PLAYS!

The play may be "the thing," but really, only if you see it. Reading a play is a distinctly lesser form of appreciation than seeing it performed live. While classical Greek theatre was not what we think of as acting, there are a number of good, modernized versions of the three plays I've assigned. I say "THREE" plays because I consider the modern version of Antigone by Jeanne Anouilh to be a different play than the original classical play by Sophocles!

So, you are reading two plays by Sophocles: His Oedipus the King and Antigone

and you are reading Anouilh's Antigone.

I'm searching everywhere for plays that can be viewed on line. If you can find me links for streaming videos of even any plays we could watch, please send them to me at axelrodthepoet@yahoo.com 

For notes on how the authentic classical drama's would have been performed, go to: The Classical Origins of Western Culture by Roger Dunkle of Brooklyn College

For notes on Sophocles, whose two plays you will read you may click here: Sophocles

My own suggestion is that you read the play by at least "turning every page," or in this instance scrolling through them. Should you come to a long passage by the Chorus, notorious for their going on and on about some moral point, then scroll more quickly! Your job is to be come familiar with the characters and more so, to grasp the theme.

There are some key moments--most critically, for instance, when Antigone and Creon debate--that you should highlight and return to for quoting when  you write your paper.

You might even work with a notepad and/or alternate word processing screen available so that you can copy/paste potentially important quotes to be used in your paper.