Greek Life Background Information for Antigone Antigone Themes
Greek Life Background Information for Antigone
Antigone Themes Loyalty Power of unwritten law Limits of free will Civil disobedience Human limitations/importance of gods Pride
Political Climate in Athens Intellectual Inquiry radical ideas democracy philosophy arts & sciences Religious Tradition dictated thinking controlled behavior
Gender Roles Patriarchy social system in which men are regarded as the authority within family and society; power & possessions are passed on father to son Women’s Roles limiting expectations do not get involved in issues do not meddle in politics virtually no rights domestic duties bear children manage household direct household slaves
Importance of Burial Rights provide guidance to afterlife prevent suffering of deceased prevent haunting of family members
Funeral Traditions Visual Display family wealth, pride, and bonding mourners in black Payment of Charon ferries souls across Styx coin in mouth Hades’ Judgment evil to Tartarus average to Asphodel heroic and blessed to Elysium
Three Part Procedure I: Laying Out of the Body (2 days) washed, anointed, dressed flowers and crown mouth and eyes shut (to prevent psyche—soul—from leaving the body) II: Cart Procession to Tomb men lead women follow III: Interment men bury ashes or corpse with possessions placement of grave marker women return to prepare banquet
Stele: Grave Marker marker for a young girl circa 445 B. C. E. (Before Common Era) family grave marker circa 360 B. C. E. deceased with surviving father and son circa 340 B. C. E. marker for a devotee of Isis circa 165 C. E. (Rome) * 317 B. C. E. Athens: elaborate stelai forbidden
Tending the Dead Post Funeral Visitation day 3 day 9 day 30 Periodic Rituals monthly annually holidays “Farewell & the Last Touch” circa 400 B. C.
Greek Theater Background Information for Antigone
Founders of Drama Athens 480 B. C. E. greatest city/state after Persian Wars Patronage of Wealthy Citizens provided costuming paid for actors’ training considered a public and religious duty theater contributions tax exempt
Dionysian Festivals Spring Season open-air natural lighting/ daytime Theater of Dionysus Athens Competition 4 to 5 days (i. e. Lollapolooza) official judges awards ceremony
Theater of Dionysus Reserved seating for patron gods & goddesses (empty seats)
Amphitheater Attendance 15, 000 spectators prisoners released on bail public business suspended
The Stage facility amphitheater tents skenes (scenes) temples palaces
The Actors First Plays one actor only Later 3 per playwright multiple roles all male elaborate masks portray women distinguish characters 5 th Century BCE as many as 3 actors on stage at a time
Chorus & Choragos Talented Amateurs Choragos: spokesman 15 member Chorus: Athenians singers & dancers engage in dialogue (not narrators) Purpose summarize preview community viewpoint
Literary Terms parodos chanted entrance song paean hymns sung to Apollo ode lyric poem marked by exaltation of feeling with varying line lengths
The Oedipus Cycle Background Information for Antigone
Sophocles 496 to 406 BCE 120 plays only 7 survive Athenian Festival first prize 18 times highly popular well respected
The Trilogy Oedipus Rex written second 429 B. C. E. Oedipus at Colonus written last before his own death circa 409 B. C. E. Antigone written first 441 B. C. E. last chronologically
The Protagonist Heroine of the earliest in world literature young: 12 to 15 fights patriarchy Antigone “against the family” “opposed to” “close to” filial hyperbole Ismene responds
Greek Tragedy Single Unified Action complete & probable of a certain magnitude one character; two at most language embellished Human Error & Frailty not vice or depravity arouses reader’s emotion pity terror/fear may lead to death
Tragic Hero (according to Aristotle 384 -322 B. C. E. ) High Position conspicuous wealth & power good fortune great potential Human both good & bad pitied & feared doomed to fail punishment outweighs misfortune
Tragic Flaw Harmatia “error of judgment” Hubris a common flaw excessive pride arrogance
Fate vs. Responsibility Fate preordained by prophecy hero is doomed, not evil Responsibility choice wrong decision Ultimate Outcome realize mistake accept punishment feel remorse
The End
- Slides: 27