1. Activator: Error Analysis TRUE 1. Greek dramas are structured like so: Prologue, Parados, First Episode, First Stasimon, and Exodos. FALSE 2. Actors in Greek plays wore masks so that no one would know their identity; acting was considered a worthless profession. FALSE 3. The three genres of drama for the Greeks were Comedy, Tragedy, and Satyr. TRUE 4. According to the Greeks, Dionysus was the god of wine and theater. TRUE 5. The Oedipus Complex is the childhood desire to sleep with the father and to kill the mother.

2. ANTIGONE BY SOPHOCLES An Introduction

3. THE TRILOGY Section 1

4. Sophocles Born to a wealthy family in Athens, Greece around 459 B.C. Highly revered playwright throughout his lifetime. Participated in the Festival of Dionysus multiple times, and won first place in many competitions. Other than being a playwright, he was also a politician and soldier at different points. He is most famous for the Oedipus trilogy.

5. Play #1: Oedipus Rex Setting: Thebes King Laius and Queen Jocasta hear a prophecy that their son will kill him and marry her, so they abandon their son, Oedipus, in the woods. The prophecy is fulfilled by Oedipus later on, but he does so unknowingly. When it is discovered that the prophecy has been fulfilled, Jocasta, hangs herself, and Oedipus gouges out his eyes.

6. Play #2: Oedipus at Colonus Setting: Colonus, northern Athens Led by one of his daughters, Antigone, Oedipus travels to Colonus. They are later joined by Ismene, Antigone’s sister. Oedipus’ sons, Polyneices and Eteocles, remain in Thebes fighting for the throne. Oedipus’ brother-in-law, Creon, supports Eteocles’ claim. Once Oedipus dies, Antigone returns to Thebes, hoping to end the fighting between her brothers.

7. Play #3: Antigone Setting: Thebes The play begins after Antigone’s brothers have killed each other and Creon has taken power. Creon supported Eteocles, so he gives him a proper burial. However, he denies Polyneices a proper burial since he is a “traitor.” Antigone disagrees with the new king’s decree.

8. LITERARY DEVICES Section 2

9. Irony Verbal : words are used to suggest the opposite of their usual meaning Situational : an event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader, or the audience Dramatic : there is a contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader or audience knows to be true

10. Alliteration, Assonance, and Paradox Alliteration : a repetition of initial consonant sounds in two or more words. Assonance : a repetition of vowel sounds within words that are close to each other. Paradox : a seeming contradiction; sounds impossible, yet is in fact possible.

11. Other Literary Devices Simile Metaphor Personification Allusion Foreshadowing

12. GREEK TRAGEDY Section 3

13. Tragedy: A Definition Greek philosopher Aristotle defined the term “tragedy” as “an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not of narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation for these emotions.” Inspired by Aristotle, the definition we use today is a work of literature, especially a play, that tells of a catastrophe, a disaster or great misfortune, for the main character.

14. Aristotle’s Three Unities Aristotle’s concept of the Three Unities is basically a formula for a perfect tragedy: Unity of Place : a play should be set in only one location. Unity of Time : a play should only represent the happenings of one day; the events of the past are recounted by characters. Unity of Action : only actions and scenes relating to the main plot should be included; any unnecessary subplots should be omitted.

15. Aristotle’s Six Elements of Tragedy Aristotle identified the following as the key elements of a tragedy: 1.Plot 2.Characters 3.Diction 4.Thought 5.Spectacle 6.Melody Plot and Characters are the most important of the elements.

16. Tragic Hero Usually of noble birth such as royalty; a leader of men Has a hamartia, tragic flaw, such as a mistake in judgment or hubris, pride, which leads to his or her downfall The peripetia, or reversal of fortune, begins the tragic hero’s downfall After the downfall, s/he gains self-awareness and knowledge S/He must suffer, but does not necessarily die.

17. The Gods Either the gods themselves or prophets/oracles who prevent the tragic hero from reaching the goal or they attempt to tell the tragic hero for what he should be on the lookout. DEUS EX MACHINA – “god from the machine.” A god lowered from a crane at the end of the play (as if from heavens), usually creating a resolution for the play.

18. Chorus A group of twelve or fifteen men, led by a Choragus, who would sing choral songs that dictated what was happening in the play and forced the audience to question what was going on in the tragedy.

19. Catharsis The idea is that the audience of a tragedy experiences a purification and purging (cleansing) of his or her emotions of pity and fear - the “thank God it’s not me” phenomenon. The tragedy should affect catharsis in the audience.

20. Summarizer: Venn Diagram INSTRUCTIONS: Create a Venn Diagram which depicts the similarities and differences between an epic hero and a tragic hero.