Choose two themes and discuss how each theme is similar or different to a theme in the other plays.
Human nature
Sophocles uses his main character, Antigone, to display his notion of human nature. There are numerous aspects of human nature, although Sophocles chooses to focus mainly on a few of them. Religion, importance of family, and the role of gender are all aspects of human nature that are emphasized throughout this great tragedy. For Oedipus, the king's fate was already given to his family with the common thought of having Oedipus killed so the prohpacy doesn't come true. But by doing that it does come true because he come back and makes his prohpacy come true. Oedipus cares for his family and when had found out what he had done, he punishes himself and apologizes. In Medea, she reacts towards the betrayal of a husband, an aspect more along the lines of family and taking a side for the gender roles.
Right or Wrong
In Oedipus, the king, although he didn' t want to except the truth he was founded guilty for killing his father and marrying his mother. Fate may have brought him there but for him to except what he could not believe is hard for him. This same idea is also shown through Medea, as she was disbanded by her husband, Jason, she attempts to get revenge on him for what he has done to her. She debate over what she should do, if killing her kids is right, or what she did was right. By the end she went through with her plans, and had done exactly what she had said. In Antigone, she of course ponders on the idea of what she believe is right. She had bury her brothers and she has no doubt that it was the right thing to do. She is ready to receive any punishment thrown at her.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Anouilh's Antigone Journal 3
Word Choice:
1.During Creon and Antigone's argument Anouilh repeats many words and ideas. Choose a word or idea and discuss how Anouilh uses the term.
2.Sometimes Anouilh uses ambiguous terms, identify how the terms affect your interpretation of characters and their motivations.
Although it wasn't repeated a lot but I find it a significant idea. It's the image of smoking a cigarette, besides having the idea of modernization and how this play was influenced. In the places that Anouilh used cigarette, were explaining the attitude or personality of a character. "... He was weepingwith anguish. And in corner of your father's study, Polynices stood steering and lighting a cigarette."(39). That was Creon speaking and with that cigaretty part added, he wanted to show how Polynices didn't care. How smoking a cigarette was added to the play having a character do it and that person immediately is seen as bad, and doesn't care about what's going on. This gives the reader a totaly new look towards a certain character.
1.During Creon and Antigone's argument Anouilh repeats many words and ideas. Choose a word or idea and discuss how Anouilh uses the term.
2.Sometimes Anouilh uses ambiguous terms, identify how the terms affect your interpretation of characters and their motivations.
Although it wasn't repeated a lot but I find it a significant idea. It's the image of smoking a cigarette, besides having the idea of modernization and how this play was influenced. In the places that Anouilh used cigarette, were explaining the attitude or personality of a character. "... He was weepingwith anguish. And in corner of your father's study, Polynices stood steering and lighting a cigarette."(39). That was Creon speaking and with that cigaretty part added, he wanted to show how Polynices didn't care. How smoking a cigarette was added to the play having a character do it and that person immediately is seen as bad, and doesn't care about what's going on. This gives the reader a totaly new look towards a certain character.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Characters Motivation
Think about the character you will be performing. What motivates him/her? What role does this motivation play? Use evidence from the play to defend your response.
Leader's Motivation
The Leader perspective of the situation is the same as the audience. So his motivation is what he sees as wrong, and in our play specificly the leader tells Jason that his son's are dead and that Medea is related to their death. Although things might seem that the leader is based off of Jason's actions, but that's because Medea seems to have been more of the evil and crazy one so the leader was more focused to her.
"Jason, you poor optimistic man, you still don't know the evils that have come- or you would not say what you have said." (73:1306-1309) Here it shows the Leader talking about what he thought as evil and that it's wrong.
Leader's Motivation
The Leader perspective of the situation is the same as the audience. So his motivation is what he sees as wrong, and in our play specificly the leader tells Jason that his son's are dead and that Medea is related to their death. Although things might seem that the leader is based off of Jason's actions, but that's because Medea seems to have been more of the evil and crazy one so the leader was more focused to her.
"Jason, you poor optimistic man, you still don't know the evils that have come- or you would not say what you have said." (73:1306-1309) Here it shows the Leader talking about what he thought as evil and that it's wrong.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Anouilh's Antigone Journal 2
4 literary techniques and their effects
Simile
"I'm sallow, and I'm scrawny. Ismene is pink and golden. She's like a fruit."(17)
Antigone was comparing both her and her sister to fruits. She told Haemon how she's this girl that isn't beautiful yet why does he love her, and not a girl that's golden like Ismene. When she says pink and golden, that describes pure and beautiful. She described herself as small and pretty much worthless.
