ANTIGONE WEBQUEST

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ANTIGONE WEBQUEST

• An Introduction to Greek Tragedy

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Welcome to the Antigone WebQuest!

• Before beginning your exploration into the world
  of Antigone, you must first become acquainted
  with Sophocles and The Greek Theater.
• The following pages will provide you with the
  information you need.

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Task 1

• Take detailed notes of the following information
  pertaining to Greek Theater.
• Notes will be collected and graded, so they need
  to be detailed.

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The Greek Theater
Theater was a celebration in ancient Greece that
was held in honor of Dionysos (the god of wine).
During these celebrations, Athenians gathered to
watch competitions between playwrights. It was
these competitions that Sophocles often won. The
plays performed at these festivals usually
exposed arrogance which emphasized reverence for
the gods and included tragic events. Although
violence and disrespect were central to the plot
of most tragic plays, violence was never depicted
on stage. Instead, these events occurred off
stage.
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Tragedy

• Tragedy is a work of literature that results in a
  catastrophe for the main character.
• In Greek drama, the main character was always a
  significant person, a king or a hero, and the
  cause of the tragedy was a tragic flaw, or
  weakness in his or her character.

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Typical Structure of a Tragedy

• Ancient Greek playwrights used a consistent
  format for most of their productions.
• A Chorus is used to divide the scenes (similar to
  how a curtain does in present day performances)
  through a song that comments on the action of the
  previous scene.
• The Choragos is the leader of the chorus, and
  serves as another character in the play

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• The typical structure of a tragedy is as follows
• Prologue exposition which provide background to
  the conflict
• Parados or parode Opening song or ode
• Strophê the chorus sings a stanza while moving
  from right to left while singing
• Antistrophê - the chorus sings a stanza while
  moving from left to right while singing
• Epode included in some odes as a final stanza
• Paean a thanksgiving to Dionysos
• Exodos final exiting scene

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Meet Sophocles(496-406 B.C.)

• Sophocles was born and raised in Athens
• He is regarded as one of the worlds greatest
  playwrights.
• He frequently won 1st place at the Dionysian
  festivals, which were competitions between
  playwrights.

• During his life, he wrote over 100 plays, but
  only 7 have
• survived.
• Among these 7 are Oedipus the King, Oedipus
  at
• Colonus, and Antigone.

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Now that you are familiar with Greek Tragedy, you
are ready to begin your next task

• Task 2
• You are a detective assigned to investigate the
  death of Antigone.
• Before you can understand her death, you must
  first become aware of the circumstances
  surrounding her life.
• Continue your notes as you obtain background
  information about Antigones family life, and the
  society in which she lived, by following the
  trail of clues linked to her death.

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Task 2 Cont.-Detailed Instructions-

• Write a well developed summary to explain who the
  person(s) are and the situation in which they
  were involved (at least 1-2 paragraphs for each
  of the links on the following pages)
• 1. Oedipuss Early Life
• 2. Oedipuss Exile
  3. The death of Eteocles and Polyneices

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Family Life Antigones Dad

• Antigone, is part of a trilogy about the royal
  family of Thebes. The trilogy includes Oedipus
  the King, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone
• Follow the two links below to learn more about
  Antigones father, Oedipus
• Oedipuss Early Life
• Oedipuss Exile

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• That was quite informative, but it was lacking
  something very important the emotion, the pain,
  Oedipuss experience of finding out the truth and
  of his self-inflicted punishment. Follow the
  steps below to acquire a better insight into what
  this was like for him
• Go get a gray literature book.
• Turn to page 465 and find line 1354.
• Read lines 1354-1406.
• Write a brief (at least one paragraph) personal
  response to the excerpt.
• We will discuss this passage as a class, so be
  prepared to share-out your thoughts, feelings,
  and questions.

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A Tragedy between Brothers

• As if the tragedy surrounding her fathers life
  and exile was not horrific enough, Antigone must
  now face the death of her brothers.
• Click here to learn more about Eteocles and
  Polyneices

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Task 3

• Continue your notes to include each of the five
  elements listed pertaining to Greek Society.
• Use appropriate headings for each section
• Notes will be collected and graded, so they need
  to be detailed.

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Greek Society

• Religion
• Government
• Funeral Rites
• Role of Women only read Introduction and then
  scroll down to Antigone section and then read
  some quotes about women in the time
• Hubris and Hamartia Find the definition

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Use the information on the following pages to
fill your STUDY GUIDETemplate provided by
teacher.
Task 4
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• Title Antigone
• Author Sophocles
• Publication Date 442 B.C
• Setting The city of Thebes Ancient Greece
• Genre Drama/Tragedy

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Name Relationship to Others Personality Situations
Antigone Daughter of Oedipus, sister of Ismene, niece of Creon Strong, firm in her beliefs Main character, in conflict over the laws of the gods vs laws of man
Ismene Daughter of Oedipus, Antigones sister Timid Also in conflict over the laws of the gods vs laws of man
Eurydice Creons wife, mother of Haimon Obeys her duties as the Kings wife Wife of the King
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Name Relationship to Others Personality Situations
Creon Husband of Eurydice, father of Haimon Firm in his belief, unbending, an absolute ruler Recently became King of Thebes
Haimon Son of Creon and Eurydice, Level headed Engaged to Antigone
Teiresias prophet Wise He is a very respected blind prophet
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• Task 5

• Using information youve gathered thus far,
  create a FAMILY TREE for Antigone.
• The family tree must include
• 1) all relevant family members in her dramatic
  life
• 2) a description of each person (their role in
  the plays, defining characteristics, brief
  history, etc)
• 3) a key explaining connecting lines
• ex. Direct relation
• Married - - - - - -
• Engaged
• 4) Your personal creative touch!

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Congratulations!

• You have just completed the Antigone WebQuest.
• You are now ready to begin your reading of the
  play.