1. Antigone
By Sophocles

2. TODAY Discussion Questions: Principles
Become familiar with common terms associated with Greek Dramas
Determine what makes a Tragic Hero so dang Tragic

3. Principles (beliefs) Loyalty to Family Importance of Civil Laws
Importance of Religious Beliefs
Self-respect, or pride
Freedom
Protection of Community or Country

4. Do you think people should have to obey a law even if they don’t agree with it? Why or why not? Give an example.

5. Are stubbornness and pride admirable qualities. Explain
Are stubbornness and pride admirable qualities? Explain. Think of a situation in which two equally proud and stubborn people came into conflict. What happened? Give details.
Stubbornness: dogged determination not to change one's attitude or position on something
Pride: a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.
Admire: regard (an object, quality, or person) with respect or warm approval.

6. From your experience, do most people find it easy or difficult to admit they have made a mistake? Is admitting to a mistake a sign of strength or weakness? Explain.

7. Do you believe in fate, or do you believe that people are responsible for the good and bad things that happen to them? Explain your response.
Fate: the development of events beyond a person's control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power.

8. Is there a “correct” solution to every problem in life, or do some problems defy solutions? What real-life examples can you think of to support your opinion?
Defy: openly resist or refuse to obey.

9. Do you think wisdom comes at the cost of suffering, or can people become wise without experiencing adversity? Explain. Recount a lesson you have learned, either by personal experience or by learning from others.
Wisdom: he quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise.
Adversity: difficulties; misfortune

10. How responsible do you feel for your family members
How responsible do you feel for your family members? Do you think family members should risk danger or even death for one another? Explain.

11. Greek drama
It’s a tragedy, really

12. Greek Drama: Tragedy
If it’s a tragedy, what do you think the play will be about? What is common in a tragedy? Tragedy: an event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, such as a serious accident, crime, or natural catastrophe Tragedy – Tragedy depicts the downfall of a noble hero or heroine, usually through some combination of pride, fate, and the will of the gods.

13. Greek Tragedy’s Dramatis Personae
Tragic Hero – our main character, usually noble in birth, who must go through unfortunate events. Chorus – a group of twelve or fifteen men, led by a Choragus, who would sing and choral songs that dictated what was happening in the play and forced the audience to question what was going on in the tragedy.

14. Modern day Tragic heroes?
Can you think of any characters who could be considered tragic heroes?

15. Greek Tragedy’s Dramatis Personae
The Gods – either the gods themselves or prophets or oracles acting as mouthpieces for the gods. The gods prevent the tragic hero from reaching his goal or they attempt to tell the tragic hero for what he should be on the lookout.
Deus ex machina – literally, “god out of the machine,” refers to a plot device used by ancient playwrights in which gods interfere in the storyline, often in creating a resolution for the play.
Minor Characters – act as supports for or obstacles to the tragic hero.

16. The Chorus (12 – 15 men) Sang three primary types of songs:
Parados – entrance song
Stasima – songs throughout
Exodos – exit song

17. The Chorus (12 – 15 men) Choral songs divided into three sections:
Strophe
Antistrophe
Epode
Choral songs reaffirm what had happened in the play and point out deeper questions about the plot and themes of the play to the audience.
The chorus often engaged in dialogue with the tragic hero of the play.

18. Who is The Tragic Hero?
Usually of noble birth, sometimes royalty, and always a leader of men, the tragic hero is a man who encounters a series of unfortunate events. The audience usually feels pity for him. Hamartia, or tragic flaw, such as hubris, or pride, leads to the eventual downfall of the tragic hero. It is not the tragic hero’s fault that he has this flaw, but he is responsible for his actions that lead to his downfall.

19. Who is The Tragic Hero?
The tragic downfall is not senseless; it must have meaning!
After his tragic downfall, the tragic hero encounters peripetia, or a change of character, circumstances, or a reversal of fortune.
REALIZE THEY HAVE MADE A HORRIBLE, IRREVERSIBLE MISTAKE
Faces and accepts death with honor
But, met with a tragic death. Because it’s a tragedy.

20. Notes
I will be giving you packets to complete as we read the play. My goal is to complete as much work in class as possible. Please stay on task and take thorough notes so that this can be accomplished.
Keep your notes someplace where they will not get lost or crumpled beyond all recognition. You will need these notes in order to study for your first round of periodicals.

21. Key events
Unwritten laws and burial rites

22. Key facts and events to know
Unwritten Laws:
Antigone claims that “unwritten and unfailing rules,” or her own beliefs and values, led her to bury Polynices (her brother).
The subject of how much power such “unwritten” laws had when they came into conflict with civic laws was a matter of debate during the 5th century B. C.

23. Key facts and events to know
Unwritten Laws:
In Antigone, Sophocles insists that unwritten laws are more important than any formal legal code created by men.
This may be a reaction to what was happening in Athens at this time, protesting that their priorities were wrong.

24. Key facts and events to know
Burial Rites:
Funerals in Greece were largely the responsibility of women during Sophocles’ time.
They washed and dressed the body, adorned it with flowers, and then covered it up.
Only close relatives participated in this ritual.

25. Key facts and events to know
Burial Rites:
After a death, the “prepared” corpse was laid out for two days in the home and then taken away for burial before the dawn of the third day.
The funeral procession—led by men and followed by lamenting women—wound slowly outside the city gates to a cemetery, where the body would be laid to rest.

26. Key facts and events to know
Burial Rites:
By some accounts, traitors and people who robbed temples were not entitled to be buried within Athenian territory, but the historical record is far from consistent on this.
These burial rites and rituals were very serious in Greek culture.