Anti-G-One

ELA

When did Greek Drama begin?

6th Century BCE

Which Greek God is associated with Greek Tragedy?

Dionysus

What was Greek Drama like in the beginning?

A chorus often just sang and danced the story, Possible connections to Sparta. They usually used various dialects unfamiliar and was often poetryesque.

Who was credited with creating the idea of a main character? When? What else is he credited with?

Thespis, he’s also credited with inventing the dramatic genre tragedy

What does tragedy actually mean?

A goat song

Who introduced the idea of a second character?

Aeschylus in 525-456 BCE

What is Agamemnon? What are the two important things that happened in the story?

A king of Mycenae who sacrificed his daughter to appease the Greek gods but got slimed out by his wife when he returned back from war.

What is the tragic hero?

A powerful person who develops too much pride or acts arrogantly or in defiance of the gods. They then do something stupid, the gods get mad and show them whose boss, who slimes him out through the goddess nemesis.

Who is Sophocles? When was he born?

A greek play writer, 496-406 BCE

What was Sophocles known for?

He introduced the third character.

What is Oedipus Rex?

He is a king who had to escape the prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother.

How many children does Oedipus Rex have? Names?

4, Eteocles and Polynices (Slimed each other out), Antigone (Self Slimed) Ismene (Non-chalant)

Eumindes is a tragedy by who?

Aeschylus

Euripides is who, who created what? What is the storyline?

Euripides was a modern tragedian who was from 480-406BCE. He is most known for Medea.

Medea is a story where a soldier named Jason is leading his soldiers in search of the ram with the Golden Fleece. Jason meets Medea, the king’s daughter, and begins a relationship with her to remove the king from power. They live mostly happily until Jason cheats on Medea. Medea chases after Jason until she acts out, killing their children in payback to Jason.

Who is Antigone

• Daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta

• Sister of Eteocles, Polynices, and Ismene

• Main protagonist

• Loyal to divine law and family over human law

• Believes the gods’ laws matter more than Creon’s commands

• Tragic heroine whose stubbornness contributes to disaster

Who is Creon

• King of Thebes after the civil war

• Uncle of Antigone

• Represents state authority, order, and human law

• Declares Polynices a traitor and forbids burial

• Extremely prideful and stubborn

• His refusal to listen leads to multiple deaths

Who is Ismene

• Antigone’s sister

• Cautious and obedient

• Afraid to break Creon’s law

• Refuses to help bury Polynices at first

• Later tries to share blame with Antigone out of loyalty

Who is Haemon?

• Son of Creon

• Engaged to Antigone

• Initially respectful toward his father

• Tries to convince Creon to be reasonable

• Kills himself after Antigone dies

Who is Tiresias?

• Blind prophet

• Highly respected in Greek mythology

• Warns Creon the gods are angry

• Predicts Creon will suffer death in his family

• Symbolizes divine truth and wisdom

Who is Eurydice?

• Wife of Creon

• Mother of Haemon

• Appears near the end

• Commits suicide after learning Haemon died

• Curses Creon before dying

What is the role of the Chorus?

• Group of Theban elders

• Comment on events and themes

• Represent public opinion and traditional wisdom

• Reflect fear, morality, and reactions of society

What does “Hold them as is meet/For maidens and not wanderers in the street.”

It means women should behave modestly and stay obedient/private rather than acting publicly or rebelliously like Antigone does.

How is Zeus portrayed in Strophe 2?

Zeus is portrayed as all-powerful, undefeatable, and the ultimate force of justice who punishes pride and arrogance.

“whose mind God draws to calamity/An evil thing seems good” reminds us of

_______________________ in the tragic cycle.

It reminds us of hamartia/blindness caused by pride, especially in tragic heroes like Oedipus and Creon, where bad decisions appear good to them.

Cycle of a Tragic Hero

• Tragic Flaw: (harmatia) • A shortcoming in an otherwise admirable character that contributes to his ruin (often his hubris).

• Reversal: (peripateia) • An ironic reversal that occurs when a hero’s actions cause the opposite of what was intended.

• Discovery: • A discovery by the hero that will change his fortune.

• Suffering: • Physical suffering by the hero because of his discovery.

• Catharsis: • The purification from pollution (miasma) that the hero and audience receive; the soul is cleansed of the fear and pity caused by the reversal, discovery, and suffering.