Foreshadowing
"But if there was a reason why I couldn't go on talking to her"(15).
This was said by Antigone while she was talking to the nurse. Having her ask the nurse to watch over her dog, this foreshadows that Antigone might have an idea in her mind of a rational act. Which might lead her to her death, therefore asking the nurse to watch over her things.
Repetition
"Stronger than all fever, stronger than any nightmare, stronger than the shadow of the cupboard that used to snarl at me and turn into a dragon on the bedroom wall." (14)
While reading this passage, which was said by Antigone. It gives the reader this feeling of strength and bravery, which was exactly how Antigone felt at the moment. The writer wanted to show how Antigone and what kind of girl she was, and by repeating the word stronger. It showed exactly that idea.
Metaphor
"A little young for what, my kitten?"(14)
The nurse compared Antigone to a kitten because she was small and petite. Pretty much portraying this idea of looking innocent yet there is this hidden message that I see, is when a cat is upset it gets furious. So I think that it goes both ways, innocent and furious.
Simile
"I'm sallow, and I'm scrawny. Ismene is pink and golden. She's like a fruit."(17)
Antigone was comparing both her and her sister to fruits. She told Haemon how she's this girl that isn't beautiful yet why does he love her, and not a girl that's golden like Ismene. When she says pink and golden, that describes pure and beautiful. She described herself as small and pretty much worthless.
Foreshadowing
"But if there was a reason why I couldn't go on talking to her"(15).
This was said by Antigone while she was talking to the nurse. Having her ask the nurse to watch over her dog, this foreshadows that Antigone might have an idea in her mind of a rational act. Which might lead her to her death, therefore asking the nurse to watch over her things.
Repetition
"Stronger than all fever, stronger than any nightmare, stronger than the shadow of the cupboard that used to snarl at me and turn into a dragon on the bedroom wall." (14)
While reading this passage, which was said by Antigone. It gives the reader this feeling of strength and bravery, which was exactly how Antigone felt at the moment. The writer wanted to show how Antigone and what kind of girl she was, and by repeating the word stronger. It showed exactly that idea.
Metaphor
"A little young for what, my kitten?"(14)
The nurse compared Antigone to a kitten because she was small and petite. Pretty much portraying this idea of looking innocent yet there is this hidden message that I see, is when a cat is upset it gets furious. So I think that it goes both ways, innocent and furious.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Anouilh's Antigone Journal 1
What do you know about the 1940s in Europe and how do you predict that will influence Anouilh's version of Antigone?
At this time Europe contained mostly monarchies and fascist governments, which could influence Anouilh's version of Antigone. World War II was also occuring, ideas and thoughts of what was occuring could be portrayed within the plays through the charcaters. The play could contain a strong reaction towards betrayal and stand up against morally wrong things.
At this time Europe contained mostly monarchies and fascist governments, which could influence Anouilh's version of Antigone. World War II was also occuring, ideas and thoughts of what was occuring could be portrayed within the plays through the charcaters. The play could contain a strong reaction towards betrayal and stand up against morally wrong things.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Antigone Journal 2
Write two questions, pertaining to tonight's reading, for each level of questioning.
Knowledge Level : Who is Antigone and what is her intentions? What are the events that are occurring?
Comprehension Level: Why did Antigone bury Polynicies? How did Creon react towards what had happened, and what his son did?
Application Level: What would happen to Ismene next? Why does Creon declines his son's suggestions?
Analysis: Why does Atigone want to die for what she has done? What does the writer want the reader to recieve through reading this play?
Synthesis: How does Atigone's actions have a role within the play, compared to Oedipus's actions? How are the Creon different in each play and similar?
Evaluation: Does Atigone's action portray a message that the reader could relate? Does each Creon in each portray a different role?Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Antigone Journal 1
Images
"[...] his spears thirsting for the kill [...]" (65; 134).
-This section gives an image of a character desperate to kill someone, its as if he must kill someone or else he cannot live. Pretty much portrays and image of a murderer, thirsting to kill.
