2. Classical Greek Drama Arose in Athens as a religious celebration Evolved during the 6 th century BC

3. The Greek Theatre Skene –Long building which served as- a backdrop for the action a dressing room Orchestra –A spacious floor Theatron –Where the audience sat

4. Actors & Chorus All men Wore – –robes, –huge masks, –& elevated shoes Chorus (group of 15) Choragus (leader of the chorus)

5. The Chorus The chorus serves as an intermediary between the actors and the audience. They produce imagery through their words to create scenery that in those days did not exist.

6. Tragedy & Tragic Hero Tragedy –drama that recounts the downfall of a dignified, superior character who is involved in historically or socially significant events Tragic Hero As defined by Aristotle –One of high status –Suffers a downfall as the result of a tragic flaw

7. Mythological Sources (pg 965) Myths Legends Dramatic irony Greek Deities

8. Sophocles 496BC - 406BC Born in 496 BC at Colonus, near Athens Revered for his genius during his own lifetime Lived to the age of ninety, and his life coincided with the great golden age of the city- state of Athens Lived and died as one of Athens' most beloved citizens.

9. About the Author An Innovator in his art- Improved stage scenery Reduced the importance of the chorus Added a third speaking actor to the traditional two –Made some of the best use of this last convention, writing scenes that capitalized on the dramatic potential of three on- stage actors Most famous for the Theban Plays, also known as the Oedipus Cycle: Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone.

10. Background for Antigone Cadmus was the founder of Thebes & an ancestor of Oedipus When Laius, one of the Theban kings, asked Apollo, through his oracle at Delphi, whether he and his wife Jocasta would have a son, the oracle replied that they would, but that- – this son was destined to kill his father. Well, DAD- what are you going to do?

11. How Oedipus Gets His Name? King Laius decides to pierce the baby boy’s ankles, bound them together with a leather thong, and gave the baby to a herdsman to take to the woods to leave to die. Pitying the infant, the herdsman instead gave the baby to another shepherd, who took the child back to his native city, Corinth Where he gave him to the Polybus and Merope, the childless rulers of that city and the royal couple named him Oedipus (“swollen foot”) and raised him as their own son. So now, everyone lives happily ever after, right?

12. Oedipus’s Teenage Years When Oedipus was grown, some companions taunted him, saying he was not the legitimate son of Polybus. Troubled, Oedipus traveled to Delphi to consult the oracle, which prophesied that he was destined to kill his father and marry his mother. Odeipus left Delphi swearing never to return to Corinth, seeking in that way to avoid the awful fate predicted by the oracle. Can you avoid your fate?

13. Guess What Happens Next? However, at a crossroads where three roads (or a bridge) came together, Oedipus met an entourage led by a haughty aristocrat who refused to make way for him. Rules of the road dictate that- – the highest ranking go first. Some versions claim that the man’s caravan runs over Oedipus’s foot (thus explaining the name). Enraged, he killed the older man and all his servants except for a lowly herdsman. Guess Who the Man Was?

14. Oedipus Meets the Sphinx Oedipus soon arrived at Thebes, which was suffering terribly from a Sphinx, –A monstrous winged lion with the head of a woman –Posed a riddle to all travelers and devoured them when they failed to solve it. “What animal goes on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening?”

15. Sphinx Confronted Oedipus He solved it with the answer “ Man, who crawls as a baby, walks on two legs in his prime, and walks with the aid of a stick when old.” Defeated, the Sphinx cast herself from the cliff. Having saved the city, Oedipus was proclaimed king to replace the slain Laius and married the queen, Jocasta.

16. So finally happily ever after?? When the herdsman made his way back to the city, he saw that the man who had killed his master was now king, so he asked to be assigned far from the city. After many prosperous years during which four children were born to Oedipus and Jocasta, a terrible plague ravaged the population of Thebes –alluded to the devastating plague that swept through Athens in 429 BC

17. Not the Oracle, Again!! The oracle proclaimed that Thebes was harboring a pollution--the murderer of Laius, and the sickness would not leave until this pollution was cast from the land. Oedipus’ efforts to discover who this murderer was ultimately reveal that he was the land 's pollution; seeking to avoid his fate, –he had unknowingly killed his real father, –married his mother, –and produced 4 children who were also his siblings.

18. What Would You Do? When the truth is revealed- – Jocasta hangs herself –and Oedipus takes her brooch and stabs his eyes until he can no longer see.

19. Myth of Antigone

20. Creon Takes Charge Oedipus’ two daughters, Antigone and Ismene, accompanied him into exile, while his two sons, Eteocles and Polyneices remained in Thebes, where Jocasta's brother Creon was ruling as regent. When the boys were grown, they agreed to rule Thebes alternately. What Would You Do?

21. The Battle Begins! Eteocles ruled first, but when his year was up he refused to relinquish the throne to Polyneices. Polyneices, who had married the daughter of the king of Argos, led the Argives and six other cities in an assault on Thebes. Thebes drove off the attackers, but in the course of the battle the two brothers killed each other.

22. This is Where Our Story Begins— Antigone!! Their uncle Creon assumed the throne and decreed that – –Eteocles was to be buried with honors –but his brother Polyneices was to be left unburied, to rot in the sun and be eaten by scavengers.