1. Antigone & Greek Theater

2. What does tragedy mean? Calamity with a unhappy but meaningful ending
Dramatic, disastrous event
Aristotle: The Poetics

3. Thematic Ideas Antigone explores three main themes…
1- individual conscience vs. state authority
2- fate vs. free will
3- the role of women in society

4. History of Greek Theater
Began as rural festivals in honor of Dionysus the god of wine, drunkenness, madness, ecstasy, masks, and impersonation

5. History cont.
In the sixth century BC, the tyrant of Athens ,Pisistratus, created the grand urban festival called the Great Dionysia.
These musical and dramatic performances were originally intended as acts of worship rather than pure entertainment. 

6. History cont. Began as a chorus.
Thespis created the one actor dialogue with the chorus.
Aeschylus introduced a second actor, and made dialogue between the characters more important ,in addition to, adding the potential for conflict.
Sophocles added a third actor.

7. Layout of the Greek theater
Orchestra
Theatron
“dancing place”
Simple circular place where chorus sang and danced
“watching place”
A hillside where
audience could watch
Later was marble
or wooden planks
Parados
Skene
“passageways”
Entrance and exit for audience
Paths used by chorus and some actors
“Tent”
Backstage in essence… usually looked like a building

8. Layout cont. Some theaters held as many as 17,000.
Front row and center section were for privileged spectators. prohedria (‘front-seating’)
The ordinary citizen was probably assigned by tribe (there were ten tribes) to one of thirteen wedges of the theater of Dionysus.
Women and non-citizens sat on outside.

9. Theater of Dionysus, 1st Century AD

10. Theatrical Machines Deus Ex Machina: “God from the Machine”
This term now is applied to any unbelievable, improbable, “miracle” ending.

11. The Actors All actors were men; female roles are played by men.
This cross-gender impersonation was made more believable by the use of masks

12. Actors cont.
In the beginning, playwrights performed in their own plays.
Actors became professionals when competition for prizes became fierce.
The word “protagonist” (first actor) was used by the Greeks metaphorically for “star,” “deuteragonist” for “helper” and “tritagonist” for “third rate

13. Format of a Greek play
Scenes of dialogue with actors are alternated with songs from the 15 man chorus.
This arrangement allows the chorus to comment in its song on what has been said and/or done in the preceding scene.

14. Structure of a Typical Tragedy
Prologue
Parados- Chorus Entrance Song
Episodes followed by Stasimons (Antigone has 4, Scene and Ode)
Final Episode
Paean- Hymn in praise of a God
Exodus- Chorus Exit Song

15. Chorus Choragus: Organizer and Leader of the Chorus
The chorus were non-professionals who had a talent for singing and dancing and were trained by the poet in preparation for the performance.
Strophe: Dance to the right
Antistrophe: Dance to the left

16. Elements of Tragedy Follows the classic plot structure Pity & Fear
Catharsis: Feeling of relief and exaltation
Hubris: Hero’s Tragic Flaw
Reversal of Protagonist’s Fortune
Recognition of fall and acceptance of responsibility
The public suffering of the Protagonist

17. Elements of Tragedy
Through action man reveals his possibilities for good and bad.
Ultimate risk reveals truth in his actions.
Action represents choice (freedom).
Choices lead to suffering.
Choices are not clearly good or evil; this presents a dilemma.

18. The Myth of Oedipus
King Laios and Queen Jocasta learn from the Oracle at Delphi that their newborn son will kill his father and marry his mother.
They give the kid to a shepherd, to leave to die on a hillside.

19. The Myth of Oedipus
The shepherd gives the kid to Polybus and Merope, king and queen of Corinth, to be brought up as their own son. They name him Oedipus, which means "swollen foot."

20. The Myth of Oedipus Oedipus learns of the prophecy.
He leaves Corinth for good.
During his wanderings he encounters an arrogant stranger who tries to run him off the road.
He kills the stranger, who is in fact, his father King Laios.

21. The Myth of Oedipus
Oedipus saves Thebes from the Sphinx by answering a riddle.

22. The Myth of Oedipus Oedipus is welcomed into Thebes as a hero.
He is offered the throne and Queen Jocasta.
They have two sons, Polyneices and Eteocles, and two daughters, Antigone and Ismene.

23. The Myth of Oedipus Things go great until a plague strikes Thebes.
Oedipus sends Creon to the Oracle at Delphi.
The oracle warns that the plague will not end until the murderer of King Laios is punished.

24. The Myth of Oedipus
After an investigation, Oedipus discovers the truth.
Jocasta kills herself.
Oedipus gouges his own eyes out to punish himself for being blind to the truth.
Creon takes over and banishes Oedipus.
Oedipus and Antigone wander as beggars until his death.

25. The Myth of Oedipus Antigone returns to Thebes
Eteocles and Polyneices set up alternate rule.
Eteocles refuses to give up throne.
There is a war. Brother kills brother.
King Creon buries Eteocles as a hero, but refuses to give Polyneices a burial.
This is where our story begins.

26. Thesis
The play Antigone, by Sophocles, is an ancient Greek tragedy that explores many themes that still have relevance today, such as, individual conscience vs. state authority, fate vs. free will and the role of women in society.