AP Lit Antigone Exam Flashcards

Sophocles birth

497 BCE in Athens

type of government in Antigone

exclusionary democracy

sophocles stance on equality

aware of the inequalities in Athens

Sophocles' plays include attempts to warn Greeks

of divine retribution that would be a result of their prejudices and injustice to the poor

Antigone explores themes of

pride, loyalty, and personal responsibility

Antigone - third part of trilogy which includes

Oedipus Rex and Oedipus at Colonus

*Antigone's conflict

the relationship of the individual's conscience to the demands of the state

Gods were not all-powerful but

subject to fate and each other's will

They were bound to enforce an ancient body of laws and traditions such as

treatment of relatives

The conflict in Antigone stems from the

"unnatural" occurrence of two brothers waging war against each other and ultimately killing each other

Greeks belief on free will

free will was no more powerful than destiny

Anagnorisis

Hero's epiphany, realization of error that has resulted in tragic downfall

Peripeteia

Reversal of fortune and downfall of tragic hero and events leading to that downfall (Creon, due to his stubborn insistence that his law be obeyed and his blindness to see that his law is in direct opposition to moral law, loses his only surviving son, his wife, and any chance of happiness. He ends up a broken man.)

Catharsis

deep suffering witnessed by the audience leads to a feeling of purgation, and draining of emotions, leaving them with a new sense of self-awareness and the ability to better understand life. Ironically, the audience feels better after viewing a tragedy (final renewal).

Hamartia

tragic flaw of hero, usually wrath or pride, that leads to his downfall. This error in judgement or perception, the inability to see his flaw or foresee the consequences of his actions, leads to the hero's downfall.

Hubris

exaggerated arrogance, self-pride, or self-confidence which often results in fatal retribution. Hubris against the gods is often the flaw of heroes in Greek tragedy and the cause of their destruction.

Greek Drama

all male casts, in daylight with minimal sets/props, no violene, masks

Three Unities of Aristotle

A) Unity of time - actions of play within 24 hours, continuous time

B) Unity of place - action limited to single setting

C) Unity of subject - one main plot focused on main character

Deus ex machina - (god from the machine)

Rescue of characters from complications beyond their abilities to resolve

Elements of Chorus

A) 15-20 men represented citizens

B) Always onstage - sang and danced

C) Leader who spoke with main character or rest of the Chorus

Functions of the chorus

Set the tone of the drama

Give background info

Recall events of the past

Interpret and summarize events

Ask questions

Offer opinions

Give advice

Stay objective

Act as jury of elders/wise men who listen to evidence in play and reach a moralistic conclusion

Sophocles intent with Oedipus Rex

to illustrate conflict between fate and free will and natural and human law.

Antigone's parents

Oedipus and Jocasta

Oedipus parents

Laius and Jocasta.

Why were Laius and his sons cursed

Because of his poor treatment of his host and his host's son

Opd Rex beginning

in medias res" (in the middle- plauge)

who ruled Thebes as a triumvirate

Jocasta, Oedipus, and Creon

when did Oedipus seek advice from the Oracle @ Delphi (shrine where deity reveals hidden knowledge). Then the truth was revealed.

only after a famine

*Oedipus' sons, _____, were cursed by their father by twice showing him disrespect.

Polynices and Eteocles

What happened when Oedipus and Jocasta realized the truth

Oedipus blinded himself, and Jocasta committed suicide.

what happened when the two brothers gained control of the throne

Eteocles refused to relinquish his power at the end of the year; Polynices then raised an army in the city of Argos and attacked Thebes. They killed each other in battle

Oedipus translation

"swollen foot" He appears with a limp because his feet were pinned together when he was a baby.

