What is the chorus in Antigone trying to say?
Finally, the chorus expresses the viewpoint of "everyman", of the society as a whole as an organic construct with certain beliefs and moral values. While both Creon and Antigone are outliers in their viewpoints, with Creon more rational and pragmatic than average and more an advocate of human rational law than tradition and Antigone more persona...
What is the purpose of the chorus in Ancient Greek drama?
The purpose of the chorus in Ancient Greek drama is to represent the perspective of ordinary people. It generally conveys the conventional wisdom of the time and represents the kind of common sense that the main characters don't typically show because they are so carried away in the extremes of their emotional experiences.
What role do the brothers play in the play Antigone?
They are very committed to the state, and played a very important role in showing the values of the ancient Greek. The chorus comments on the various decisions and actions of Creon and Antigone. While Creon is the brother-in-law of Oedipus, became the new ruler when the brothers, Polyneices and Eteocles, killed each other in the battle they set.
What is the role of the chorus in Anouilh?
In Greek tragedy, the Chorus consisted of a group of approximately ten people, playing the role of death messenger, dancing, singing, and commenting throughout from the margins of the action. Anouilh reduces the Chorus to a single figure who retains his collective function nevertheless.
What is the role of chorus?
The chorus speaks directly to the audience and may not interact with the main characters of a story at all. Their purpose is to underscore the moral themes, actions, character development, and messages of a story to the audience. The Greek chorus was prevalent in classical Greek drama of the 5th century BCE.Feb 25, 2022
How does the chorus support Antigone?
The Chorus in the Antigone are pious, elderly men, who embody community wisdom and show deference to power. Their support of Creon, however, is not whole-hearted, but because they fear him, they do not speak candidly.
What does the chorus say at the end of Antigone?
The Chorus's final speech is a remarkably terse list of possible lessons that can be learned from the play's events: wisdom is good, reverence for the gods is necessary, pride is bad, and fate is inevitable (1466–1470).
Who does the chorus represent?
The chorus represents, on stage, the general population of the particular story, in sharp contrast with many of the themes of the ancient Greek plays which tended to be about individual heroes, gods, and goddesses. They were often the same sex as the main character.
What is the chorus in Antigone?
In Antigone by Sophocles, the Chorus, which consists of a group of Theban elders who are advisers to King Creon, performs three important roles. First, they provide information about what takes place offstage, filling in backstory or action that is necessary for the audience to understand the plot. For example, at the beginning ...
What is the role of chorus in Greek drama?
The role of the chorus is to provide information not revealed in dialogue, such as context within mythology, narration, and the characters' thoughts.
What is the chorus in Sophocles' play?
The chorus first serves as a form of spectacle, as in ancient productions choral odes were sung with the chorus dancing as they sang. This song and dance was deeply rooted in tradition and religious ritual and thus emphasizes the sacred roots of tragedy. As Sophocles' plays were originally performed at a festival in honor of Dionysus, in a religious rather than secular context, the chorus functions to celebrate the gods and often expresses a particularly pious viewpoint, thinking about how the gods might be connected with or concerned about various events in the play. On a dramatic level, they often function as a narrative voice, explaining what happened before the start of the play and discussing events that occur offstage.
What is the second role of the chorus?
The second role of the Chorus is to stand in for the audience, providing the response that the playwright intends the audience to have to the unfolding drama. Thus, at the beginning of the play, the elders are firmly on the side of Creon, expounding on the right of kings to make and enforce law.
How did Greek tragedy evolve?
The first thing to note is that Greek tragedy evolved out of choral performance. Having actors who played individual roles was an innovation that began within Sophocles' own lifetime. You could even argue that the chorus is the center of the drama.
What is the role of the chorus in Antigone?
The Role of the Chorus in Antigone. to get full document. to get full document. The Chorus is the group of common people, who are the loyal and religious citizens of Thebes. They are very committed to the state, and played a very important role in showing the values of the ancient Greek. The chorus comments on the various decisions and actions ...
Why did the chorus support Creon?
The chorus supported Creon in the beginning when the ruler decided to bury the remains of Eteocles and disgrace Polyneices for it is the law of the state. But just before and when the prophecy has been told that the gods were at the side of Antigone, the chorus was obvious in giving its support to Antigone.
Why should the loyalty of the chorus not be questioned?
The loyalty of the chorus should not be questioned because at first, when Creon just declared that Polyneices must be disgraced, the chorus was obedient to the law of the land because perhaps they did not know yet that the tragic is about to happen.
Why is Antigone so heroic?
Antigone was made heroic by the part of having her pride because she stands firm of her decision from the beginning and it is because her decision is supported by the supreme- the gods.
What is Creon's loyalty?
The word loyalty is synonymous to faithfulness, constancy, trustworthiness/reliability, and devotion. Now, Creon holds firm at first or until Haemon and Antigone killed themselves, to the law of human or the state while, Antigone holds to the supreme law, the law of god and conscience. The chorus, just like any other society, ...
