Antigone

1. Antigone A Greek Tragedy by Sophocles

2. Greek Theater came out of festivals that were given to honor the Greek God Dionysus Developed over several hundred years. Eventually, it evolved into modern theater (over thousands of years) Sophocles introduced a number of changes to the theater

3. God of Fertility and Wine • Some Athenians worshiped him. They were the cult of Dionysus. • Drank wine • Ate raw flesh • The Dionysiac ceremonies were simple at the beginning • little by little became more complex and were accompanied by flute, and drums.

4. Dithyrambs: Songs sung in praise of Dionysus • A special kind of lyric choral poetry • A DITHYRAMB was an hymn to god Dionysus, a song accompanied by flute • At first in Dithyrambous, there were no actors • There was a leader of the dithyramb, the EXCHARON

5. Chorus • The chorus was considered to be the mouthpiece of society (in its humble form) and morality and suffered along with the heroes. • After Sophocles, the chorus had 15 members and stood in a circle

6. Thespis • Greek poet who reputedly originated Greek tragedy • Modified the dithyramb (which had been, in effect, exchanges between the leader and the chorus) by introducing an actor separate from the chorus. • This actor was called the hypocrit or “responder.” Thus there developed a spoken dialogue.

7. Architecture of Ancient Greek Theater • Greek theatre buildings were called a theatron ('seeing place') • The theatres were large, open-air structures constructed on the slopes of hills.

8. Greek Theater • Amphitheater: semi-circle with a central viewing area

9. The centerpiece of the theatre was the orchestra, or "dancing place", a large circular or rectangular area. Site of the choral performances, the religious rites, and, possibly, the acting. Greek theatre buildings were called a theatron ('seeing place')

10. SKENE-Behind the orchestraused as a "backstage" area where actors could change their costumes and mask, Sophocles first started painting scenery to the façade of the skene.

11. Paraskenia

12. Ancient Greek Masks • The use of masks in ancient greek theater draw their origin from the ancient dionysiac cult. • The members of the chorus wore masks, usually similar to each other but completely different from the leading actors • Because the number of actors varied from one to three, they had to put on different masks, in order to play more roles. • The actors were all men. The mask was therefore necessary to let them play the female roles.

13. Tragedy • A drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances.

14. Greek Theater - Parts Thymele

15. Greek Theater – Parts Defined Thymele – altar for god(s), in middle of “stage” Praskenion – dressing room for actors Skene – place for scenery Orchestra – where the actors performed, at front of “stage” Theatron – place for audience to sit

16. History • Plays were a part of festivals to honor the gods. Oedipus honors the deity, Dionysus, god of fertility. • Every citizen attended these plays, sometimes up to 15,000. • At the end of the festivals, judges would vote on the best play.

17. Greek Drama • One of the oldest forms of drama (6th century) • Grew out of religion and myth • Performed at religious festivals to honor Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility • Only male actors allowed to perform • Costumes were high boots, large padded clothing, and masks made of linen or leather attached to wood.

18. Sophocles • Considered the greatest playwright from Ancient Greece. • It is believed he won the Athenian festival eighteen times. • Very involved in political and militarily affairs. • Oedipus Rex is part of a trilogy.

19. Sophocles the Innovator • Added a 3rd actor. • First to include painted scenery. • Reduced the size of the chorus to fifteen men. Purpose of chorus is to represent the citizens who often question, advise, and express opinions. • Never showed violent scenes on stage. Violence was reported by a messenger, a character in the play.

20. Aristotle’s Definition of Tragedy • A Greek Tragedy…. • is based on past events familiar to the audience; • has a main protagonist of noble status or birth; • has a main protagonist whose downfall is caused by a character flaw; • has a protagonist who, in spite of his flaw, gets sympathy from the audience; • has a protagonist who gains self-knowledge through his fall; • has a plot that unfolds in one place in a short period of time, usually about a day. • allows the audience the chance to experience catharsis (a release of pent-up emotions)

21. Hamartia Character flaw or judgment error of the protagonist of a Greek tragedy. Hamartia is derived the Greek word hamartanein, meaning to err or to make a mistake. The first writer to use the term was Aristotle, in The Poetics.

22. Hubris Great pride. Hubris often is the character flaw (hamartia) of a protagonist in Greek drama. Pride was considered a grave sin because it placed too much emphasis on individual will, thereby downplaying the will of the state and endangering the community as a whole. Because pride makes people unwilling to accept wise counsel, they act rashly and make bad decisions. 

