Post on 18-Jan-2016
Antigone & Greek Antigone & Greek Drama NotesDrama Notes
Purpose of Greek DramaPurpose of Greek Drama
Presented at annual religious festivals, honoring Presented at annual religious festivals, honoring Dionysus (god of wine and fertility) Dionysus (god of wine and fertility)
Purpose was to ensure ethical and moral Purpose was to ensure ethical and moral improvement of spectator and to ensure spiritual improvement of spectator and to ensure spiritual survival of community survival of community
Mechanics of Greek DramaMechanics of Greek Drama Actors all maleActors all male Wore masks, robes and elevated shoesWore masks, robes and elevated shoes Scenes were always outdoors; indoor actions Scenes were always outdoors; indoor actions
were reported by messengerswere reported by messengers No violence on stageNo violence on stage Unity in plot—no subplots or irrelevanciesUnity in plot—no subplots or irrelevancies Action always took place in one dayAction always took place in one day Stories/Legends well-known to AtheniansStories/Legends well-known to Athenians Told in trilogy formatTold in trilogy format No curtains or intermissions No curtains or intermissions
CHORUS IN GREEK DRAMACHORUS IN GREEK DRAMA The function of the chorus (group of The function of the chorus (group of
15) was to :15) was to : interpret eventsinterpret events relieve the tensionrelieve the tension generalize meaning of the actiongeneralize meaning of the action converse with and give advice to converse with and give advice to
the actorsthe actors give background informationgive background information Represented response of ordinary Represented response of ordinary
ppl to tragic events in playppl to tragic events in play Leader (Leader (choragoschoragos) acted as ) acted as
spokesman for the groupspokesman for the group
Why Tragedy? Why Tragedy?
“ “ Out of great tragedy comes wisdom” Out of great tragedy comes wisdom” Arouses emotions of pity, fear, wonder, Arouses emotions of pity, fear, wonder,
and awe.and awe. Tragic her must be a man or woman Tragic her must be a man or woman
capable of great suffering.capable of great suffering. Tragedy explores the question of the ways Tragedy explores the question of the ways
of God to man.of God to man. Tragedy purifies the emotions (catharsis).Tragedy purifies the emotions (catharsis). Tragedy shows how man or woman is Tragedy shows how man or woman is
brought to disaster by a single flaw in his brought to disaster by a single flaw in his or her own character.or her own character.
Antigone Antigone andand Greek Theatre Greek Theatre Terms Terms
prologueprologue – opening scene (introduction) – opening scene (introduction)
paradosparados—opening song; chorus marching in from —opening song; chorus marching in from left or rightleft or right
scenescene—division of play; no acts—division of play; no acts
odeode—song dividing scenes sung by chorus which —song dividing scenes sung by chorus which develops importance of the action; similar to develops importance of the action; similar to modern-day curtainmodern-day curtain
paeanpaean—part of play giving thanks to Dionysus—part of play giving thanks to Dionysus
exodusexodus—final scene of play—final scene of play
Terms Cont. Terms Cont.
skeneskene—wooden building with three doors through —wooden building with three doors through which actors made their entrances and exitswhich actors made their entrances and exits
orchestraorchestra—dancing place of the chorus—dancing place of the chorus thymelethymele—altar to Dionysus on which sacrifices —altar to Dionysus on which sacrifices
were madewere made prosceniumproscenium—level area in front of skene on which —level area in front of skene on which
most the the action took placemost the the action took place strophestrophe—a turning, right to left, by chorus—a turning, right to left, by chorus antistropheantistrophe—a turning, left to right, by chorus—a turning, left to right, by chorus epodeepode—the part of a ode following the strophe —the part of a ode following the strophe
and antistropheand antistrophe
Greek Terms Greek Terms
Hubris—excessive pride or arroganceHubris—excessive pride or arrogance
Humartia– error in judgment, Humartia– error in judgment, especially resulting from a defect in especially resulting from a defect in the character of a tragic hero; tragic the character of a tragic hero; tragic flawflaw
Oedipus MythOedipus Myth
Just listen: Just listen: Laios—Iocaste (Jocasta)Laios—Iocaste (Jocasta)Oedipus—Iocaste (Jocasta)Oedipus—Iocaste (Jocasta)Eteocles—Polyneices—Ismene—Eteocles—Polyneices—Ismene—
AntigoneAntigone
Cast of CharactersCast of Characters
Antigone—daughter of OedipusAntigone—daughter of Oedipus Ismene—daughter of OedipusIsmene—daughter of OedipusCreon—King of Thebes, uncle of Creon—King of Thebes, uncle of
Antigone and IsmeneAntigone and IsmeneHaemon—Creon’s son; engaged to Haemon—Creon’s son; engaged to
AntigoneAntigoneEurydice—wife of CreonEurydice—wife of CreonTeiresias—blind prophetTeiresias—blind prophet