Unit 4 (Greek Tragedy) Test REVIEW
Name ___________KEY______________ Date ______________________ Period ______
Define
Tragedy: work of dramatic literature that shows the downfall of a person, usually of high birth or noble status
Tragic hero: main character of a tragedy
Tragic Flaw: fault or weakness of a tragic hero that causes the hero’s downfall
Chorus: consists of 12-15 dancers who are important to the meaning of play and provide commentary to the play
Element
Position
Definition
The hero is royal or noble with great
power, usually a king. He is a good,
respected man who acts out of good
intentions. He has much to lose.
Hero makes a tragic error which causes his
reversal—usually stems from a character
flaw
Example from Oedipus AND/OR Antigone
Reversal
(Parapetia)
Because of his tragic error, the hero
suffers a downfall from his happy, envied
position to suffering and misery
(Oedipus)
Oedipus learns of his fate—killed his father & married his
mother—gauges his eyes out blinding himself
Recognition
(Anagnoresis)
The hero recognizes that his own flaw or
error has caused his reversal—it always
occurs too late to prevent or escape his
reversal
(Antigone)
Creon realizes that he should have properly buried
Polyneices as the laws of the gods ordered him to do and
not sentenced Antigone to death
Type
Dramatic
Definition
readers of audience members are aware
of the truths the characters don’t
perceive
Example(s) from Oedipus
Oedipus curses Laius’s murderer—audience knows HE is
the murderer
situational
outcome of an action or situation directly
contradicts expectations
Herdsman’s compassion has exactly the opposite effect of
the result he intended as Oedipus encounters exactly what
he tried to avoid
verbal
use of words suggest the opposite of their
meaning
Oedipus telling Teiresias that he lives in darkness (he is
blind but knows most
Tragic Flaw
(Hamartia)
Oedipus / Creon
Pride / Pride
Irony
Aristotle’s rhetoricAl devices
Type
Ethos
Definition
persuading by the use of ethical appeal or
credibility, character, &/or reputation of the
author
Example(s) in Antigone
“I am aware, of course, that no ruler can expect complete
loyalty to his subjects…” (146-148)—Creon speaking
Logos
persuading by the use of reasoning/logic
“The law is strong, and we must give in to the law” (48).
Pathos persuading by appealing to the reader’s emotions
“She covered her brother’s body. Is this indecent? She kept
him from dogs and vultures. Is this a crime? Death? She
should have all the honor we can give her…” (556-558)
Oedipus the king
Brief Character Descriptions
 Oedipus-King of Thebes—husband and son to Jocasta

Jocasta-wife to the late King Lauis & now to Oedipus

Laius-former/late king of Thebes—former husband to Jocasta & father to Oedipus

Creon-Jocasta’s brother—becomes king at the end of the play

Teiresias-blind prophet

Polybus-Oedipus’ “adoptive” father

Merope-Oedipus’ “adoptive” mother
Oedipus the king, Part I


What is happening in the city of Thebes at the beginning of the play?
the people are gathered to ask Oedipus for help
What are three effects of the plague?
disease on crops, dead cattle, infertility in women

What did Oedipus do for Thebes in the past that makes the people believe that he can help them now?
solved the riddle of the Sphinx

How do the people of Thebes believe that King Laius was killed? What really happened?
killed by a group of thieves; Oedipus killed him at the crossroads

What curse does Oedipus put on the head of Lauis’s murderer? a life of misery

How is his curse ironic? What kind of irony is this? he dooms himself to a life of misery / dramatic

Oedipus’ decision to seek out the murderer of Lauis adds to his stature as a hero by showing strong leadership
and the want of good for his people. However, what about this decision specifically makes him a tragic hero?
his fault leads to his downfall

What is ironic about Teiresias’ physical disability?
he is blind

Summarize Teiresias’ prophecy on p. 442
he says the murderer of Laius will turn out to be both brother and father to his children, both son and husband
to his mother, and will end up as a blind beggar
When Oedipus alleges that Creon is guilty of “highway robbery” of Oedipus’ crown and has no justification for
this, what details does this reveal about Oedipus’ CHARACTER?
stubborn, irrational, easily tempered, blames others

