1. Antigone & Greek Drama Notes

2. Purpose of Greek Drama Presented at annual religious festivals, honoring Dionysus (god of wine and fertility) Presented at annual religious festivals, honoring Dionysus (god of wine and fertility) Purpose was to ensure ethical and moral improvement of spectator and to ensure spiritual survival of community Purpose was to ensure ethical and moral improvement of spectator and to ensure spiritual survival of community

3. Mechanics of Greek Drama Actors all male Actors all male Wore masks, robes and elevated shoes Wore masks, robes and elevated shoes Scenes were always outdoors; indoor actions were reported by messengers Scenes were always outdoors; indoor actions were reported by messengers No violence on stage No violence on stage Unity in plot—no subplots or irrelevancies Unity in plot—no subplots or irrelevancies Action always took place in one day Action always took place in one day Stories/Legends well-known to Athenians Stories/Legends well-known to Athenians Told in trilogy format Told in trilogy format No curtains or intermissions No curtains or intermissions

4. CHORUS IN GREEK DRAMA The function of the chorus (group of 15) was to : The function of the chorus (group of 15) was to : interpret events interpret events relieve the tension relieve the tension generalize meaning of the action generalize meaning of the action converse with and give advice to the actors converse with and give advice to the actors give background information give background information Represented response of ordinary ppl to tragic events in play Represented response of ordinary ppl to tragic events in play Leader (choragos) acted as spokesman for the group Leader (choragos) acted as spokesman for the group

5. Why Tragedy? “ Out of great tragedy comes wisdom” “ Out of great tragedy comes wisdom” Arouses emotions of pity, fear, wonder, and awe. Arouses emotions of pity, fear, wonder, and awe. Tragic her must be a man or woman capable of great suffering. Tragic her must be a man or woman capable of great suffering. Tragedy explores the question of the ways of God to man. Tragedy explores the question of the ways of God to man. Tragedy purifies the emotions (catharsis). Tragedy purifies the emotions (catharsis). Tragedy shows how man or woman is brought to disaster by a single flaw in his or her own character. Tragedy shows how man or woman is brought to disaster by a single flaw in his or her own character.

6. Antigone and Greek Theatre Terms prologue – opening scene (introduction) prologue – opening scene (introduction) parados—opening song; chorus marching in from left or right parados—opening song; chorus marching in from left or right scene—division of play; no acts scene—division of play; no acts ode—song dividing scenes sung by chorus which develops importance of the action; similar to modern- day curtain ode—song dividing scenes sung by chorus which develops importance of the action; similar to modern- day curtain paean—part of play giving thanks to Dionysus paean—part of play giving thanks to Dionysus exodus—final scene of play exodus—final scene of play

7. Terms Cont. skene—wooden building with three doors through which actors made their entrances and exits skene—wooden building with three doors through which actors made their entrances and exits orchestra—dancing place of the chorus orchestra—dancing place of the chorus thymele—altar to Dionysus on which sacrifices were made thymele—altar to Dionysus on which sacrifices were made proscenium—level area in front of skene on which most the the action took place proscenium—level area in front of skene on which most the the action took place strophe—a turning, right to left, by chorus strophe—a turning, right to left, by chorus antistrophe—a turning, left to right, by chorus antistrophe—a turning, left to right, by chorus epode—the part of a ode following the strophe and antistrophe epode—the part of a ode following the strophe and antistrophe

8. Greek Terms Hubris—excessive pride or arrogance Hubris—excessive pride or arrogance Humartia– error in judgment, especially resulting from a defect in the character of a tragic hero; tragic flaw Humartia– error in judgment, especially resulting from a defect in the character of a tragic hero; tragic flaw

9. Oedipus Myth Just listen: Just listen: Laios—Iocaste (Jocasta) Laios—Iocaste (Jocasta) Oedipus—Iocaste (Jocasta) Oedipus—Iocaste (Jocasta) Eteocles—Polyneices—Ismene—Antigone Eteocles—Polyneices—Ismene—Antigone

10. Cast of Characters Antigone—daughter of Oedipus Antigone—daughter of Oedipus Ismene—daughter of Oedipus Ismene—daughter of Oedipus Creon—King of Thebes, uncle of Antigone and Ismene Creon—King of Thebes, uncle of Antigone and Ismene Haemon—Creon’s son; engaged to Antigone Haemon—Creon’s son; engaged to Antigone Eurydice—wife of Creon Eurydice—wife of Creon Teiresias—blind prophet Teiresias—blind prophet