Unit 2: Study Guide
Literary Terms Please define the following
Plot
Antagonist
Protagonist
Climax
Conflict
Dialogue
Acts
Scenes
Foil
Tragic Flaw
Foreshadowing
Pun
Monologue
Soliloquy
Aside
Tragic Hero
Tragedy
Stichomythia
Content on Unit 2 Literature:
Greek Tragedies notes (see back of this handout)
Oedipus Rex:
Characters (Please know the significance of the following
characters): Oedipus, Teiresias, Jocasta, Creon, the
Shepherd, the Messenger, King Laius
Events: Please take notes on the details of the following
events
-Oedipus rescuing Thebes
-Significance of the curse
-The reasoning for Oedipus leaving Corinth
-Points of irony throughout the play
-Moments of stichomythia
-Oedipus’ tragic flaw
-Significance of the shepherd’s role in the tragedy
-Significance of the information that the Messenger gives
to Oedipus concerning King Polybus
-Jocasta’s death
-The punishment that Oedipus gives to himself
-Oedipus’ journey through the elements of a tragic hero
Please be knowledgeable of the overall plot and plot
points.
Antigone
Characters (Please know the significance of the following
characters): Antigone, Ismene, Creon, Polyneices,
Eteocles, Haimon, Eurydice, Sentry, Teiresias, Choragos,
and the Chorus
-Character loyalties
-Haimon’s conversation with Creon
-Conditions of Haimon’s, Antigone’s, and Eurydice’s
deaths
-Antigone’s tragic flaw
-Creon’s tragic flaw
-Creon’s journey through the elements of a tragic hero
Julius Caesar:
Characters (Please know the significance of the following
characters): Julius Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Antony, Portia,
Calpurnia, the conspirators, the Soothsayer, Artemidoras,
Events: Explain the significance of the following events:
Greek Tragedy Notes:
Aristotle’s 3 Unities
Unity of Place: a play should be set in only
one location.
Unity of Time: a play should only represent
the happenings of one day; the events of
the past are recounted by characters.
Unity of Action: only actions and scenes
relating to the main plot should be
included; any unnecessary subplots should
be omitted.
•
•
•
•
HAMARTÍA—the mistake or
misjudgment made by a character
that leads to their downfall; the
word literally means something
like "missing the mark" because
usually one makes their fatal
mistake based on an incomplete
self knowledge
HUBRIS—a common form of
hamartia. Hubris is the “pride” or
overwhelming self-confidence
which leads a protagonist to
disregard a warning from the gods
or to violate an important law.
CATHARSIS—the audience’s
reaction at the end of the tragedy;
the feeling of acceptance that
while sad; it ended as it had to
end; the audience recognizes their
gratitude that they were not the
one’s in the tragic hero’s shoes
that day
DEUS EX MACHINA – “god from
the machine.” In classical Greek
theatre, a god lowered from a
crane at the end of the play (as if
from heavens), usually to resolve
the action of the play.
-The celebration at the beginning of the play
-Caesar refusing the crown
-The warning given to Caesar
-The murder of Caesar
-Significance of “Et tu, Brute?”
-Antony’s funeral speech
-Brutus’s funeral speech
-Crisis point: Caesar’s death and funeral
-Climax: Brutus’ death
-Antony’s final comments about Brutus