Oedipus the king, Part II

What important detail does the messenger give Oedipus (p.464)? How did the messenger know Oedipus from
before?
Polybus was not his father; he was the one given Oedipus as a boy with chained feet to abandon on Mt.
Cithaeron

In what ways does the Herdsman’s pity for the infant Oedipus present an example of situational irony?
his compassion has the exact opposite effect of the result he intended
What happens to Jocasta? Where does this event take place? Why is that so significant?
she hangs herself; bedroom—where she was both wife to Laius and Oedipus (her son)


What does Oedipus do to himself post-Jocasta’s death? What did he use to do this?
blinds himself; gold brooches from Jocasta’s robe

Why does Oedipus say he hurt himself? he deserves punishment worse than death for his actions

Why does Oedipus want to die on Mount Cithaeron? that’s where Laius & Jocasta sent him to die as an infant
(fate)

What does Oedipus say will follow his daughters into marriage? What should his daughters pray for, according
to Oedipus?
the curse / to live a better life than their father

What do Creon’s last lines on p. 482 mean? don’t try to be in charge of everything

Oedipus tries desperately to avoid his fate and at the same time learn from his identity. How are both goals
connected? his identity as Lauis and Jocasta’s son is his fate—as it was prophesized he’d kill his father and marry
his mother
Antigone
Brief Character Descriptions
 Antigone- sister to Ismene, Eteocles, & Polyneices; daughter of Oedipus; fiancée to Haimon

Ismene-sister to Antigone, Eteocles, & Polyneices; daughter of Oedipus

Eteocles- brother to Antigone, Ismene, & Polyneices; killed in battle

Polyneices- brother to Antigone, Ismene, & Eteocles; killed in battle; traitor to Thebes

Creon- King of Thebes; married to Eurydice; Haimon’s father

Eurydice-Queen of Thebes; married to Creon; Haimon’s mother

Haimon- Creon & Eurydice’s son; Antigone’s fiancé

What information does Antigone give Ismene at the beginning of the Prologue? Creon has declared anyone who
buries Polyneices will be stoned to death

What happened to Eteocles and Polyneices? Both died in battle; Eteocles has an honorable military
funeral/burial while Polyneices, a traitor to Thebes, does not (body remains on battlefield at beginning of play)

What does Antigone plan to do? Why? bury Polyneices; because the laws of the gods says to honor your family
members

What law does Creon pass and why does he say he does this? No one can bury Polyneices; he can’t honor a hero
and traitor with the same proper burial

What news does the sentry bring before Creon? How has the culprit been caught?
Polyneices has been buried by Antigone; they hid and watched her returned to do it

What does Creon say is the greatest evil that society faces? Anarchy

What does Haimon ask Creon to do and what is his response? not to be stubborn, to listen to those around him,
to reconsider sentencing Antigone to death

How has Haimon’s tone/attitude toward Creon changed from the beginning to the end of Scene 3?
respectful to angry

What feelings does Antigone express about her father?
his curse and crimes have infected the family and her misfortunes are linked to the curse of his actions

What is the “new calamity” that Creon has brought to Thebes? What does Teiresias predict for Creon?
city is cursed—dogs and birds are diseased, gods refuse to listen to the Theban’s prayers and sacrifices; he will
pay “corpse for corpse and flesh for flesh”

How did the following people die specifically?
Antigone- suicide; hanged herself by making a noose with her veil in the play
Haimon- suicide; after seeing that Antigone, his fiancée killed herself, he stabs himself with his sword
Euricice- suicide; distraught by the events of the play; killed herself with a knife

What is Creon’s attitude at the end of the play?
Repentant and sorrowful due to his guilt and actions

What is Creon’s tragic flaw? Explain.
PRIDE—too stubborn; thought he had all the answers; wouldn’t listen to others; thought his decrees were more
important than the gods