Antigone Intro

8/3/2019 Antigone Intro

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Tragedy

What makes something tragic, instead of

merely sad?


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Introduction to

Greek Theatre &Antigone

Ms. Keener

English II


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Drama A story that is written and meant to be acted out in front of

an audience Theater comes from the Greek word theatron, or seeing

place, where Greek audiences say to watch drama

Origins of GreekD

rama Combination of two genres: Myth: stories that illustrate and explain a society

Epic: long, narrative poem telling deeds of a hero

Began as songs and dances performed atreligious ceremonies in honor of the god Dionysis,

the god of wine and procreation

Sophocles: greatest ancient Greek playwright

Plays dealt with morality


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Comedy & Tragedy

Comedy: isnt necessarily funny

Deals with average or below average people

During the play, they enjoy rise in status frombad circumstances to good

Rise in status is due to Fortune, or The Fates Characters speak in everyday language

Tragedy: isnt necessarily tragic

Deals with higher than average people: kings,

heroes, gods During the play, the suffer a fall from good

fortune

Fall is due to Fate

Characters speak in elevated language


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the Chorusisnt just repeated over & over again in a song

Made up of 15 elder actors in a drama

Think of the chorus as another actor

The Choragos is the leader of the chorus

During the drama, the chorus sings odes to: Separate one scene from the next

Give background information

Offer reflections on events in the drama Strophe: during the ode, the chorus moves

from right to left

Antistrophe: during the ode, the chorus

moves from left to right


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Aristotles Rules for Tragedya few things all good Tragedies should have

Hamartia: the tragic flaw that leads to the

heros downfall

Hubris: arrogance before the gods Reversal: the opposite of what the hero

intends to happens, happens

Recognition: The main character recognizeshis tragic flaw and why he must die, just as

he is about to do so


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Greek drama terms to know

Prologue: introductory scene, revealingbackground information

Parados: opening song in which the chorus

explains the central conflict

Exodus: the final scene; the exit


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Audience Seating

Side stage where the chorus danced from left to right

Stage where the actors

performed

Stage for the scenery


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The StageThree MainPortions of Greek

Theatre:

Skene Portion of

stage where actors

performed(included 1-3 doors

in and out)

Orchestra

Dancing Place

where chorus sangto the audience

Theatron Seating

for audience


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Sophocles


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Sophocles (496-406 B.C.E.) Authored approximately 120

dramas

Age 16 led the boys chorus

over the Persian Victory

Model Greek citizen-served

as imperial treasurer andstate commissioner, elected

to the office of the general

twice Priest of Asclepias

Sophocles did not act in his

own plays

Contributions to theContributions to thedevelopment of theater:development of theater:

o Introduction of third actor

o Reduction of chorus size which

led to greater emphasis on the

charactero Introduced painted scenery

o Introduced a new style of music

to plays

o Created characters that are

more realistic, not god-like thusreinforcing the lessons of the play


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The

Characters and thePlay


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Antigone: protagonist; strong mindeddaughter of Oedipus

Ismene: gentle older sister of Antigone Polyneices/Eteocles: Antigones

brothers

Creon: Antigones uncle, new king of

Thebes Eurydice: wife ofCreon

Haimon: son ofCreon and Eurydice,betrothed to Antigone

Teiresias: blind prophet

Chorus: citizens ofThebes

Choragos: leader of the chorus

Sentry: soldier


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The play begins with the news that

Antigones brothers, Eteocles andPolyneices, have killed each other.

Creon is the new king and he has

announced that Polyneices will be

left to rot where his body lies.

This edict goes against Greek

religious practices and Antigone is

determined to give her brother theburial he deserves.


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Cast of Characters

Make a chart showing the relationships

between the characters. Refer to your

notes and page 649 for assistance. You

will have 10 minutes to complete the task.


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Quickwrite

When, if ever, is it right to go against a rule

or an authority? Explain your answer.

Are rules meant to be broken? Or should

you follow the rules all the time.

Antigone Intro

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