AlderseBaes 1 Brooke AlderseBaes MAJOR WORKS DATA SHEET Title: Antigone Author: Sophocles Biographical Information about the Author Because Sophocles lived so long ago the records are debated. However, most scholars believe that he Date of Publication: 441 BC was born in Colonus, not far from Athens, to his parents. His father owned a store, most likely for Genre: Tragedy armor. Sophocles learned music and it is said that Historical Information about the period and the musician Lampros helped Sophocles master his place of publication – what was happening in talents. He was married twice, and had two sons the world the author lived in and how might Lophon and Agathon. He became a treasurer of that have influenced him? Athens around 442 BC. He was also a general in the revolt of Samos, and served under Pericles. Later he Antigone was written in 441 BC, in Athens. At this was chosen to be a general in the war against time Sophocles was appointed as a general to Syracuse. Athens lost this revolt of Syracuse and lead a military expedition against Samos. Even Sophocles was chosen to lead the city state in the though this war was happening, the play does not time of emergency after the military failure. From have any propaganda or allusion to Athens itself. what scholars can tell, Sophocles was most likely a Sophocles was a prominent politician in this war, well rounded man, knowing literature, music, and with being one of the ten generals leading the having political abilities as well, that the people of takeover of Samos, but does not mention his city Athens adored. state at all. Antigone also does not include any arguments against anarchy, even though Athens Characteristics of the Genre itself was the world's first known democracy. The only idea that links Antigone to Athens would be Ancient Greek tragedies had influential and powerful protagonists. These protagonists have the epiklerate, that was common in the ancient wonderful lives that turn bad quickly. This causes city states of Athens, Sparta, and Gortyn. This the protagonist to go through agony and makes the system was meant for men who had no male heirs when they died. The epiklerate then had the tragedy more tragic. In the ancient Greek plays, the protagonist usually has a tragic flaw, that will play a daughter heiress marry the fathers closest key role in the downfall of the protagonist. The relative, even if the women was married, she heart breaking ending must also happen, whether it would be divorced to maintain the ownership of the fathers property in the family. This law was in is death or chaos in the tragedy something terrible place because women could not own property in must happen. Usually, the protagonist will accept Athens. The epiklerate is the only possible link to responsibility for their mistakes and/or fights for a larger cause. This is called a catharsis, where the Athens that Sophocles used in the play. The protagonist will still find good in life even after tragedy does not seem to be affected by what losing everything. AlderseBaes 2 was happening in Sophocles life at the time. Plot Summary Antigone, Ismene, Polynices, and Eteocles are all children of Oedipus. When Oedipus dies, the two sons Polynices and Eteocles both agree that they will take the throne once every other year . Eteocles being the oldest son, takes the throne first, but does not step down from power after his year is done. Polynices attacks Thebes along with six other princes, in the battle, both of the sons die. Creon the king of Thebes, allows Eteocles to be buried but has Polynices' body rot where it is found, and will not allow anyone to bury him. Antigone feels that this is wrong, and tries to bury her brother. She is caught and turned into Creon who lets her go, telling her to stay in her room and fake being ill. Creon has decided that Antigone's marriage to his son Hameon is more important than her death is. Later that night, Antigone asks to be killed because her "disease" is spreading, which is really her telling Creon that she would rather die than not bury her brother. When in the cell she writes Haemon a letter saying "Forgive me, my darling. You would all have been so happy except for Antigone". Antigone is then immured and the news is given to Creon. The stones are removed and Antigone has hung herself in her cell. When finding this her fiancé, Haemon, stabs himself and lays beside her. Eurydice, Haemon's mother and Creon's wife, slits her throat when discovering Haemon has killed himself. This leaves Creon and the guards still living at the end of the tragedy. Describe the author’s style An example that demonstrates that style Depending on what translation is being read, poetic form or prose. The poetic form has a iambic pentameter. The pentameter has five iambs per sentence, usually. An iamb which is a two-syllable combination that stresses the second syllable. The Chorus speaks in couplets, reminding the audience that the Chorus is not really a character at all. The five iamb in the iambic pentameter: To me, Antigone, no word of friends Has come, or glad or grievous, since we twain (I.i.10-11) The couplet: Against our land the proud invader came To vindicate fell Polyneices' claim. (I.i.107-108) Memorable Quotes Quotation I didn't say yes. I can say no to anything I say vile, and I don't have to count the cost. But because you said yes, all that you Significance The political heroism in Antigone's resistance is her refusal of state power. Antigone says no to all she finds vile, and in this sense she is more powerful than the ruler on the throne.. Despite all his power, Creon finds himself helpless, unable to act on his own. He does not want to execute her but has to order her death. He has the duty of king and must stay true to his duties because AlderseBaes 3 can do, for all your crown and your trappings, and your guards—all he holds power. He has surrendered himself entirely to the state. Creon is rendered loathsome, terrified of what his office requires of him and yet unable to act otherwise. that your can do is to have me killed. Antigone recants her love for Haemon toward the end of her confrontation with Creon. Creon has unmasked her brothers as where he stops growing pale with treacherous gangsters, making her act and death march entirely gratuitous. Its political, moral, filial, and religious motivations fear when I grow pale, stops appear entirely external. Thus Creon offers the dazed Antigone thinking that I must have been the promise of human happiness. This vision of human happiness killed in an accident when I am provokes Antigone's final, fatal explosion. She refuses to five minutes late, stops feeling that moderate herself: she will have everything as beautiful as it was he is alone on earth when I laugh when she was a child or die. Anouilh underscores the infantile and he doesn't know why—if he quality of this desire: Antigone's