This short unit focuses on sophocles classic play antigone, providing students with exposure to the genre of ancient greek tragedy. Antigone theme role of women another way this theme is revealed is through the conflict between haemon and creon and haemons love for antigone. Haemon, creons son who was to marry antigone, advises his father to reconsider his decision. Introduction sophocles sophocles was born at colonus, a small village just to the northwest of athens, in 4965 bc. This ideal is highlighted in the debate between antigone and the king. Anouilhs antigone is determined to adhere to her convictions at all costs. In many ways, the plot of antigone had to do with power. While free choices, such as antigones decision to defy creons edict, are. Oedipus oedipus unwittingly killed his father, laios, and married his own mother, iocaste. Antigone by sophocles deals with the varieties of themes, giving the drama a possibility of diverse interpretations. These dramas are based upon the story, the characters, the themes, etc. Monkeynotes study guide summaryantigone by jean anouilh.
Which of these do you think sophocles favors most strong in antigone. Learn some of the classic elements in a greek tragedy as well as themes and symbols in antigone in this analysis. In oedipus rex, oedipus mocks the blindness of the seer tiresias, who responds by telling oedipus that he oedipus is blind to the corruption in his. Antigone is too prideful and does not obey the law that king creon has made for theban citizens. Antigone is a greek tragedy by sophocles, written in around 441bc. Role of symbols in antigone sophocles antigone is a story about a woman who puts her loyalties with the will of the gods instead of the king. Teaching the antigone in wisconsin a resource guide by kerry lefebvre introduction and overview. This devotion surpasses any sense of civic duty to the leader of. Creon himself says that the need to defeat her is all the more pressing because she is a woman. Antigone has called her sister ismene outside the gates of.
Instead of listening to her ruler, antigone decides to bury her brother anyway simply because she loves him. Antigone picks up in the same uberdismal place that oedipus at colonus leaves off. Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes in antigone. In an era of strict cultural rules that curtailed women liberation, sophocles created a character like antigone which is a breakthrough in that age. Ismene has betrayed not only her unburied brother, polyneices, but also antigone when she refused to help her. A central theme of antigone is the tension between individual action and fate. Other tv adaptations of antigone have starred irene worth 1949 and dorothy tutin 1959, both broadcast by the bbc. The story of antigone is a tragic one that shows how deep family loyalty runs. The play follows the story of antigone, a strong female protagonist who is the daughter of oedipus and his mother, jocasta. This specific context influenced the way the play was written and the. The antigone is an ancient greek tragedy, written and performed in a specific cultural and historical context in classical athens. T he story of antigone has always been my favourite of the greek myths, maybe because the story was so simple, but the themes power.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell. Thus, the themes of antigone include choices and consequences, customs and traditions, religion, and betrayal. Themes in antigone with examples and analysis literary devices. Oedipus unwittingly killed his father, laios, and married his own mother, iocaste. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades. The plot and themes of the play are both accessible and relatable to modern students. Study of the play antigone, a classical dramatic work written by sophocles, one of. It is one of the ancient play that has a female protagonist. Antigone essay in any story or piece of literature, there will always be the main characters to fill the pages with incessant adventure.
Because of the centrality of fate and the rule of the gods in the lives of the main characters of the play, religious rites and traditions are elevated to the status of law. Looks like youre viewing this page on a mobile device. Summary the sentry soon exonerates himself by catching antigone in the act of attempting to rebury her brother, the sentries having disinterred him. Antigone and ismene, the two surviving daughters of oedipus, enter, from the palace. While free choices, such as antigones decision to defy creons edict, are significant, fate is responsible for many of the most critical and devastating events of the trilogy. Enraged by antigones refusal to submit to his authority, creon declares that she and her sister will be put to death. Pdf antigone is a passionate tragedy of conflicts and sufferings.
Antigone, relates haemon, is the secret talk about the town 145. In oedipus rex, oedipus mocks the blindness of the seer tiresias, who responds by telling oedipus that he oedipus is blind to the corruption in his own life, and soon will be literally blind, too. Power trips in the play, antigone, written by sophocles, antigone and creon battle a philosophical war dealing with moral versus political power. While free choices, such as antigone s decision to defy creons edict, are significant, fate is responsible for many of the most critical and devastating events of the trilogy.
Haemon stands up for antigones honor when discussing her punishment with his father, for this poor girl, doomed to the creullest. There are many themes in this play, however in order to understand this play in depth, there are three major themes the reader must identify. Antigone at the barbican was a 2015 filmedfortv version of a production at the barbican directed by ivo van hove. There is no question that pride, in the context of antigone and most of sophocles works, is a trait despised by the gods and punished without mercy. Feb 11, 20 summary antigone freely confesses her act to creon and says that he himself defies the will of the gods by refusing polynices burial. Kate reganloomis professor baumann the quest for justice september 12, 2017 levels of laws though the choices that antigone and creon face in sophocles antigone differ, their decisions often end up pitted against the others, inviting comparison. Identify the themes from antigone you wish to include and replace the theme 1 text. You will need paper, a pen or pencil, and your ipad. My students cant get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof. Antigone is a disaster by sophocles written in or before 441 bc. Antigone themes family loyalty and its betrayal study. Im going now 80 to make a burial mound for my dear brother. A greek tragedy with contemporary themes is this years must read.