Simile
"And he had driven against our borders, launched by the warring claims of Polynices- like an eagle screaming, winging havoc over the land" (65; 125-128)
-It shows the intensity how the enemy were charging their borders with great force and power, just like how an eagle is seen as a symbol of keenness, strength, and bravery.
Metaphor
"of his furry hurling against our heads!" (66; 151)
- This portrays the image of his anger showing, and how it could be seen by others.
"[...] his spears thirsting for the kill [...]" (65; 134).
-This section gives an image of a character desperate to kill someone, its as if he must kill someone or else he cannot live. Pretty much portrays and image of a murderer, thirsting to kill.
Simile
"And he had driven against our borders, launched by the warring claims of Polynices- like an eagle screaming, winging havoc over the land" (65; 125-128)
-It shows the intensity how the enemy were charging their borders with great force and power, just like how an eagle is seen as a symbol of keenness, strength, and bravery.
Metaphor
"of his furry hurling against our heads!" (66; 151)
- This portrays the image of his anger showing, and how it could be seen by others.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Medea Jouranl 2
Compare and contrast Jason and Medea's interactions and attitudes towards the gods.
Medea is a person that can love and appreciate the rolls that the gods have. She has a role which plays right beside the gods, and having the gods help her when she needs to. While Jason is more distant from the gods, he uses them as an excuse to help him out of trouble but yet did he once took time to appreciate the gods.
Jason
"Well, as far as I am concerned, it was Aphrodite and no one else in heaven or earth who saved me on my voyage."(50;525-526)
-Jason here shows an example where he uses the god of love to help him out a tight situation, all he does was refer to the god he doesn't even go in dept with the god.
"Zeus, do you hear how I'm at bay[...]"(77;1405)
-Here Jason shows this control of the gods, asking Zues to notice him and to be seen. Expecting Zeus to do something about the whole situation.
Medea
"Never let Cypris the fierce Queen of desire propel My hear to a dissolute lust [...]" (53;637-639)
-Medea here shows how the gods and herself are on the same level of importance in the story. She's making it sound as if the god was a friend of hers and that she should let Cypris control her.
"O Zeus, what made you give us clear signs for telling[...]"(49;5160)
-Here Medea shows her relationship that she has with the gods, how they are playing a rold which are on the same level of importance.
Medea is a person that can love and appreciate the rolls that the gods have. She has a role which plays right beside the gods, and having the gods help her when she needs to. While Jason is more distant from the gods, he uses them as an excuse to help him out of trouble but yet did he once took time to appreciate the gods.
Jason
"Well, as far as I am concerned, it was Aphrodite and no one else in heaven or earth who saved me on my voyage."(50;525-526)
-Jason here shows an example where he uses the god of love to help him out a tight situation, all he does was refer to the god he doesn't even go in dept with the god.
"Zeus, do you hear how I'm at bay[...]"(77;1405)
-Here Jason shows this control of the gods, asking Zues to notice him and to be seen. Expecting Zeus to do something about the whole situation.
Medea
"Never let Cypris the fierce Queen of desire propel My hear to a dissolute lust [...]" (53;637-639)
-Medea here shows how the gods and herself are on the same level of importance in the story. She's making it sound as if the god was a friend of hers and that she should let Cypris control her.
"O Zeus, what made you give us clear signs for telling[...]"(49;5160)
-Here Medea shows her relationship that she has with the gods, how they are playing a rold which are on the same level of importance.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Medea Jouranl 1
What is the role of the chorus in Medea? How is it different than in Oedipus?
The chorus in Medea compared to the chorus in Oedipus is much different is because in a way in Oedipus they seem to have a sense of control or limitation to what they could say. While in Medea the chorus has their own thoughts and feelings, especially feeling sorry for Medea and how she lost her husband. The chorus is Medea got more involve within the story as in Oedipus they are only they as the city people which only spoke out at certain points. They didn't really care much about Oedipus, they just wanted his help. While as mention in Medea the chorus cares more for their mistress or the main character.
The chorus in Medea compared to the chorus in Oedipus is much different is because in a way in Oedipus they seem to have a sense of control or limitation to what they could say. While in Medea the chorus has their own thoughts and feelings, especially feeling sorry for Medea and how she lost her husband. The chorus is Medea got more involve within the story as in Oedipus they are only they as the city people which only spoke out at certain points. They didn't really care much about Oedipus, they just wanted his help. While as mention in Medea the chorus cares more for their mistress or the main character.
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