Antigone by Sophocles

Sophocles

Playwright born in 496 BC and died in 406 BC

Born in Athens, Greece

Wrote the Theban Trilogy

Theban Trilogy

1. Oedipus the King- wrote in 429 BCE

2. Oedipus at Colonus

3. Antigone

Oedipus the King

Wrote in 429 BCE

Takes place in the city of Thebes

Alternate title- Oedipus Rex

The myth of Oedipus

the legend of Oedipus and his tragic life existed for hundreds of years before Sophocles wrote the play, Oedipus the King

Legend says:

a long time ago, around 1500 BCE, a man names Cadmus founded the city of Thebes

Unfortunately Cadmus angered Apollo by killing the god's favorite snake

as punishment, Cadmus's descendants would now be cursed

Each generation's curse was prophesied by Apollo's oracle

Oracle

A person who can tell the future, or have insights about specific events

Doesn't have this ability on their own - spoken to by a certain god and convey that information

The curse

the final generation involves King Laius and Queen Jocasta

The prophecy

if Laius, king of Thebes, has a son by Jocasta, his queen, that son would kill his father

What happened when Laius and Jocasta have a son?

King Laius had a metal rod pierced into his son's ankles and instructed a household servant too leave the unnamed baby on Mount Cithaeron to die

Who did the servant give the baby to?

A shephard

Who did the shepherd give the baby to?

Merope, the wife of Polybus, King of Corinth; who named the baby Oedipus (swollen foot)

What happened in Corinth?

Young Oedipus was teased for not being the true son of King Polybus

He then consulted the oracle of Apollo at Delphi regarding the situation

He wants to know if Polybus and Merope are his true parents

What does the priestess say?

She drove him away from Apollo's shrine by declaring that Oedipus would kill his father, marry his mother, and his kids would be famous

Oedipus was horrified and runs away from Corinth, the home of his supposed parents to avoid fulfilling the prophecy

What happens not far from Delphi?

Oedipus meets a ,am om a Chariot at a place where three roads meet

When Oedipus refused to move for the man, the man runs over his foot

Oedipus then kills the rider and the Charioteer

What happens when Oedipus makes his way to Thebes?

There is a monster, The Sphinx, terrorizing them, and there is news that King Laius, ruler of Thebes, had been murdered on his way to Delphi

What did Creon, the brother of the queen do?

He offered the hand of his sister Jocasta, Laius's widow, and a share in the kingdom to any man who could correctly answer the riddle of the Sphinx

Who solved the riddle and what happens?

Oedipus solves the riddle, causing the Sphinx to kill herself

Oedipus is made King of Thebes and marries Jocasta

He rules Thebes for 20 years, and they have 4 kids

What begins to happen in Thebes

Thebes is visited with a plague because Laius's murderer is living in Thebes, unpunished for his crime

Oedipus opens an investigation on the murder to cure Thebes of the plague

At this point, the story of Oedipus, Sophocles begins Oedipus the King

What happens with the investigation?

Oedipus finds everything out about the truth of the murder

Jocasta found out before him and killed herself

Oedipus blinds himself

Basics of Greek Drama

The Theatre- Greek Drama usually accompanied religious festivals; a way of honoring the gods

The Stage

Greek plaus were held in honor of Diongsus, the greek god of wine and revelry

tragedy means "goat story"

Four main portions of Greek Theatre

Skene, orchestra, theatron, parados

Skene

Portion of the stage where actors performed; included 1-3 doors

Orchestra

"Dancing place" where chorus sang to the audience

Theatron

Seating for audience

Parados

Side entrance to stage

Ob-skener

Obscene

Acting in Greek Drama

Actors wore masks

Acting was more formalized, stylized, and stately (called declarative writing)

Masks

Designed to help actors with voice projection

Tragedy

Serious or somber theme

Story of a great person through a flaw of a specific character

Leads to downfall or destruction

All must provide Catharsis (emotional purge)

the chorus

Main function- to sing and dance lyric codes between dramatic episodes

To explain the action

Represents citizens/society; like the narrator of a modern film

Aristotle's Unities

Time- story should take place in one day

Place- set in a single place

Plot- only a single plot

Anagoris

A recognition brought on by a series of events of signs

Hamartia

Tragic flaw

Peripetia

Reversal of fortune (downfall from happy to misery)

Catharsis

Emotional purging that leads to purification; moment of most terror and pity for audience

Hubris

Excessive pride