Topics on the Page

Biographical Information on Sophocles

The Oedipus Cycle

Summary of the Play

Text of Play

Civil Disobedience in Antigone

• For more on Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr, and civil disobedience, link to Origins, Goals and Events of the Civil Rights Movement

• Link to Influential Literature page on Walden by Henry David Thoreau

• For a world history perspective, see material on Gandhi and the Rise of Indian Nationalism

• Visit Accomplishments of the Ancient Greeks

   (Antigone over Polynices' body)  

   Biographical Information on Sophocles

Sophocles (b. ca. 496 bce- d. 406)

Sophocles was a celebrated tragedy writer in Ancient Greece. He is one of three great tragedians, along with Aeschylus and Euripides.Unlike many other great ancient writers, who would become famous and well known post-mortem, Sophocles was very popular in his own time, while still alive. 

Few facts are known about Sophocles' life, however what is known is documented below: 

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sophocles  

The Oedipus Cycle

Antigone is the third and final play in The Oedipus Cycle, a series of plays depicting the life of Oedipus Rex and his children in Ancient Greece.                                                                                                                                  

To understand the play Antigone, one must have an understanding of the prior events in the Oedipus Cycle to build the context of the play.                                                                                                                                       

Recap of Oedipus Rex and its Themes (from 6:22-end) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj7R36s4dbM 

Summary of the Play

"'Antigone' is a tragedy by the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles, written around 442 BCE.

Although it was written before Sophocles’ other two Theban plays, chronologically it comes after the stories in “Oedipus the King” and “Oedipus at Colonus”, and it picks up where Aeschylus' play “Seven Against Thebes” ends.

It deals with Antigone’s burial of her brother Polynices (Polyneices), in defiance of the laws of Creon and the state, and the tragic repercussions of her act of civil disobedience."

-From https://www.ancient-literature.com/greece_sophocles_antigone.html 

Animated Summary of the Play

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnoZmoZbjw   

Antigone to go - Sophocles in 11 Minutes 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o6Jxrfj410                                                                   

Timeline of the Play

https://prezi.com/7yscvo4ubcyq/timeline-of-antigone/

   Text of the Play

Civil Disobedience in Antigone

Antigone is deeply connected to the concept of Civil Disobedience. When teaching this play, it can be related to this historical topic in a number of ways:

Blog Post on this Theme in the Play 

https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/antigonescholarlyedition/lens-essays/vy-vo/ 

Civil Disobedience in America

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/rosa-parks-ignites-bus-boycot   

Multicultural History Resources

There are two plays in San Francisco that have been adapted (2015) as African-American centered. Here is a link to the article that describes it.

Journal Article analyzing Antigone to illuminate the Women's position in politics and the household. 

Teaching the Antigone in Wisconsin: A Resource Guide for Educators, University of Wisconsin Madison

Sophocles' Antigone:  Ancient Greek Theatre, Live from Antiquity

• This learning activity asks how does Greek drama differ from modern theatre