1. Prentice Hall Literature World Masterpieces

2. enjoyed a comfortable life in a well-to-do family age 28--won the wreath in his first play competition -- Antigone wrote 123 plays/7 survived intact end of Sophocles' life--Peloponnesian War/time of political turmoil Sophocles surviving plays--deeply troubling

3. (tragedy) - a serious drama featuring a noble, dignified main character (often a member of royalty) who strives to achieve something and is ultimately defeated (tragic flaw) - a character flaw or weakness that eventually leads to a character's downfall Festival of Dionysus: 4 day celebration in honor of Dionysus, god of wine and revelry plays were performed/competition

4. Aristotle’s Definition of a Tragic Hero: 1. Should be ruler or leader 2. Of good character (neither exceptionally virtuous or exceptionally evil) 3. Tragic hero goes through one or more reversals of fortune, leading to final recognition of truth

5. 4. Misfortune brought about by some error of judgment or frailty – “hamartia” (tragic flaw) 5. Tragic hero profound suffering in this process 6. Audience should be moved by pity and fear

6. Irony is the contrast between what appears to be and what actually exists. 3 Types of Irony..... (verbal irony)—when a character says one thing but means another (situational irony)—what happens is different from what’s expected to happen (dramatic irony)—the audience or reader is aware of critical information that a character does not know

7. Sophocles wrote the 3 plays over a 36 year period Antigone was written first 1. --Oedipus Rex (written second) 2. --Oedipus at Colonus (written last) 3. --Antigone (written first)