1. Background to Antigone

2. Greek Drama Questions of Comedy and Tragedy

3. The Basics of Greek Drama
The Theater: Greek drama usually accompanied religious festivals and was part of the fanfare. The stage was built into a hillside and plays were performed during the day before thousands of onlookers. A large orchestra, located in a pit between the stage and the audience, provided music before, during, and after the performance.

4. The Basics Plays were either comedies or tragedies
Attending a performance was considered an act of worship
Dionysus, the god of wine, was primarily worshipped during the festival
These worship performances were often performed for as many as 15,000 people
All actors were male, and wore masks to portray different characters
Most tragedies were based on legends or myths that the audience was familiar with

5. The Greek Theatre Always performed in outdoor theatres
Orchestra: Where the chorus sang to the audience
Theatron: Where the audience sat
Skene: building directly behind the stage; usually decorated as a palace, temple, or other building. Actors could enter and exit the stage through here, if necessary
Parodos: The path by which the chorus and some actors made their entrances and exits

8. The Myths: Why They Were Written:
Explained the unexplainable
Justified religious practices
Gave credibility to leaders
Gave hope
Polytheistic (more than one god)
Centered around the twelve Olympians (primary Greek gods)

9. To give credibility to leaders
The Romans used myths to create family trees for their leaders, enforcing the made-up idea that the emperors were related to the gods and were, then, demigods

10. The Role of the Chorus Use dance patterns and rhythm
Chanted or sang their commentary during each performance
Perceptive, but also over-the-top and funny
Comments on the events witnessed on stage

11. The Actors Only men were allowed to perform.
All actors wore masks made of wool, linen, wool, or plaster.
In the mid-fifth century, the time of Sophocles, masks were fairly realistic representations of human faces
In later centuries masks grew in size and became less realistic, featuring deep eye sockets and wide, gaping mouths, making actors appear larger against the background
Typically, tragic actors wore striking richly decorated robes that set them apart from the background.

12. Classical tragedies
Tragedy: a drama that recounts the downfall of a dignified, superior character who is involved in historically or socially significant events
Tragic flaw: a defect that a tragic hero possesses which contributes to his/her downfall; for example: poor judgment
Hubris: Excessive pride, a very common tragic flaw. Who else has had it???

13. Tragic Hero Noble birth Responsible for his/her own fate
Has a tragic flaw
Doomed to make an error in judgment
Realizes irreversible mistake
Falls from great heights/esteem
Meets a tragic death

14. Other terms to know
Irony: Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs – oftentimes humorous
Dramatic Irony: (pertains to theatre) When the audience knows something important that the character(s) do not know.
Catharsis: A general reaction from the audience to tragedies. Supposed to be a feeling of cleansing and relief.

15. Sophocles Famous author of Greek Drama born 495 BCE
Is thought to have written over 100 plays, but only 7 have survived.
The Oedipus trilogy are among the surviving plays. These are his most famous plays

16. Characteristics of Sophocles’ plays
emphasis on individual characters
reduced role of chorus
complex characters, psychologically well-motivated
characters subjected to crisis leading to suffering and self-recognition - including a higher law above man
exposition carefully motivated

17. …Also famous for: Introduced third actor to the stage
Limited the use of chorus
Emphasized dialogue
“Quick decisions are unsafe decisions”
“Nobody had a more sacred obligation to obey the law than those who make the law”
“One word frees us all the weight and pain of life: that word is love”

19. The Oedipus Trilogy:
Laius, one of the Theban kings, asked Tireseus, the oracle Delphi whether he and his wife Jocasta would have a son. The oracle replies that the son they will have is destined to kill his father.
After the child is born, Laius bonds the baby’s feet and gives him to a herdsman to be killed.
Instead, the herdsman gives the baby to a shepherd who gives the baby to Polybus an Merope (rulers of Corinth).
They name the baby Oedipus “swollen foot.”

20. The Oedipus Trilogy:
When Oedipus grows up and finds out he is not the legitimate son of Polybus, he travels to Delphi.
He meets an oracle who tells him he is destined to kill his father and marry his mother.
Troubled, he decides not to return to Corinth.
While walking, he meets three aristocrats who refuse to move off the road for Oedipus.
Enraged, he kills the oldest and proceeds to Thebes.

21. The Oedipus Trilogy:
Thebes is suffering from a terrible Sphinx. She will leave only when someone answers her riddle. Oedipus confronts her. Here is his riddle:
“What animal goes on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening?”
What is the answer?

22. The Oedipus Trilogy
Having saved the city, Oedipus is proclaimed king to replace the slain Laius.
He also marries the queen Jocasta.
They have four children
Eteocles - son
Polyneices - son
Ismen - daughter
Antigone - daughter

23. Oedipus Trilogy: Drama Ensues

24. Oedipus Trilogy
Hard times fall on Thebes. Oedipus asks the oracle for an answer. She claims that the murderer of Laius has polluted the land.
Oedipus looks for the murderer and finds it is he.
Jocasta hangs herself, and Oedipus uses her brooch to stab his eyes so that he can no longer see what he has done.
Antigone and Ismene accompany him into exile. Eteocles and Polyneices remain in Thebes.

25. The Oedipus Trilogy
When the boys are grown, they agree to rule Thebes alternately.
Eteocles rules first, but he refuses to relinquish the throne to Polyneices. They go to war, but both are killed in battle.
Creon once again takes control of Thebes.
He gives Eteocles an honorable burial but refuses to bury Polyneices. After Oedipus’s death, Antigone and Ismene return to Thebes.

26. The Oedipus Trilogy
Antigone wants both brothers to have a funeral--thus, the story of Antigone begins.