effectiveness) through song and expressive dance Gives background information Divides action and offers reflections on events Questions, advises, expresses opinion (choragos)

Chorus Location of the chorus

Conventions of Greek Drama UNITIES- a way of providing a central focus to a play. Aristotle believed perfect tragedies had: Unity of Action--simple plot Unity of Time--single day Unity of Place--one scene throughout with no mixture of tragedy and comedy

TRAGEDY A serious play that depicts the fall of a noble character Character in conflict with forces beyond his/her control

Tragedy A person of importance, such as a king or a princess, moves from happiness to disaster through some character flaw or error in judgment, or through the forces of fate.

Tragic Hero Of noble birth (highly regarded) Acts nobly or honorably Makes choices that lead to a situation from which there is no escape Has a tragic flaw that leads to his destruction

Aristotle's Definition of a tragic hero: 1. Comes from nobility 2. Tragic Flaw 3. Undergoes a Reversal of Fortune 4. Has a Downfall 5. Recognizes his mistakes

Tragedy Tragedy is meant to reaffirm the fact that life is worth living, regardless of the suffering or pain that is part of human existence. Tragedies are about people in conflict with the universe. Tragedies are always about spiritual conflicts, never about every day events.

The Oedipus Myth The Greek playwright Sophocles wrote 3 tragedies about the royal family of Thebes, a city in Northeastern Greece. The tragedies include: Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone.

Abandoned at Birth Oedipus was abandoned at birth by his parents, Theban King Laios and his wife, Iocaste. A fortuneteller said that the infant would kill his father and marry his mother. Trying to avoid this fate, the couple had a servant, who was supposed to kill the baby, take Oedipus to a mountaintop to be left.

The servant felt sorry for the baby and gave him to a childless couple in a distant city. The couple never told the baby that he was adopted. When he was an adult, he traveled to Thebes where he killed a man not knowing that he was Laios. After several other daring adventures, Oedipus becomes the hero of Thebes.

A Royal Marriage Iocaste, now a widow, agreed to marry the champion. The couple lived happily, and raised four children of their own. Then a plague befell the city. During the investigation of the plague, Oedipus learns the facts about his birth.

In horror, Icoste kills herself, and Oedipus blinds himself. Icoste’s brother, Creon, takes full control of Thebes. Creon allows one of Oedipus’ children, Antigone, to lead Oedipus into exile where he died.

A Daughter Mourns Antigone, her sister Ismene, and her brothers Eteocles and Polyneices were deeply troubled about their background. The curse that befell Thebes caused Oedipus to fulfill his own prophecy and to condemn his sons to kill each other for control of Thebes.

Order Restored By the time the play Antigone opens, Creon has restored some order to Thebes. The civil war between Eteocles and Polyneices ended because they killed each other in combat. Eteocles had supported Creon so he was buried with honors. Polyneices rebelled against Creon so Creon ordered for his body to be left unburied to rot.

Antigone’s decision to disobey this order is central to the play!