Greek Tragedy According to Aristotle:

1. A tragedy must examine a serious topic.

2. A tragedy must have a serious tone.

3. A tragedy must center around a tragic hero.

6. A tragedy should be unified in terms of time, action, and place.

These elements would be known as the THREE UNITIES.

Criteria for a Tragic Hero?

• 1. High Stature• 2. Can’t be excessively good or evil• 3. Tragic Flaw• 4. Tragic Downfall• 5. Tragic Dilemma• 6. Anagnorisis (Self-knowledge)

• The word tragedy originally derived from the Greek word tragedoia, which roughly translates into ‘goat song’.

Antigone Character

s and Relations

Oedipus married Jocasta, the Queen of Thebes, not knowing she was his mother. Therefore, Jocasta is his wife and his mother.

Creon is Jocasta’s brother. He is both uncle and brother-in-law to Oedipus.

Oedipus’ father was Laios, whom he killed, not knowing he was his biological father.

Oedipus and Jocasta have four children who are also Oedipus’ half brothers and sisters:

• Antigone

• Ismene

• Polyneices

• Eteocles

When Oedipus finds out the truth about his parents, he claws out his eyes, banishes himself and turns the kingdom over to Creon, his uncle.

Creon is also the biological uncle of all four of Oedipus’ children.

Creon has a son named Haimon.

Haimon is cousin to Antigone, but is also engaged to her.

That’s one twisted

family tree!