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Sophocles [496-06 B.C.E.], Antigone
GENRE: Drama
[tragedy]
Conflict in the Polis-Culture --
Clash about the "Right Way"
Recent e-mail exchange between two teachers:
But, David, doesn't Antigone place herself in much the same "loner's"
position, when, during her last interview with Creon (haven't time to check
the accuracy of my memory or supply line numbers), she utters those lines
that Jebb wished to excise: "if it were my husband out there or my kid,
I'd let him rot...", vel sim.? I'm not so sure there's much to choose
between these two "Menoeceids" (or whatever).
Geoffrey Harrison, Classical Studies, Loras College, Dubuque, IA:gharriso@loras.edu
>>> dlupher@ups.edu 03/13/02 06:51PM
>>>
[ Big snip] By the way, I'm not sure that it's accurate to say
that Creon genuinely favors the state over the family. True, he *claims*
to in his first rhesis, but in his exchange with Haemon we learn that he
favors himself over both family *and* state (see esp. 736 & 738). Ultimately
it is he, not Antigone, who is the true "loner" in this play.
David Lupher Classics Dept. Univ. of Puget Sound |
I. Read the play [in
Greek Tragedies, I, edd. Grene
& Lattimore.].
II. To gain familiarity with the GENRE, Chart the
Play as follows:
For each scene, note here below the main themes &
motives.
Also, in your text underline any themes
presented underlined here.
For every chorus, note the main themes & comment:
a) how do they relate to the previous scene?
b) how do they relate to the following scene?
[Prologue] (1-99): SPEAKINGAntigone
Ismene Main Thrust?
Chorus (100-135): "Thebes
seven-gated"
Scene 1 (136-307): SPEAKING
Creon Phylax (guard) Main Thrust?
Chorus (308-339):
"Many the ..
"Gay nations of birds
..
"Language and thought
..
"Clever beyond all ..
WHEN .. the LAWS .. AND
the GODS sworn right .. [THEN} .. BUT ..
Scene 2 (340-535):
(340-402): SPEAKINGPhylax
Creon Main Thrust?
(402-85): SPEAKINGCreon
Antigone Main Thrust?
(486-535): SPEAKINGCreon
Ismene Main Thrust?
Chorus (536-571): "gods
.. strike down a whole race"
Scene 3 (572-732): SPEAKINGCreon
Haemon Main Thrust?
Chorus (733-752): "O
love unconquered"
Scene 4 (753-877):
(753-813): SPEAKINGAntigone
Main Thrust?
(814-877) SPEAKINGAntigone
Creon Main Thrust?
Chorus (878-909): "Danaë
endured"
Scene 5 (910-1044): SPEAKINGTiresias
Creon Main Thrust?
Chorus (1045-1084): "O
Bacchus"
Scene 6 (1085-1189): SPEAKINGAngelos
Eurydice Main Thrust?
Scene 7 (1090-1270): SPEAKINGCreon
[Haemon] Angelos Main Thrust?
III. STUDY QUESTIONS:
Jot down some preliminary answers to the following:
A. Story (mythos
or plot).
The facts (summarize
in 40 to 60 words):
B. Some Themes.
Marriage -- in what
ways do the characters speak of wedding ceremonies?
C. Some Issues.
What do the male characters
value above all else?
What do the female characters
value above all else?
Did characters hold
values like these in previous readings?
D. IDEA of the CITY
(STATE, polis):
What IDEAS of the STATE
get expressed in this play?
How do these ideas
compare with those that we saw in Homer’s Iliad (Book 18) and Odyssey
(Book 9).
Designed
in Century fonts by JBVS, coached by LB;
started 96/01/03, revised 02/02/22.
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