fiery love recalls the plight of a child who cannot handle the even momentary loss and separation too has to learn to say yes to of the beloved. Antigone insists on her desire in its primary form. everything—why, no, then, no! I if Haemon reaches the point do not love Haemon! Characters Name Role in the Story Significance Adjectives Antigone . The play's tragic heroine. She will try to bury her dead brother's body when this act has been outlawed by the king. Antigone is the play's tragic heroine. However, She is the antithesis of the melodramatic heroine Boyish and curses her girlhood. She is difficult and wants her way. A practical man, he firmly distances himself from the tragic aspirations of Oedipus and his line. As he tells Antigone, his only interest is in political and social order. Practical, and power hungry, he lives as the king of Thebes and is committed to his duties. Creon - . Antigone's uncle and the father of Antigone's fiancé. He is the king of Thebes and will order Antigone's death. AlderseBaes 4 Ismene This is Antigone's older sister who tries to dissuade her from burying Polynices' body. Haemon Antigone's fiancé and the son of Creon. Eurydice Creon's wife and Haemon's mother. She is ultimately Antigone's foil, being everything that Antigone is not. Docile and reasonable, she is obedient and listens to Creon. She is girly and beautiful. When he first appears, Antigone tells him that she does not love him. Then the second time he appears, he is begging Creon to spare her life. Later he kills himself after Antigone does. Young and in love, he follows Antigone in suicide. Eurydice is considered Creon's last punishment because after she dies, he is left all alone with his responsibility and kingship. Nice and obedient she stays out of the way of Creon's duties. She loves to knit. Setting Significance of opening scene The tragedy is set in the city state of Thebes just as Oedipus the King was. Oedipus has just died, and his eldest son Eteocles has just fought a battle against his other son Polynices for the throne of Thebes. Eteocles would not give up the throne, which was set in an agreement with Polynices that he would. Creon then does not permit Polynices to be buried because of his attack on the city state. The chorus opens the tragedy by announcing who all of the characters are. They introduce Antigone and how she will die young at the hands of the king. They introduce Haemon and how he proposed to Antigone at the ball instead of Ismene. Then they focus in on Creon, who was left with the duties of king when his brother Oedipus died, and his sons who were meant to rule, died in their battle against each other. AlderseBaes 5 Significance of ending/closing scene Symbols 1. Antigone vs. Creon. Their relationship symbolizes many other relationship such as man vs. god, man vs. woman, laws of man vs. the laws of gods, civic duties vs. ties to family. 2. Creon's burials. Creon refuses to bury the dead Polynices, but allows Antigone to be buried alive. This symbolizes just how committed he is to being a "sensible" king and allowing his duties to come first. 3. Birds. Sophocles uses birds in his diction to help describe some of the characters and circumstances in the play. Polynices is described as an eagle, describing him as a bird of prey, making him sound like more of the aggressor. Which he is. Antigone is described as hovering over Polynices' dead body like a mother bird. This is showing that Antigone cares for her brother, and is trying to protect him and bury him after death. Teiresias the fortune teller, tells Creon about the birds fighting, which is really Teiresias telling Creon that he has created an unbalance in nature by not allowing the burial of Polynices. These same birds also feast on Polynices' flesh and then excrete their waste, demonstrating more bad things are to come from not burying Antigone asks her guard to give her final words to Haemon in a letter, and in turn, has to give her ring to the guard in order for him to deliver the message. This is a sign of her last thoughts, and of her handing away her happiness in marriage. The ring may also signify letting go of these ideas, and giving in to her ultimate demise. Because she is giving away her future she will also die a virgin and not live a happy life being married to Haemon. Her words will not get to Haemon, and instead are meant to the audience, "if not for Antigone...". If she had only listened to Creon, she would not have started the string of suicides that will follow her death in this closing scene as well. Old AP Questions Leave Blank for Now AlderseBaes 6 Polynices. 4. Eurydice's knitting. The Chorus says she will knit until she dies. This is true when she only stops knitting to stab herself with her needle. This also represents the life-string concept of the Fates in Greek mythology, and how the Fates will cut each person's string when they're life is meant to end. 5. Creon's attack. When Antigone defies Creon and will not obey him, he grabs her arm and twists it behind her back. To this she says she feels nothing. She has now crossed into power, by defying Creon and not having consequences, this is symbolizes how she has moved into power and into the man's realm. Possible Themes 1. Determination. Antigone, Creon, and Polynices are all determined to get what they want. Polynices wanted to take his rightful place on the throne, and dies trying. Antigone wants to bury his body, and dies for it. Creon, is determined to keep Antigone in line and stay true to his duties as the new king. For his determination he loses all of his family, and must live out his duties as a lonely king. Determination turns into the characters damnation, or at least their ultimate demise. 2. Power. Antigone, Creon, and Polynices are all desiring power in this play. Polynices wants his rightful place and powerful king from his older brother, Antigone wants her own power to bury her brother and wants the power to be in control of herself, while Creon is the most powerful by having the throne and having control over Antigone. Whether the character is power hungry, or has the power already, these three characters are driven by it. 3. Mortality. Antigone, Haemon, and Eurydice all commit suicide at the end of the play. These characters look favorably on death because they cannot escape their fate(another possible theme). Everyone must die one way or the other, however, Antigone chooses death because she has accepted her fate. She knows that she would rather die and be with her father and her brothers than living and not being able to do her brother's body justice. Haemon and Eurydice commit suicide because they aim to escape their fate. Haemon is fated to live his life without Antigone which he cannot bear, and kills hi mself. Eurydice is then fated to live her life without Haemon, and commits suicide to escape her fate. AlderseBaes 7
© Copyright 2024