what theories of Freud come from Oed Rex

the Oedipus Complex and the Electra Complex

Oedipus characteristics

intelligence, confidence, rashness, and suffering

considered the greatest surviving Greek Tragedy

Oedipus Rex

tragic hero

a character of noble status and greatness of character, usually a man, the hero occupies a position of wealth, status, an power in his society AND he must exemplify the traits of nobility and virtue as part of his innate character

tragic hero through the audience eyes

the tragic hero is great, but not perfect. The audience must be able to sympathize with the tragic hero as a person like them, but with a higher position in society

often, the tragic hero's hamartia involves

hubris

tragic hero misfortune:

the hero's misfortune is not wholly deserved; the punishment exceeds the crime

result of the hero's loss

increase in awareness, some gain in self-knowledge, some discovery on the part of the tragic hero (anagnorisis)

greek drama importance

not just entertainment but a part of community celebration and religious ritual

Setting of Oedipus Rex

Thebes 430 BCE

Oedipus

tragic hero of the story, became the King of Thebes after having defeated the Sphinx. Once king he married the queen Jocasta and had 4 children with her

King Laius

King of Thebes prior to Oedipus and late husband to Queen Jocasta. He left his son to die on Mount Cithaeron because of a prophecy that he would kill Laius and sleep with the queen

Priest

high priest of thebes- medium between the people and the gods

Creon in Oedipus Rex

brother of Jocasta and brother in law to Oedipus

Messenger in Oedipus Rex

an old man and herald from Corinth (where Oedipus grew up)

servant in Oedipus Rex

an old shepherd who fled the attack of Laius and saved Oedipus as a baby

why, according to Antigone, is Zeus tormenting her and her sister

Oedipus' and the brother's actions

what side does the chorus favor?

Creon (they are citizens of Thebes)

one can infer from the passage that Thebes was a city with

seven gates

the purpose of the chorus's opening speech is to

provide plot explanation

according to the Chorus, the Argive army failed to conquer Thebes because of

hubris

this passage (Antigone) contains all of the following except

humor

creon's speech indicated that, above all, he values

loyalty to the state

The Chorus's introduction of Haemon suggests that Creon

had at least one other son, who died

Creon's long speech contains all of the following except

sagacity

In this passage, Sophocles portrays the Chorus of theban Elders as

weak and indecisive

Haemon telling his father, "Then she'll die-and in her death kill someone else" exposes Creon's

paranoia

In this passage, Haemon's behavior toward his father progresses from

cautious to combative

The Chrous's reaction to Eurydice's suggests that

all excuses are dangerous

the audience only now learns of the death of Maegareos in order to

add to Creon's utter loss

What does the Chorus finally conclude about fate vs. free will

the chorus remain ambivalent

at the revelation of Eurydice's suicide, Creon experiences his

anagnorisis

the "foolish man" to whom Creon refers in line 92 is

himself

born in 469 BCE

Socrates

considered strange and responsible for philosophy today

Socrates

did not write a single piece

Socrates

death and trial became the catalyst for the discipline of philosophy

Socrates

esteemed as highly as religious leaders

Socrates

an eccentric figure who wandered the marketplace and other public areas in shabby clothes

Socrates

Socrates questioned topics of

virtue, love, courage, wisdom

encouraged everyone of all ages to join him in his question and answer method to discover truths

Socrates

"Wisdom begins in wonder" "Know thyself" "No evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death" and "The only wisdom is in knowing you know nothing"

Socrates

the "Apology" is a

monoloque where Socrates explains himself, his final address to the court

refused several opportunities to escape from prison and carried out his own execution by drinking poison made from hemlock

Socrates

felt his enemies condemned him to escape accusation and avoid giving accounts of their lives

Socrates

in 399 convicted of corrupting the minds of his young students

Socrates

a student of Socrates and founder of the Academy

Plato

Plato greatest works

"The Republic" and "Dialogues"

writings examined concepts like freedom of conscience, the nature of reality, the existence of the soul, the ideal government, and how to live a virtuous and happy life

Plato

The Republic is based on

a Utopian society with three classes: philosopher kings, courageous guardians, and appetitive workers

theory of Ideals and Allegory of the Cave

Plato

ideas are the only reality

Plato

founded the Lyceum

Aristotle

Order of philosophers

Socrates, Plato, Aristotle

lived in athens during the Golden Age of Philosophy

Socrates

What was Socrates accused of?

corrupting the youth; impiety