Tuesday, December 7, 2010.

1. Notes for Antigone:

Prologue: Intro to problem. Antigone asks Ismene to help her bury their brother Polyneices. Ismene is afraid and refuses to disobey the laws of the State. Antigone states the laws of the gods are greater than the laws of the State.

Parados: The chorus relates events of the battle. The last stanza reveals a hopeful mood.

Scene 1: Creon sets forth his decree. Anyone who buries Polyneices is condemned to stoning to death in the public square. A Sentry arrives to tell Creon that someone has buried Polyneices' body. Creon accuses Sentry of bribery and threatens the Sentry with death.

Ode 1: Man has conquered land, beast, air, and the word, but death he has not.

Scene 2: Antigone is arrested. She defends her action stating that she follows the laws of the gods, who require a body to receive proper burial.

Ode 2: "Man's little pleasure is the spring of sorrow." Man cannot offend the gods and escape punishment.

Scene 3: Haemon attempts to convince his father, Creon, to release Antigone by setting forth a rational argument. Creon becomes obfuscated (angry) and makes derogatory comments about women being inferior.

Ode 3: Unconquerable love.

Scene 4: Antigone is taken to the vault. She asks for pity from the chorus.

Scene 5: Teiresias attempts to convince Creon to release Antigone and bury Polyneices, but Creon refuses, accusing Teiresias of bribery. Teiresias warns Creon of disaster if Creon does not change his mind. The Choragos gives Creon advice stating the Teiresias' prophecies have never been wrong. Creon changes his mind.

Paean: The chorus prays to the gods for mercy.

Exodos: The unraveling of the plot.

Bring all Antigone handouts completed so that we can review in class.