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    Antigone: Ancient Greek Drama

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    McEwan, Suzanne
    This document provides background information on the ancient Greek drama Antigone. It summarizes the main characters, including Antigone, Creon, Polynices, and others. It also gives context for the backstory, including the myths of Oedipus and the Seven Against Thebes. The drama centers around a conflict between Antigone and Creon after Creon declares that Polynices will not be buried, though burying the dead is a religious law. Major themes explored in the play include individual vs state, divine law vs man's law, and more.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Antigone: Ancient Greek Drama

    Uploaded by

    McEwan, Suzanne
    44 views8 pages
    This document provides background information on the ancient Greek drama Antigone. It summarizes the main characters, including Antigone, Creon, Polynices, and others. It also gives context for the backstory, including the myths of Oedipus and the Seven Against Thebes. The drama centers around a conflict between Antigone and Creon after Creon declares that Polynices will not be buried, though burying the dead is a religious law. Major themes explored in the play include individual vs state, divine law vs man's law, and more.

    Original Title

    Antigone Backstory

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    This document provides background information on the ancient Greek drama Antigone. It summarizes the main characters, including Antigone, Creon, Polynices, and others. It also gives context for the backstory, including the myths of Oedipus and the Seven Against Thebes. The drama centers around a conflict between Antigone and Creon after Creon declares that Polynices will not be buried, though burying the dead is a religious law. Major themes explored in the play include individual vs state, divine law vs man's law, and more.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    44 views8 pages

    Antigone: Ancient Greek Drama

    Uploaded by

    McEwan, Suzanne
    This document provides background information on the ancient Greek drama Antigone. It summarizes the main characters, including Antigone, Creon, Polynices, and others. It also gives context for the backstory, including the myths of Oedipus and the Seven Against Thebes. The drama centers around a conflict between Antigone and Creon after Creon declares that Polynices will not be buried, though burying the dead is a religious law. Major themes explored in the play include individual vs state, divine law vs man's law, and more.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 8

    Antigone

    ANCIENT GREEK DRAMA


    Question

    Would you ever break the law?


    What would it take for you to break
    the law?

    Is there any circumstance were you


    can be justified in breaking the law?
    Main Characters
     Antigone – daughter of Oedipus.
     Ismene – her sister.
     Creon – King of Thebes, Uncle to Antigone.
     Polynices – Antigone’s brother, who is left unburied.
     Eteocles – Antigone’s brother, who was buried.
     Haemon – Creon’s son and Antigone’s fiancée.
     Tiresias – a blind seer/oracle.
     Eurydice – Creon’s wife
     Soldier
     Messenger
    Antigone Backstory:
    2 Prequel Myths: Oedipus &
    The 7 Against Thebes
    Oedipus:
     Baby abandoned at birth (by King, his father)
     Raised by foster parents
     Prophecy is he will kill his father and marry his
    mother, Jocasta. So, he flees his home in Thebes to
    avoid this fate, but years later meets his father at a
    crossroads, kills him in a fight, then saves Thebes from
    the Sphinx, wins the prize of marriage to the
    widowed queen (unknown to all, his actual mother!).
     Imagine what he, his wife-mother, and their FOUR
    children will feel when they found out!
    7 Against Thebes
     They find out. Oedipus discovers he has murdered his
    father and married his mother,
     Jocasta kills herself. Oedipus blinds himself.
     Oedipus’ throne is taken from him and given in trust to his
    uncle (and brother-in-law!) CREON.
     He is exiled, accompanied by Antigone. his daughter.
     His sons, Polynices and Eteocles, grow to manhood and
    agree to alternate, year by year, ruling Thebes. But
    Eteocles refuses to give up the throne when it is time;
    Polynices flees to Argos, marries the princess and returns
    with SIX heroes to attack Thebes.
     Meanwhile, Oedipus dies in exile (in Athens) and Antigone
    returns to Thebes.
     In the attack of the SEVEN heroes on Thebes, Polynices
    and Eteocles kill each other.
    Tragedy
     Greek drama puts soap operas to shame.
     Greeks were fascinated by heroes with
    tragic flaws (harmatia) that led to their
    demise.
     Why do we enjoy these painful stories?
    The Greek philosopher Aristotle believed
    it was due to catharsis: the release of
    emotion. In a sense, we feel what the
    hero feels, and then release our own
    feelings.
    Ted-Ed: Tragic Hero
    The best way to analyze
    Major Themes
    this play is by looking at
    the central conflicts.
    Female vs Individual vs Old vs
    Greeks loved conflicting Male the State Young
    views – the more
    antithetical, the better.

    Divine Law
    vs
    Man’s Law
    Other themes

    Death Incest Justice Power

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