Antigone

Front 1

Skene

Back 1

A building or backdrop that stands behind the stage, would later have been painted and would house the changing area

Front 2

Proskenion

Back 2

In front of the skene where the three principle actors performed

Front 3

Parados (theatre)

Back 3

Side entrances. Entered through the skene if from inside the palace, via the Parados if coming from elsewhere.

Front 4

Ekkyklema

Back 4

Wheeled section of staging- often brought through the skene so that scenes could be set inside the building or elsewhere.

Front 5

Orchestra

Back 5

Large circular or semi circular area in front of the stage for the chorus

Front 6

Seating/theatron

Back 6

To begin with this was just a hill, then wooden seats, then stone was built directly into hill (this still stands now in athens)

Front 7

The performance

Back 7

Three actors played all parts. So phones was first to use three actors. E.g. In antigone; one played creon, one played antigone, haemon and messenger and one played Ismene, soldier, teirisias and eurydice. Chorus of many in orchestra, could be guards, non-speaking roles if needed but all spoke/sang together as chorus. Use of masks and costumes is very important.

Front 8

Tragedy

Back 8

A very specific genre. Central character suffers a serious misfortune directly linked to their actions, but often assisted by fate. Making the point that suffering is brought on by a combination of human and divine actions.

Front 9

Prologue

Back 9

Opening scene of play

Front 10

Parados (play)

Back 10

Opening choral ode

Front 11

Stasimon

Back 11

Other choral odes, alternating with episodes of action.

Front 12

Kommos

Back 12

A lyrical song of lamentation that the chorus and a dramatic character sing together, occurring when the tension of the play rises to a climax of grief or horror or joy.

Front 13

Hyporchema

Back 13

Joyful choral ode sung to worship the gods, specifically dionysus- usually sung as the final choral ode before the exodus when the final tragedy is discovered.

Front 14

Exodus

Back 14

Final scene of play

Front 15

Hamartia

Back 15

Tragic error or flaw, usually fatal

Front 16

Peripeteia

Back 16

Turning point, reversal of Fortune- usually from good to bad in tragedy

Front 17

Anagnorisis

Back 17

Moment of critical discovery

Front 18

Hubris

Back 18

Extreme arrogance or pride, particularly defiance of the gods

Front 19

Stichomythia

Back 19

Debate between two characters, usually line by line

Front 20

Choryphaeus

Back 20

Chorus leader, often the one who converses with actors

Front 21

Strophe and antistrophe

Back 21

Section in choral odes, spoken by different halves of chorus, sometimes in opposition to another

Front 22

Prologue

Back 22

-Antigone and ismene meet to discuss burying polyneices.

-Antigone wants to bury the body despite the decree as it is the will of the gods but ismene is too scared.

Front 23

Parados (play)

Back 23

The chorus (senators of thebes) describe the war that thebes has just won.

-They tell us that polyneices and eteocles (the brothers) have killed each other in battle and that creon is now king.

Front 24

Episode 1

Back 24

-creon gives his decree. Eteocles (on the side of thebes) is to be buried but polyneices (the enemy) is to he left unburied.

-anyone who buries the body will be stoned to death.

-soldier enters and says the body has been buried.

Front 25

Stasimon 1

Back 25

-ode to man

-man is powerful and has tamed nature, curing all but death.

- with great power comes great responsibility.

Front 26

Episode 2

Back 26

-soldier returns with guilty Antigone

-Antigone admits guilt and is proud.

-creon also summons is mine, who he assumes is guilty and sentences them both to death.

Front 27

Stasimon 2

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-ode to the gods.

-For all man's power he is nothing compared to the power of the gods.

Front 28

Episode 3

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-haemon speaks to creon about his decision.

-He says the people think he is wrong and that he should do the right thing.

-They argue and haemon says there will be two death not one.

.

Front 29

Stasimon 3

Back 29

-ode to love

-love is powerful and makes people do things they wouldn't do without it.

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Episode 4

Back 30

-antigone discusses the unfairness of her sentence with the chorus (kommas)

-she stands by her decision but doesn't think she should die for it.

-creon enters and sends her to be locked in a cave.

Front 31

Stasimon 4

Back 31

-chorus describe three stories from Greek mythology where people had a similar fate ti Antigone based on a curse from the gods.

Front 32

Episode 5

Back 32

-Teiresias (the blinds seer) tells creon that the gods are angry.

-He has gone against the laws of the God and must Bury polyneices and release Antigone.

-creon refuses but realises his mistake once he has gone.

Front 33

Stasimon 5

Back 33

-hyporchema

-joyus worship of dionysus.

Front 34

Exodus

Back 34

-messenger enters and tells the chorus and eurydice of the deaths of Antigone and Haemon as creon was too late

-creon returns distraught to hear the news that eurydice is also dead. he acknowledges his mistakes.

Front 35

Greek theatre

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