• Restoration: (sophrosyne) • An uplifted state of harmony gained when the rational faculties control the desires and emotions of the hero and audience.

4. How does Haemon conduct himself in the presence of his father?

• Haemon behaves respectfully, calmly, and diplomatically at first. He speaks carefully and honors his father before disagreeing.

5. What does “do not…subdue they reason…lure” mean?

• It means do not let stubborn emotions overpower logic and good judgment.

6. How does Creon appear in talking about Antigone?

• Creon appears angry, prideful, controlling, and obsessed with authority and obedience.

7. Discuss “I praise him not…laws”

It means the Chorus cannot fully praise someone who breaks the laws of the state, even if their motives are understandable. It reflects the tension between divine law and human law.

8. Discuss “If fall I must…a girl.”

Creon means he would feel humiliated if a young woman defeated or disobeyed him without punishment.

9. Discuss “man’s peculiar prize”

“Man’s peculiar prize” refers to intelligence, wisdom, and the ability to reason — qualities unique to humanity.

10. What does it mean about the ruler whose “eye…strikes dread into the folk”?

It means a ruler who rules through fear terrifies citizens into obedience instead of earning respect.

11. “a maid/Most guiltless of all women…for deeds…most honorable.”

It means Antigone is viewed as morally innocent because she acted out of loyalty and honor toward her brother.

12. Why does Creon say, “They of the wisest mind…uppermost”?

Creon says intelligent people should obey authority and discipline rather than rebel against laws.

13. What does Haemon when he says that he is arguing in order to protect his father?

Haemon means he is advising Creon because he wants to save him from making disastrous mistakes.

14. Explain “Know then that her life shall cost another life.”

It means Antigone’s death will lead directly to another death — Haemon’s.

15. How does Creon interpret Haemon’s statement?

Creon interprets it as a threat against his own life.

16. What does Creon say he wants Haemon to see?

Creon wants Haemon to see Antigone executed and disgraced.

. What does that say about Creon’s state of mind?

It shows Creon has become irrational, cruel, and consumed by pride and anger.

. What will be Creon’s way of killing Antigone?

Creon plans to seal Antigone alive inside a cave/tomb

19. Why does Creon choose that way?

He chooses that method to avoid directly shedding her blood while still punishing her.

20. Who will Antigone be “marrying”?

Antigone will be “marrying” death/Hades.

21. What does Tiresias mean by “with steps in unison…the blind.” Who is the “we”?

Tiresias means that he, though blind, must be physically guided by others. The “we” refers to Tiresias and the boy leading him.

Why does Creon call him “grey”?

Creon calls him “grey” because Tiresias is old and elderly.

3. How has Creon treated Tiresias in the past?

• In the past, Creon respected Tiresias and trusted his prophecies.

24. What does Tiresias mean by “once more/Thou art standing on the razor edge of doom.”

• Tiresias means Creon is dangerously close to complete ruin and destruction.

. What led Tiresias to conclude that the gods are angry about something?

Tiresias noticed failed sacrifices and unnatural signs from birds and rituals, showing the gods rejected Thebes’ offerings.

26. Who are the gods angry at, and why?

The gods are angry at Creon because Polynices was left unburied and Antigone was imprisoned alive.

27. What theme does Tiresias emphasize that Haemon also spoke about?

Tiresias emphasizes the danger of stubbornness and excessive pride, the same warning Haemon gave.

28. What is Creon’s response to Tiresias’ words?

• Creon first responds with anger and accuses Tiresias of corruption and greed.

29. What grave prediction does Tiresias make about Creon?

• Tiresias predicts Creon will lose his own child as punishment for his actions.

30. What is Creon’s state of mind after Tiresias leaves?

• Creon becomes fearful, shaken, doubtful, and anxious after Tiresias leaves.

31. What news does the messenger bring?

• The messenger brings news that Antigone, Haemon, and later Eurydice are dead.

32. What lesson does the messenger impart with “Heap high…happiness.”

It means human happiness is fragile, and pride or fate can destroy success very quickly.

34. What did Haemon find in the cave?

Haemon found Antigone dead by suicide in the cave.

35. What was Haemon’s response upon seeing his father?

Haemon reacted with rage and grief, tried to attack Creon, then killed himself.

What new horrible news does Creon receive?

Creon receives news that Eurydice has also killed herself.