Greek Theatre

Greek Theatre

LEARNING AIMS

After studying this section (in this guide as well as the learner’s book) you should be able to:

• Analyse the text of Antigone according to the dramatic principles. • Understand the context and background relevant to the text. • Understand the dramatic principles in the text, i.e., intrigue/plot, characters, dialogue, themes, etc. • Design elements, visuals and sound of the play such as lighting, set, costumes and masks. • Specific elements relevant to the dramatic form, i.e., chorus, the tragic hero and satire.

Introduction

In this section, we analyse the Greek tragedy Antigone by Sophocles.

IMPORTANT TERMINOLOGY

Term Definition

Epilogue The end of a play as told by a character.

Parados

The first choral passage in an ancient Greek drama, recited or sung as the chorus enters the orchestra.

Stasimon

One of the regular choral odes between two episodes in a Greek tragedy, possibly sung with the chorus standing in its place in the orchestra.

Pathos

Greek for ‘instructive suffering’ that has come to mean the quality in something that arouses sympathy. Often used today to describe something sad, but not necessarily tragic. An ancient Greek form of tragicomedy, or rather a ‘joking tragedy’. These plays Satyr play were usually presented after the trilogy of tragedies and were intended to alleviate the emotional tension of the tragic trilogy. Comedy From the Greek kōmōidia or komodios, which means ‘merrymaking’ and ‘singer’.

STUDY

To understand this unit, you must:

• Read Antigone on page 10 • Study the notes on the text on page 52 • Study Journey 9: Greek Theatre in the Via Afrika Learner’s Book

You may also want to watch a performance of Antigone. Below are a few links to performances of the play on YouTube. Please note that although all URLs in this guide have been shortened, they will still direct to the required page.

goo.gl/Vf27q9 goo.gl/2A9n4b goo.gl/S3cyJ8

Use the link below if you would like to read the text while listening to a full audio recording:

goo.gl/LV3Vku

If you find it difficult to understand the text, read Jean Anouilh’s version of Antigone, which can be found at the link below:

goo.gl/2tvXoo

Although there are some differences in the two texts, the core plot is the same. The similarities and differences are explored in this presentation:

goo.gl/7HizBU

Remember that Antigone has been translated from the original Greek and the different versions are all adaptations. The adaptations may differ, but the original story by Sophocles is still present.

The text

Antigone donnant la sépulture à Polynice, 1825, Paris, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Sébastien Norblin Antigone giving burial to Poyneices. (Source: https://goo.gl/A9Q33u)