1. Antigone
By Sophocles

2. After this presentation, I want you to show me your thinking.
In addition to taking your own notes in your notebook, please write your responses to the presentation questions on a separate piece of paper to be turned in at the end of class.
All questions are in yellow.
The title should be, My Thinking about Antigone

3. Sophocles Born in 495 B.C. near Athens Wrote nearly 120 plays
Many were performed at the Theatre of Dionysus

4. Sophocles Only 7 of his plays survive
Antigone is chronologically the last in a trilogy surrounding Oedipus (her father)
All of the plays by Sophocles are considered tragedies

5. Elements of a Tragedy Main character comes to an unhappy end
Main character is usually respected and honorable
The character’s downfall usually comes from forces beyond his/her control
The “tragic hero” usually gains wisdom in the end

6. Tragic Hero Usually born from nobility (wealthy and powerful)
Possesses a “tragic flaw” such as pride or self-confidence that causes the character to disregard law or the gods
Is responsible for his/her own fate
Has potential for greatness but is doomed to fail
Stop here, day 1

7. Antigone Set after the war in Thebes
Story stresses “divine law” over those made by man
The name Antigone means "worthy of one's parents"
Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus, the king of Thebes

8. The Myth of Oedipus
Laius, the king of Thebes, and his wife Jocasta have a child, Oedipus
An oracle (fortuneteller) informs Laius and Jocasta that the baby is destined to kill his father and marry his mother
1. If this was your child, what would you do at this point? *Remember, you believe the oracle

9. The Myth of Oedipus
When the baby is born, Jocasta and Laius stab the baby in the ankles and give him to a servant to kill
But the servant can’t bring himself to kill the baby, so he gives him to a shepherd
The shepherd gives the baby to the king and queen of Corinth
They name the baby Oedipus, which means “swollen foot”

10. The Myth of Oedipus
When Oedipus grows up, he goes to see an oracle (just like his parents did)
The oracle tells him of his fate, the same one his parents were told about
2. What should Oedipus do?

11. The Myth of Oedipus Oedipus decides to flee Corinth
On his journey, he meets a rude group of noblemen and ends up killing one of them
When he gets to Thebes, he discovers it guarded by the Sphynx
She asks him a riddle before she will let him pass

12. The Myth of Oedipus The riddle:
3. What walks on four feet in the morning, two in the afternoon and three at night?
(If anyone gets this, it will blow my mind)

13. The Myth of Oedipus Oedipus is a hero when he gets to Thebes
As a reward, he marries the queen (Jocasta), who was recently widowed
They are happily married for 20 years and have 4 children, sons Polynices and Eteocles, and daughters Antigone and Ismene

14. The Myth of Oedipus
The family tree:

15. The Myth of Oedipus
And then Oedipus and Jocasta discover the awful truth
4. What do you think they should do?

16. The Myth of Oedipus 5. What do you think of their reactions?
Stop here on Day 2
5. What do you think of their reactions?

17. Back to Antigone
Following her parents’ deaths, Antigone is raised by her uncle Creon, king of Thebes
Brothers Polynices and Eteocles raise up armies to try and rule Thebes
They both die in battle

18. Antigone
Creon buries Eteocles with honor because he defended Creon’s rule
But Polynices is seen as a traitor and left for the animals
Antigone thinks this is violates divine law
She decides to bury her brother by herself
6. Which set of laws are more important?
Period 2 stopped here

19. Antigone
7. When, if at all, is it our responsibility to protest or break an unjust law?
8. What price should someone be willing to pay if s/he breaks an unjust law?
9. What is good leadership? Can a good leader show uncertainty and maintain leadership?
10. How much power do we have over our fates?

20. Antigone – the characters
Antigone, daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta
Ismene, Antigone’s sister
Creon, king of Thebes and Antigone’s uncle
Eurydice, Creon’s wife
Haimon, Creon and Eurydice’s son and Antigone’s boyfriend
Teiresias, the blind prophet