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Sophocles’ antigone

Dive into Sophocles' classic play exploring moral responsibility, defiance against unjust laws, and the clash between divine and human laws. Witness Antigone's struggle against King Creon's decree and the powerful consequences that follow.

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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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