Antigone anouilh study guide contains a biography of jean anouilh, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Storr translation 1912 for the loeb classical library. Use the following strategies to help you understand antigone. Antigone pdf by sophocles free download bookspdf4free. T he story of antigone has always been my favourite of the greek myths, maybe because the. Antigone themes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. In antigone by sophocles, the will of an authoritarian leader goes against the will of an honorable individual, who is driven by duty to the gods and to her family. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of antigone and what it means. Themes in antigone essaysantigone, written by sophocles, is one of the three dramatic plays with a tragic ending. From the beginning it is clear that antigone has an unbending devotion to family and to the gods. A platform extends the length of the facade, and from. Antigone study guide contains a biography of sophocles, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and. Her convictions drive her to bury her brother polynices in defiance of creons edict.
The characters whose names appear on almost every page and the characters whose actions the story revolves around. The antigone is an ancient greek tragedy, written and performed in a specific cultural and historical. Haemon, creons son and antigones betrothed, enters the stage. Either way, antigone is a very brave woman, who looks death in the face, and willingly takes it on. Sophocles tragic play antigone may not be on the new york times suggested summer reading list, but it is required. The antigone theme wheel is a beautiful super helpful visualization of where the themes occur throughout the text. The major themes found in this drama are, rivalry between sisters, pride, the position of woman as a gender, individual versus state, conscience versus law, divine law versus human law which are described below. Enraged by antigone s refusal to submit to his authority, creon declares that she and her sister will be put to death. The creators of sparknotes antigone themes from litcharts. One theme is the right of the individual to defy unjust laws, a commentary on the time period of sophocles, when. Antigone does not fit this mould at all and so the theme relates to her in that it highlights her unfeminine physicality and the lack of femininity in her personality. One significant theme that sophocles explores in antigone is the. A wellestablished theme in antigone is the right of the individual to reject societys infringement on her freedom to perform a personal obligation, obvious in antigones refusal to let creon dictate what she is allowed to do with her family members. Download themes in the play in pdf format download the free pdf resource.
Eteocles and polyneices quarreled, polyneices was driven out but returned. Antigone theme wheel data visualization from litcharts the. Ismene make sure you dont reveal to anyone what you intend. Discussion of themes and motifs in jean anouilhs antigone. Antigone topics for discussion sophocles this study guide consists of approximately 26 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of antigone. A sister strives to honor her dead brothers body and fights against an unjust law. Although it was written before sophocles other two theban plays, chronologically it comes after the stories in oedipus the king and oedipus at colonus, and it picks up where aeschylus play seven against thebes ends. Get the entire antigone litchart as a printable pdf. Storr, ba formerly scholar of trinity college, cambridge from the loeb library edition originally published by harvard university press, cambridge, ma and william heinemann ltd, london first published in 1912 argument antigone, daughter of oedipus, the late king of thebes, in. Summary antigone freely confesses her act to creon and says that he himself defies. Major themes in sophocless antigone the oedipus plays. Themes are overarching ideas, thoughts, and philosophical concepts that the writers present in their works. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans.
The action begins in medias res, in the middle of things, and the backstory is alluded to by the characters as the action unfolds. Oedipus has just passed away in colonus, and antigone and her sister decide to return to thebes with the intention of helping their brothers, eteocles and polyneices, avoid a prophecy that predicts they will kill each other in a battle for the throne of thebes. Haemonaffirming that there is nothing i can prize above your happiness and well 4 beingasks his father if there might not be some other way 145. Its true that antigone absorbed all the glory and attention possible, but maybe that was just a cover because she was really afraid of dying. In antigone, sophocles introduces various themes, or important ideas that appear throughout literary works. Chorustheban elders who embody the views of the people of the city 4. Antigone is a tragedy by the ancient greek playwright sophocles, written around 442 bce. Antigone theme wheel data visualization from litcharts.
Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in antigone, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. When he learned what he had done, he blinded himself and left thebes. Antigone knows that her sisters offer is not sincere, therefore wants nothing to do with it. Learn and understand all of the themes found in antigone the oedipus plays, such as laws of gods versus laws of mortals. Summary creon condemns both antigone and ismene to death. Antigone themes antigone themes study guide by jaidenflavel includes 6 questions covering vocabulary, terms and more. In so doing she seems to be a paragon of integrity. Antigone has themes that are not only universal but. Antigone rejects the ordinary concept of human happiness that creon. This is a good example of both sacrifice and betrayal within a family. Ismene fits the mould perfectly and is apparently happy to do so. Antigone s gender has profound effects on the meaning of her actions. In antigone, sophocles describes the type of pride that allows men to create laws that substitute for divine principles.
Create an image for the examples that represents this theme. While free choices, such as antigones decision to defy creons. Theyre only accessible on tablets, laptops, or desktop computers, so check them out on a compatible device. Although it was written before sophocles other two theban plays, chronologically it comes after the stories in oedipus the king and oedipus at colonus, and it picks up where aeschylus.