The function of the chorus in Antigone
THANK
YOU
HS
CREON AND THE CHORUS
6th Stasimon
3 major things that the chorus makes us aware of:
1) Creon's flaw
2) Power corrupting Creon
3) Creon realises his mistake
LOYALTY, FEAR AND AN ALLY
- Advises Creon, forms his conscience
- Prayer for Dionysus to rescue the city- messenger arrives
5th Stasimon
- ONLY Sophoclean ode that is fully composed of Greek myths
- Lycurgus (angered gods with pride)
Kommos with Antigone
- Anapest to lyrics, more emotion
- Sympathetic, disapproving, opinions but
remain distant
4th Stasimon
- Gods can cause terrible repercussions
- "Eros" and "Philia", human conditions
3rd Stasimon
- Family destruction by the gods
- Family is possibly cursed
- "...the long, bloody knife swung by the gods of death"
Ode to Man
- Man is inventive, creative and powerful
- Too much power is harmful
- Creon is not present, say what they feel
1st Stasimon (The Parados)
CONCLUSION
SUMMARY
- Variety of songs and lyrics
- Odes: step away from action, go general, relate back to events in the play
- Mythology: learning from past mistakes
- Attack of Thebes and defeat over the Argive forces
- Thebes & Argive --> Creon & Antigone
- Introduction of theme of pride:
"Zeus hates with a vengeance all bravado, the mighty boasts of men."
Thesis Statement
Chorus brings in major themes
Pious, patriotic men
Character established
Why did Sophocles choose them to
be like this?
The role of the chorus is to aid in the overall development of the play and to represent the views of the Thebans
- Provides information about the human, political and religious conditions in Greece
- Reinforces traditional Greek values
- Represents view of Sophocles
- Forms links with other myths
- Foreshadows