What is the chorus in Greek?
Text Preview. The Chorus is the group of common people, who are the loyal and religious citizens of Thebes. They are very committed to the state, and played a very important role in showing the values of the ancient Greek. The chorus comments on the various decisions and actions of Creon and Antigone. While Creon is the brother-in-law of Oedipus, ...
What is Creon's biggest mistake?
Creon has committed many mistakes. One is the issue of pride . Pride for a ruler is important in the land. The ruler should stand firm with his decisions, and decisions should not break for any reason for him to gain his respect from the people. For the gods, Pride is unloved.
What is the role of the chorus in Greek tragedy?
In Greek tragedy, the Chorus consisted of a group of approximately ten people, playing the role of death messenger , dancing, singing, and commenting throughout from the margins of the action. Anouilh reduces the Chorus to a single figure who retains his collective function nevertheless. The Chorus represents an indeterminate group, be it the inhabitants of Thebes or the moved spectators. It also appears as narrator. The Chorus frames the play with a prologue and epilogue, introducing the action and characters under the sign of fatality. We see this fatalism most clearly perhaps its characteristic gesture of demonstration, prefacing many of its remarks with "Et voilà" in the original script. In presenting the tragedy, the Chorus would instruct the audience on proper spectatorship, reappearing at the tragedy's pivotal moments to comment on the action or the nature of tragedy itself. Along with playing narrator, the Chorus also attempts to intercede throughout the play, whether on the behalf of the Theban people or the horrified spectators.
What is the chorus in Thebes?
The Chorus represents an indeterminate group, be it the inhabitants of Thebes or the moved spectators. It also appears as narrator. The Chorus frames the play with a prologue and epilogue, introducing the action and characters under the sign of fatality.
What would the chorus instruct the audience on?
In presenting the tragedy, the Chorus would instruct the audience on proper spectatorship, reappearing at the tragedy's pivotal moments to comment on the action or the nature of tragedy itself.
What is the chorus in Antigone?
Now, let's examine the different functions of the chorus. The first is foreshadowing. The chorus tells the audience hints and clues as to what will occur later in the play. In Antigone, the chorus foreshadows Antigone and Creon's downfall by singing about the 'mastery of man' and his limits. The chorus says man has conquered 'all but death,' which foreshadows what is in store for Antigone. They also sing of 'unsavory ambition,' or excessive pride, which foreshadows Creon's hamartia, or tragic flaw.
What does the chorus sing in Scene 3 of Antigone?
After Creon has Antigone and Ismene taken away, the chorus sings of the woes of Antigone's family and the curse of her father Oedipus.
What does the chorus represent in Greek tragedies?
In Greek tragedies, the chorus represented the average citizen's fears, hopes, and judgments. In the play Antigone by Sophocles, the chorus and chorus leader represent the people of Thebes who attempt to talk rationality into the main character, Antigone, and the king, Creon.
What is chorus in Greek drama?
In Ancient Greek drama, the chorus was a group of actors that commented on the action happening in the play, offering their opinions and wisdom to aid the characters on stage and the members of the audience.
What is the chorus' job in the play?
In any case, the chorus does its job of guiding the audience through the play by foreshadowing future events, explaining background information, and interacting with the characters to provide insight and wisdom for all involved. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Create your account.
What does the chorus show?
The chorus also shows wisdom and insight. The chorus, being the thoughts and feelings of the common man, would give their two cents regarding the decisions made by the characters on stage. Oftentimes the chorus would provide insight and wisdom for the main characters to think through before making a rash decision.
What does the chorus represent in Antigone?
The Chorus. In Antigone, the chorus represents the elder citizens of Thebes. Sophocles's choruses react to the events of the play. The chorus speaks as one voice, or sometimes through the voice of its leader. It praises, damns, cowers in fear, asks or offers advice, and generally helps the audience interpret the play.
What does Creon say to Antigone?
Creon responds that he... (full context) ...off the marriage. Ismene continues to plead for Antigone. Creon tells the leader of the chorus that Antigone must die. Guards take Antigone and Ismene away. (full context) The chorus delivers a lyrical chant about the tragedy and ruin of the house of Oedipus.
Who addresses the chorus?
Creon enters and addresses the chorus. Creon explains that, after the death of Oedipus's two sons, he is now king, and... (full context) The leader of the chorus suggests that this might be the work of the gods.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
The chorus in most typical Greek Tragedies usually sets the mood for the play, introduces the main cast and provides narration throughout the play. In Antigone we see the Chorus throughout helping us shape our reactions to the proceeding actions. The Chorus in Antigone is like an in-play audience analyzing the events unfolding in the plot.
Antigone - Role of the Chorus
The chorus in most typical Greek Tragedies usually sets the mood for the play, introduces the main cast and provides narration throughout the play. In Antigone we see the Chorus throughout helping us shape our reactions to the proceeding actions. The Chorus in Antigone is like an in-play audience analyzing the events unfolding in the plot.
