1. Antigone The Story Behind the Story Survey of Literature Be ready to write: Word Document open

2. The Myth of Oedipus  Laius (King of Thebes) and Jocasta (Queen) conceive a child.  Laius consults the Oracle at Delphi for a prediction of the future  The Oracle predicts that a son born to Laius and Jocasta will kill his father and marry his mother. 1. If you were the parent of this soon-to-be- born child, what would you do?

3. OMIGOSH!  When the son is born, Laius and Jocasta attempt to avert their fates: They drive a rivet into the child’s ankles They give the child to a servant and instruct him to abandon the baby on Mt. Cithaeron. 2. What do you think of these parents’ attempt to avert fate?

4. A Guilty Conscience intervenes  The servant cannot abandon the child to die, so he gives the child to a shepherd who carries it to Corinth.  The child is raised by the King and Queen of Corinth, who name the baby Oedipus (means “swollen foot”).  When Oedipus is a young man, he begins to think “I need a life…”  He consults the Oracle. 3. What do you think the Oracle predicts for him?

5. Fate averted again (or not)  Oedipus leaves Corinth to avoid his awful fate.  On the journey, he meets a man who rudely forces him from the road.  In retaliation, Oedipus pulls the man from his chariot and kills him. 4. What do you think of Oedipus’ act in this case?

6. Oedipus travels to Thebes…  Thebes is under seige of the Sphinx.  Oedipus saves the day.  Oedipus receives the throne of Thebes (the Queen is the bonus).  All goes well for 20 years. 5. How important is a leader’s judgment and health in view of his country’s success?

7. Where Antigone comes in…  Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta  She has three siblings: Ismene, sister Polyneices, brother Eteocles, brother  Antigone, Ismene live with their uncle, Creon, King of Thebes 6. As Princess of Thebes, what kind of life could Antigone enjoy? Think about everything you now know about her!

8. Prior to the story of Antigone (before the play opens)  In a fight for control of the throne of Thebes, Eteocles and Polyneices kill each other on the field of battle.  Because Polyneices raised an army against Thebes, Creon brands him a traitor.  He accords Eteocles full burial honors; but not Polyneices…

9. The characters of the drama  Antigone (daughter of Oedipus)  Ismene (her sister)  Creon (their uncle, the brother of Jocasta)  Eurydice (your-id-i-see) wife of Creon  Haimon (son of Creon & Eurydice)  Teiresias (Tie-ree-see-as) a blind prophet

10. Show me your thinking  Submit your writing as per each of the questions during this presentation by emailing the document AS AN ATTACHMENT.  Remember the subject line: My Thinking about Antigone