23. Anagnorisis Startling discovery; moment of epiphany; time of revelation when a character discovers his true identity. In other words, this is the “Aha!” or “Oh no!” moment of the play, depending upon the nature of the revelation.

24. Catharsis In literature and art, a release of tension / pent-up emotions.The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) used the term to describe the effect on the audience of a tragedy acted out on a theater stage. This effect consists in cleansing the audience of disturbing emotions, such as fear and pity, thereby releasing tension.

25. Themes • Theme: The central idea or insight to a work of literature. • Fate vs. Free Will– In ancient Greek culture, it was questioned whether it was possible to avoid one’s fate by simple chance or an attempt to avoid prophecy. Oedipus and the Sphinx

26. The Characters The Royal Family Laius (LAY oos) Jocasta (jo KAS tuh) Creon (KREE ahn) her brother Oedipus (ED i pus) their son

27. The CharactersOedipus’ Family The Thebans The Royal Family Oedipus (ED i pus) Jocasta (jo KAS tuh) daughters Antigone (an TIG uh nee) Ismene (is MEE nee)

28. Greek gods • Dionysus –god of wine, fertility, and drama • Apollo –god of healing and prophecy • Zeus –the supreme deity of gods • Athena – goddess of wisdom Dionysus Apollo

29. Delphi’s Oracle • Oracle of Delphi • Most important shrine in Greece – for the god Apollo • Built around a sacred spring, was considered to be the “opmhalos” (the navel) – the center of the world • Priestess of Apollo – Pythia – gave cryptic answers to those seeking answers

30. Sphinx a winged, man-eating creature with a lion’s body and a woman’s head, vicious and single minded

31. The Sphinx’s Riddle • The Sphinx plagued Thebes with her riddle. • “What walks on four legs in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three in the evening?” • When Oedipus solved the riddle, the Sphinx killed herself and he inherited the throne of Thebes, which also included its queen, Jocasta. Oedipus and the Sphinx

32. Tragic Hero • character who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw that, combined with fate and external forces, brings on a tragedy • Hamartia: weakness or flaw in a character. • Hubris: excessive pride or arrogance • Catharsis: self-realization and self-awareness

33. Sophocles • Greek dramatist. Together with Euripides and Aeschylus, he is considered one of the greatest dramatists of ancient Greece. His surviving plays include Ajax, Oedipus Rex, Antigone, and Oedipus at Colonus • A man of wealth, charm, and genius, Sophocles was given posts of responsibility in peace and in war by the Athenians. He was a general and a priest; after his death he was worshiped as a hero • he composed about 123 dramas), winning first place about 20 times and never falling lower than second • A definitive innovator in the drama, he added a third actor—thereby tremendously increasing the dramatic possibilities of the medium—increased the size of the chorus, abandoned the trilogy of plays for the self-contained tragedy, and introduced scene painting.

34. Antigone • a tragedy written in 442 BC by Sophocles • chronologically the third of the three Theban plays but was written first • Oedipus the King • Oedipus at Colonus • Antigone

35. After Oedipus is exiled, he leaves the ruling rights of Thebes to his two sons, Eteocles and Polynices who must take it in turns to rule. • Eteocles rules first but the two becomes enemies after Eteocles refues to give up the throne, and Polynieces is exiled. • At the beginning of the play, both brothers are dead, apparently slain by the other's hand.

36. The current ruler, Creon, has made a decree: Since Polynices fought against Thebes, he shall not be buried. Meanwhile, Eteocles is to be buried with full military honors.

37. Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus and the sister of the dead brothers, believes this proclamation to be against the gods' orders. • She confides her plan to bury Polynices herself to her sister Ismene. The more timid of the two, Ismene refuses to take part out of fear, but agrees with her motive.

38. Why study Antigone? • Ancient Greek Drama is the basis for all modern drama and film • The story gives many important clues to the Ancient Greek culture and character • Tragedies still contain the basic elements that they originated with

39. Film Versions of Antigone • Antigone (1964) Directed by Yorgos Javellas, Sophocles’ play about the daughter of King Oedipus caught in a moral dilemma about whether to obey the laws of the state or to follow her conscience is brought to the screen with Irene Papas performing the title role. English subtitles • Antigone (1974)Directed by Gerald Freedman, this screen adaptation of Sophocles’ play stars Genevieve Bujold, Stacy Keach, and Fritz Weaver. • Antigone (1984)Don Taylor directed this made for TV adaptation of Sophocles’ play