Classical Tragedy,
Universal Themes:
Sophocles’ Antigone
Geller’s Wonderful World Lit Class
Spring 2014
Who Was Sophocles?
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Lived from approximately
496-406 B.C.E. near Athens,
Greece
Son of a wealthy merchant
One of the three great
ancient Greek tragedians
whose work has survived,
along with Aeschylus and
Euripedes
Wrote 120 plays; only seven
have survived in their
entirety
Best known for Antigone,
Oedipus at Colonus, and
Oedipus the King
Background Information
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Prophesied at Oedipus’s birth that he would someday kill
his father and marry his mother
To avoid this, he was left on a hillside to die
Found and taken care of by shepherds, eventually taken
in by king and queen of Corinth
They never told him he was adopted; EXTREMELY long
story short, the prophesy came true
Jocasta (his wife/mother) commited suicide; Oedipus
blinded himself
Oedipus asked Jocasta’s brother Creon to care for his
four children: two boys, Eteocles and Polynices, and two
girls, Ismene and Antigone
More Background Information
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Eteocles and Polynices agreed to take turns
ruling the kingdom of Thebes, but they hated
each other and were in constant competition
When it was Eteocles’ turn to rule, Polynices and
his father-in-law prepared an attack on the
seven gates of the city
The brothers killed each other and Creon seized
power
Eteocles was given a proper burial but Creon
passed a law forbidding anyone to bury the
traitor, Polynices.
Important to Note…
The ancient Greeks believed that denying
a proper burial was an insult to human
dignity and doomed the deceased’s soul to
wander for eternity, never to rest.
As the play begins…
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Antigone is telling her sister Ismene about
her plans to give Polynices a proper burial.
Themes to think about…
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The causes and effects of shame and guilt
Loyalty—to family, friends, and country
Justice and the law: divine/moral vs. civil
Traditions and ideas surrounding death in
different cultures
Elements of Classical Tragedy
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The Greek philosopher Aristotle defined
tragedy as “the imitation of an action that
is serious and also, as having magnitude,
complete in itself.” Tragedy typically
includes “incidents arousing pity and fear,
wherewith to accomplish the catharsis of
such emotions.”
Elements of Classical Tragedy
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Tragic Hero/Heroine as
protagonist
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Usually upper class
Fundamentally good or
at least well-intentioned
Exhibits hamartia: the
tragic flaw
 Hubris: excessive
pride
 Âte: rashness,
excessive impulsivity
Experiences a reversal or
downfall
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Chorus: a group of
singers (in Antigone, the
citizens of Thebes) who
comment on the action
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Chorus leader: choragos
Songs: Parados (1st song),
Odes.
Unity of time, space, and
action
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Often occurs in a single
day
One location
One plot (no subplots)
The Necropolis (literally, “city of the
dead”) at Thebes
Characters: Antigone
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Ant-IG-uh-nee
Daughter of Oedipus
and Jocasta (Creon’s
sister)
Wants to give her
brother Polyneices
(polly-NEE-sees) a
proper burial
Characters: Ismene
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Izz-meanie
Antigone’s sister
Wants to abide by
Creon’s decree and
leave Polynieces’ body
exposed
Characters: King Creon
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KREE-on
Became king after
Polyneices and Eteocles
(eat-EE-oh-klees) killed
each other in battle
Decrees that Polyneices
will not be buried—under
penalty of death by public
stoning!
Characters: Eurydice
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Your-ID-uh-see
Creon’s wife
Lost her son
Megareus in the
battle of Thebes
Characters: Haimon
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HI-mon
Son of Creon and
Eurydice
Antigone’s fiance
Characters: Teiresias
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Tie-REES-ee-uhs
A blind prophet
Characters: The Chorus
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Chorus leader=CHORAGOS
Intro to Antigone Video
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In the margins of your note sheet, jot
down at least five additional facts from the
video.
Make a Prediction
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As the play opens, Antigone is planning to
bury her brother even though King Creon
expressly forbade it. What do you think
will happen?