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Sophocles’ antigone

Sophocles’ antigone. Language Arts 3-4 H. Essential questions:. Do we have a moral responsibility to break and revolt against unjust laws? What price should we be willing to pay in order to go against an unfair edict? Can a leader be indecisive and still maintain control?

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Sophocles’ antigone

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  1. Sophocles’ antigone Language Arts 3-4 H

  2. Essential questions: • Do we have a moral responsibility to break and revolt against unjust laws? • What price should we be willing to pay in order to go against an unfair edict? • Can a leader be indecisive and still maintain control? • What is more important: being right, or being happy?

  3. Background: Sophocles • 496-406 B.C. • Wealthy Athenian family • Well-educated and well-connected • Politically astute (remember that democracy is a relatively new concept at this time!) • Beat established playwright Aeschylus in a drama competition in 468 B.C. and won either 1st or 2nd place in the same competition for 55 competitions over a span of 62 years • Regarded as the greatest ancient Greek playwright

  4. Background: Sophocles • Wrote about 123 plays, of which only 7 have survived • Themes include religious apathy, dangers of hubris

  5. Aristotelian Tragedy • Aristotle’s definition of tragedy as recorded in the Poetics: • Tragic hero has noble stature & greatness (socially and morally), BUT • Tragic hero is not perfect • Tragic hero’s downfall at least partially his own fault (generally hubris) • Punishment exceeds crime • Fall is not wholly a loss—there is awareness for the hero • Catharsis: purging of pity and fear

  6. Dramatic structure of a tragedy • Exposition • Exciting or inciting force • Rising action • Climax • Falling action • Moment of final suspense • Catastrophe

  7. Putting the “fun” back in dysfunctional

  8. Background: Oedipus • King Laius of Thebes & Queen Jocasta • Oracle says son will murder father & marry mother • Oedipus sent away to be killed . . . but instead gets adopted as the crown prince of Corinth • Oedipus learns of his fate from the Oracle and flees Corinth to escape it • Kills Laius at a crossroads en route to Thebes • Answers the Sphinx’s riddle, saves Thebans from Sphinx & gets the kingdom . . . and his mom. They have 4 kids. • Discovers the truth and gouges out eyes (would you?), Jocasta kills herself, and sons get the kingdom. BUT . . .

  9. Background: Oedipus • Eteocles and Polynices are supposed to take turns ruling the kingdom, but Eteocles won’t give up the throne at the end of a year • War ensues; brothers kill each other • Creon, Jocasta’s brother, takes the throne and declares Polynices a traitor . . . AND NOW . . . • All Antigone wants to do is to bury Polynices, but Creon won’t let her CONFLICT: DIVINE LAW VS. LAW OF MAN

  10. Cultural notes • Burial rites fell to women, who washed, dressed & adorned the body • Only close relatives participated in burial rites • Taken very seriously in Greek culture • But traitors and temple robbers don’t deserve burial in Athens . . . .right? • PROBLEM: Only a properly buried soul can proceed to the Underworld. • VIDEO CLIP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QLcG-Tk9sU&list=PLS2f6ihH9PYb3zt32ASNaYjFXhjULcEm7&index=8

  11. To consider: • The role of the citizen • Civil disobedience • Family obligation • Divine law vs. state law

  12. Terms to define • Chorus & Choragus • Hubris • Prologue • Parodos • Strophe • Antistrophe • Ode • Paean • Exodos

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