Antigone (Anouilh): Journal 4

Themes

1. Accepting fate is the only way to truly be at peace with ones self.
   

• Oedipus the King: In this play, Oedipus goes through it doubting himself and always needing to know more. Finally, when he learns the truth he accepts it, when he does he is willing to accept the punishment that comes with his actions. There are no more conflicting ideas or feelings, he knows he must leave Thebes and accept his fate and punishment giving him internal peace.

2. Fate is determined by emotions rather than actions.

• Madea: All of Madea's actions are driven by her emotions. Because they are driven by emotions they are unstoppable. Emotions are passive, we don't mean for them to happen they just do. They tie directly into fate because they are implacable. Madea's emotions give her the motivation to kill her sons and the king and princess. She could not help herself because her emotions were so strong.
  

Antigone (Anouilh): Journal 3

Repetition:

Yes and No

In Antigone and Creon's argument, they use the words yes and no alot. They refer to different things to the characters, Antigone; no because she refuses to be saved, Creon; yes, he chose to become kind even though he didn't really want it. Anouilh uses the repetition of yes and no and what the characters say about their decisions to show that there is always a choice in everything that we do and "yes and no" are equally hard answers to come to. Ex: it would have been hard for Creon to not accept the throne of Thebes, but it was also hard for him to do so.

Ambiguous Term

Love

The characters in Anouilh's "Antigone" love eachother in different ways. Ismene loves Antigone as a sister, the Nurse loves her as a daughter, and Haemon loves her as a lover and Antigone loves her brother and even Creon may love Antigone in a way. The different ways that Anouilh uses love shows that he believes that love or kind feelings are everywhere and not everyone is all bad. The soldiers even show some love towards eachother.

Greek Tragedy Skit

Play: Oedipus the King
Character: The Chorus

The Chorus is motivated by wanting to find out the truth about their leader. The Chorus represents the townspeople of Thebes, the citizens who love Oedipus because he saved them. But now that his honor and pride is challenged and he has no real answer, they begin to question Oedipus' story. "Oedipus-son, dear child, who bore you? Who of the nymphs who seem to live forever mated with Pan, the mountain-striding Father? Who was your mother?[...]" (1204-1208). The repetition of questions shows the chorus' curiosity in Oedipus' past. It also shows their desperation to find out the truth about Oedipus' past.

Antigone (Anouilh): Journal 2

Literary Devices

Imagery:
"Like one single pair of eyes, a thousand eyes will stare at us" (12). Ismene uses this imagery to try and evoke fear from Antigone. She is trying to persuade Antigone to change her mind and not try to bury their brother. Having a thousand eyes stare at you is intimidating and she is trying to frighten Antigone away from this idea of breaking the kings law.

Foreshadowing:
Page 15, when Antigone is telling the Nurse to treat her dog like she would treat it, "But if there was a reason why I couldn't go on talking to her-"(15). This shows that Antigone knows that something will happen to her and it foreshadows to the reader that something will happen in her plan to bury her brother and she will most likely die.

Simile:
"A little young for what, my kitten" (14). This simile that the Nurse uses for Antigone shows her motherly tendencies towards her. A kitten is something precious and sweet and this is how the Nurse feels about Antigone. Also she uses "my", showing that she feels that Antigone is her responsiblity which could set up something for her later in the story when Antigone dies.

Repetition:
"Stronger than a 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 bed room wall. Stronger than the thousand insects gnawing and nibling in the silence of the night.Stronger than the frightened me even when I couldn't them. Nanny, stronger than death" (14). The repetition of the word "stronger" conveys the stregth that Antigone feels that she needs. Her tone is somewhat panicky, she uses the word stronger as an attempt to strengthen herself for her coming task.

Antigone (Anouilh): Jounal 1

1940's in Europe

• WWII
• Germany was trying to take over
• Facists were trying to consume the continent

These could affect the message that Anouilh convey's in Antigone. He could change the conflicts betweent the characters to be more intense because of the war. The relationship between Creon and Haemon will probably be intensified because it is a feud between two men, which is like war, and back then only men were soldiers.

Antigone (Sophocles): Journal 2

Casting of Characters

Antigone
Quotes: "Do not fear for me. Set your own life in order." (97)
"Give me glory! What greater glory could I win than to give my own brother a decent
burial?" (561-562)
Physical: Dark brown hair, tan skin, brown eyes, classic greek look, petite, 16-17
Personality: strong, knows what she wants, not easily swayed, willfull
Actor: Natalie Portman-dark brown hair, tan skin, can look very young, plays strong willed characters, is strong willed herself and doesn't care much what others think of her. I picked her because she would be able to play Antigone with the proper balance of willfulness and emotion, like her character in V for Vendetta

Creon
Quotes: "This slander of yours-are you aware you're speaking to the king?" (1172-1173)
"Nothing. Then I have it all" (557)
Physical: Reached his prime, 45-50, strong, hard blue eyes, white hair
Personality: arrogant at times, closed minded (he is always right), consumed by power, vengeful
Actor: Anthony Hopkins, older actor, white hair, big build, mysterious person, opinionated. I picked him because he has the right look and he has previously played controversial leaders like Hitler and Nixon, both of whom thought that they were right and that they were doing the best for their country even though they weren't.

