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Greek Life

Greek Life. Background Information for Antigone. Antigone Themes. Loyalty Power of unwritten law Limits of free will Civil disobedience Human limitations/importance of gods Pride. Political Climate in Athens. Intellectual Inquiry radical ideas democracy philosophy

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Greek Life

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  1. Greek Life Background Information forAntigone

  2. Antigone Themes • Loyalty • Power of unwritten law • Limits of free will • Civil disobedience • Human limitations/importance of gods • Pride

  3. Political Climatein Athens • Intellectual Inquiry • radical ideas • democracy • philosophy • arts & sciences • Religious Tradition • dictated thinking • controlled behavior

  4. Gender Roles Patriarchy • social system in which men are regarded as the authority within family and society; power & possessions are passed on father to son Women’s Roles • limiting expectations • do not get involved in issues • do not meddle in politics • virtually no rights • domestic duties • bear children • manage household • direct household slaves

  5. Importance ofBurial Rights • provide guidance to afterlife • prevent suffering of deceased • prevent haunting of family members

  6. Funeral Traditions • Visual Display • familywealth, pride, and bonding • mourners in black • Payment of Charon • ferries souls across Styx • coin in mouth • Hades’ Judgment • evil to Tartarus • average to Asphodel • heroic and blessed to Elysium

  7. Three Part Procedure • I: Laying Out of the Body (2 days) • washed, anointed, dressed • flowers and crown • mouth and eyes shut (to prevent psyche—soul—from leaving the body) • II: Cart Procession to Tomb • men lead • women follow • III: Interment • men bury ashes or corpse with possessions • placement of grave marker • women return to prepare banquet

  8. Stele: Grave Marker marker for a young girl circa 445 B.C.E. (Before Common Era) deceased with surviving father and son circa 340 B.C.E. * 317 B.C.E. Athens: elaborate stelai forbidden marker for a devotee of Isis circa 165 C.E. (Rome) family grave marker circa 360 B.C.E.

  9. Tending the Dead • Post Funeral Visitation • day 3 • day 9 • day 30 • Periodic Rituals • monthly • annually • holidays “Farewell & the Last Touch” circa 400 B.C.

  10. Greek Theater Background Information forAntigone

  11. Founders of Drama • Athens • 480 B.C.E. • greatest city/state after Persian Wars • Patronage of Wealthy Citizens • provided costuming • paid for actors’ training • considered a public and religious duty • theater contributions tax exempt

  12. Dionysian Festivals • Spring Season • open-air • natural lighting/ daytime • Theater of Dionysus • Athens • Competition • 4 to 5 days (i.e. Lollapolooza) • official judges • awards ceremony

  13. Theater of Dionysus Reserved seating for patron gods & goddesses (empty seats)

  14. Amphitheater Attendance • 15,000 spectators • prisoners released on bail • public business suspended

  15. The Stage • facility • amphitheater • tents • skenes (scenes) • temples • palaces

  16. The Actors • First Playsone actor only • Later3 per playwright • multiple roles • all male • elaborate masks • portray women • distinguish characters • 5th Century BCE as many as 3 actors on stage at a time

  17. Chorus & Choragos • Talented Amateurs • Choragos: spokesman • 15 member Chorus: Athenians • singers & dancers • engage in dialogue (not narrators) • Purpose • summarize • preview • community viewpoint

  18. Literary Terms • parodos chanted entrance song • paean hymns sung to Apollo • ode lyric poem marked by exaltation of feeling with varying line lengths

  19. The Oedipus Cycle Background Information forAntigone

  20. Sophocles 496 to 406 BCE • 120 plays • only 7 survive • Athenian Festival first prize 18 times • highly popular • well respected

  21. The Trilogy • Oedipus Rex • written second • 429 B.C.E. • Oedipus at Colonus • written last before his own death • circa 409 B.C.E. • Antigone • written first • 441 B.C.E. • last chronologically

  22. The Protagonist • Heroine • one of the earliest in world literature • young: 12 to 15 • fights patriarchy • Antigone • “against the family” • “opposed to” • “close to” • filial hyperbole • Ismene responds

  23. Greek Tragedy • Single Unified Action • complete & probable • of a certain magnitude • one character; two at most • language embellished • Human Error & Frailty • not vice or depravity • arouses reader’s emotion • pity • terror/fear • may lead to death

  24. Tragic Hero (according to Aristotle 384-322 B.C.E.) • High Position • conspicuous • wealth & power • good fortune • great potential • Human • both good & bad • pitied & feared • doomed to fail • punishment outweighs misfortune

  25. Tragic Flaw • Harmatia “error of judgment” • Hubris • a common flaw • excessive pride • arrogance

  26. Fate vs. Responsibility • Fate • preordained by prophecy • hero is doomed, not evil • Responsibility • choice • wrong decision • Ultimate Outcome • realize mistake • accept punishment • feel remorse

  27. The End

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