3. Antigone: Unity of Action Freytag’s Pyramid

5. Point of Attack

6. 3. Turning Point 2. Rising Action 4. Falling Action 1. Exposition
Point of Attack
2. Rising Action
4. Falling Action
1. Exposition
5. Denouement

7. 1. Exposition
Point of attack: Antigone tries to convince Ismene to help her bury Polynieces’ body.
Ismene refuses because of Creon’s decree; in the Parados, the Chorus tells us of the war between Argos and Thebes.

8. 2. Rising Action Creon accuses Ismene, too.
Soldier returns w/guilty person: Antigone.
Creon pronounces death on the person who did it.
Creon commands soldier to find the man who buried the body.
The soldier comes in to inform Creon the somebody has buried Polynieces’ body.
Creon explains his decree.

9. 2. Rising Action
Peripeteia: In the Exodus, the messenger explains that Haimon commits suicide after finding Antigone’s body.
Creon changes his mind and goes to rescue Antigone.
Tieresias issues warning and prophecy.
Antigone is sentenced to death (in cave) by Creon.
Haimon leaves and tells Creon he’ll never seem him again.
Haimon and Creon argue about whether Antigone’s actions were just or unjust.
Creon sentences both to stoning.

10. Anagnorisis (Recognition)
3. Turning Point
Anagnorisis (Recognition)

11. 4. Falling Action
Scene of suffering: Creon acknowledges his responsibility and has his sorrow compounded by his wife’s suicide.

12. 5. Resolution/Denouement
Creon admits that he’s wrong—his life is miserable. Chorus emphasizes the importance of moral law of man’s law.

13. Ancient Greeks cared deeply about the pursuit of knowledge
Ancient Greeks cared deeply about the pursuit of knowledge.  Although the truth was often a terrifying concept, they still saw it as a critical virtue.  The theater was one way in which the ideas of knowledge and truth were examined.