Ismene
Quotes: "I did it, yes-if only she consents-I share the guilt, the consequences too" (602-604)
"wild, irrational as you are, my sister, you are truly dear to the ones who love you" (114-115)
Physical: blonde, small, soft features, 14-15, brown eyes
Personality: loving, timid, willing to die for/with her loved ones, innocent
Actor: Aimee Teegarden, blonde, small, brown eyes, soft features, young, innocent person, soft spoken. I picked her because she has a very innocent look and the characters that she has played in the past have generally been innocent girls who make mistakes and become emotional about them, which is a situation that Ismene is put into.

Haemon
Quotes: "Then she will die...but her death will kill another" (843)
"No, it's no disgrace for a man, even a wise man, to learn many things and not be too rigid" (974-976)
Physical: well built but smaller (medium weight), dark, brown hair brown eyes, tall but not too tall, 17-18
Personality: mature, strong minded, rebel, stands up for what he believes, loving
Actor: Orlando Bloom, 5'11", young, dark skin, dark hair, dark eyes, medium build, stands up for his beliefs and causes, intense eyes. I picked him because he fits the physical description and is also able to play characters who are both strong, warrior types and lovers. His personal life also reflects some of the personality traits of Haemon making him able to relate to the character.
Sentry
Quotes: "But no casting lots this time; this is my luck, my prize, no one else's" (438-439)
"Be fair, don't take it out on me" (270)
Physical: big build, dark, strong, young
Personality: looks out for himself, kind of a coward, loud, talkative
Actor: Kellan Lutz, big build, dark, light eyes, fun, energetic. I picked him because he usually plays very blunt characters who are passivly funny. His character in Twilight is known as the protector but he's not exactly the smartest one of the bunch.

Leader
Quotes: "My king, ever since he began I've been debating in my mind, could this possibly be the work of the gods?" (314-316)
"So, it's settled then? Antigone must die?" (649)
Physical: big eyes, short, mouse like, older, kind of nerdy
Personality: easily swayed, no real opinion of his own, follows Creon
Actor: Peter MacNicol, older, big eyes, very mouse like. I picked him because in Ghostbusters his character follows the will of his leader and doesn't show much sway, like the Leader. Also he is very mouse like, a bit timid, like i would image the Leader to be because he's following the opinions of Creon.

Antigone (Sophocles): Journal 1

Knowlege Level:

1. How does Creon plan on punishing Antigone?
2. How are Creon and Haemon related?

Comprehension Level:

1. What does Haemon lecture Creon about?
2. What was Antigone doing when she got caught?

Application Level:

1. Would Ismene be charged with a crime today? If so what would she be charged with?
2. In our society today, would Antigone be praised by her community for brining honor to her traitor brother?

Analysis Level:

1. What would you do if you were placed in Ismene's situation?
2. If your loved one was accused of a serious crime, would you stand by them like Haemon did for Antigone, or would you abandon them?

Synthesis Level:

1. Are there any connections between the way Creon is handling this situation and how Oedipus handled his in "Oedipus the King"?
2. How does "Antigone" show characteristics of a tragedy?

Evaluation:

1. How does the character of Creon differ from "Oedipus the King" to "Antigone"?
2. Do you think the Sentry was right in trying to save his own skin?
   

Euripides: Journal 3

Elements of Tragedy

Oedipus vs. Medea

Thesis: Sophocles uses Oedipus' supposed innocence to evoke fear and pity from the audience while Euripides uses Medea's actions to evoke fear and pity, however both characters get to thier conclusions by believing that they are correct.

Oedipus does not know of his past, making him seem innocent, the events that take place evokes fear because it shows the audience that they could have done terrible things without even knowing it, and it evokes pity because they feel sorry for Oedipus because his life seemed so perfect and he was so well loved and it turns our his life is really really messed up. But by denying Tiresius' prophecy, Oedipus made things worse for himself because by trying to find out the truth he found out his entire past and that led to his downfall.

Medea's actions make her seem ruthless, and evoke fear by showing the audience what a scorned women is capable of and how if a person is pushed far enough they are willing to kill anyone for revenge. Medea's story evokes pity because of why she has done this, her husband whom she has sacrificed everything for has abandonded her and their two sons to be with a princess. Medea believes that she must take revenge because it is her right, this leads to her ultimate downfall.

Euripides: Journal 2

Thesis: Medea speaks of the Gods in personal setting, speaking to them, while Jason speaks of the gods and not directly to them.

Evidence:
Medea-O, mighty Themis, and Artemis, Queen, for all the fine vows I bound him with
-Artemis is the guardian of women, Themis is justice, she is complaining to them about Jason, looking for sympathy from the Gods
O Zeus, remember the author of this crime
-Medea speaks to Zeus as if he should take pity on her
O Zeus, what made you give us clear signs for telling mere glitter for true gold
-Medea is asking for answers from Zeus, almost like she has a personal relationship with him

Jason-Well as far as im concerned, it was Aphrodite and no on else in heaven or earth who saved me on my voyage
-Jason is speaking OF Aphrodite not TO her, using her as part of his argument, no clear evidence that Aphrodite saved him, shows that he doesnt have true faith in the gods

Euripides: Journal 1

How does the chorus' role differ from Oedipus to Medea?

In Oedipus the chorus is more part of the actual plot. They are the literal citizens of Thebes and act as a parallel to Oedipus' story. In Madea, the chorus is almost like Madea's thoughts. They reflect her emotions and her feelings towards men and the feminist ideas that she has.