THEA 2040 1st Edition Lecture 7 Outline of Last Lecture I Greek Theatre a Chorus b Dithyramb c Thespis d Thespian II City Dionysia a Theatre of Dionysus b Choregus c Amphitheatre III Main features of ancient Greek Theatres IV Greek Tragedy V Ancient Greek Playwrights a Aeschylus b Sophocles c Euripides VI Greek Comedy Outline of Current Lecture I Antigone a Characters b Action c Plot Structure d Genre e Possible themes Current Lecture I Antigone a Basic elements i Written by playwright Sophocles 441 B C E based on a familiar Greek Myth ii The play takes place in the city of Thebes iii Action occurs in one place a square in front of the palace These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute iv Watched in the Theatre Dionysus b Characters i Antigone is the protagonist 1 Daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta ii Antione s two brothers are Polyneices and Eteokles iii Antigone s sister is Ismene iv Creon is the antagonist 1 King of Thebes and brother of Antigone s mom v Haemon is Antigone s fianc and son of Creon vi The wife of Creon is Eurydice vii Antigone s father is Oedipus viii Teiresias blind prophet ix Like all Greek tragedies there s a Chorus 1 They represent ordinary citizens elders of Thebes c The Action i The opening scene Pologos sets action and provides background information 1 Antigone s choice defy Creon by burying her brother 2 Ismene s choice obey Creon even though she doesn t agree She will not help Antigone ii The parados is when the chorus enters 1 They serve the purpose of a Provide background information b Raise philosophical questions c Urge main characters to show restraint iii The rest of the scenes alternate with choral odes 1 What is the effect of Antigone s choice a She is caught and brought before King Creon Admits her act of defiance honor to her bloodline with price b King Creon decides to sentence Antigone to be locked up in a cave starve die iv The final scene Exodos 1 Who dies a Antigone Haemon and Eurydice 2 Who lives yet suffers a Creon and Ismene d Plot Structure i It s linear there is a logical connection it takes place in a short time set in one locale and no secondary plot e Genre i Antigone is considered a Tragedy because it has 1 Hero makes moral philosophical choice a Antigone wants to bury her brother to honor the Gods 2 Hero heroine is usually a person of yoal noble blood a Her uncle is the King of Thebes 3 Hero heroine suffers a tragic fate at end due to character flaw a She is stubborn and prideful and gets caught burying him 4 Downfall of a royal figure a Creon lost his wife and son 5 Ultimately takes responsibility of his her choice a Antigone admits and is proud of her crime f Possible Themes i Women and Femininity ii Honor and duty to one s bloodline iii Justice injustice iv Freedom and Authority v Which law is greater the gods or mans vi Tragic flaw is excessive pride arrogance vii Love family