Please work with focus today. All of the work you do today is very relevant for the practical work that we have to do next term. Work hard and I look forward to reading your research.
Some of you might have to share a computer, therefore you can work together to do the work - but you must both complete task 1 individually so take it in turns to make your blog.
Task 1 - Create your new blog
You need to go on to blogger and create a new blog for next term.
The
title for your blog should be:
Historical
Context and Multimedia Unit
We should receive all of these by 9.45am at the latest during the lesson.
TASK 2 - GREEK THEATRE RESEARCH
Use the internet to answer the following questions.
You should cut and paste the questions below onto your blog to answer them.
This link will take you to a website that might help with your answers, read through this website carefully. It is worth spending some time making notes on anything interesting that you read...
https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/exhibit/greek-tragedy-at-the-national-theatre/wRnC0fJ0?position=42%2C54
1. When were ancient Greek plays performed?
2. How many years ago was this?
3. What different types of plays were performed?
4. What is a traditional Greek Theatre called?
5. What shape was the theatre?
6. Find a picture of a traditional Greek Theatre for your blog.
7. Why were the theatres built this way?
8. What different scenic elements are there?
9. Who sat on the seats at the front?
10. Could women take part in, or attend the plays?
11. Name some of the Greek playwrights and their plays.
12. What did the audience throw at the actors who performed badly?
13. What did the actors wear?
14. How did the audience sat at the back of the large theatre hear anything?
15. Who is Dionysus?
16. Why is he important to Greek Theatre?
17. What is a Greek chorus?
18. What purpose to the Chorus have in the performance?
19. How and why were masks used?
20. What were the masks made of?
Task on a piece of text:
If you have headphones with you then you can watch a selection of videos on the National Theatre website. Please write some notes as you go and write these on your blog:
http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/backstage/greek-theatre
TASK 3 - How can we use Multimedia effectively in performances?
Use the internet to help answer the following questions.
1. What do we mean by the phrase 'multimedia in performance'?
2. Give some examples of different types of media that could be used in a performance. Give examples of how they could be used and the positive and negative of them.
TYPE OF MEDIA
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EXAMPLE OF USE IN PERFORMANCE
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POSITIVES OF USING IT…
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NEGATIVES OF USING IT…
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VIDEO
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3. Try to think of show you have seen at the theatre that has used multimedia. (If you saw Summerfolk as part of Common Ground then you could write about this...)
What type of multimedia was used? Did it enhance the performance? How and why?
4. Find some photos of how multimedia can be used in performance.
An example photo - live feed being used to project into the background.
5. Watch some of these videos on the National Theatre website about the use of Multimedia in performance. (Only watch if you have headphones you can plug into the computer - if not complete this at home)
http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/backstage/multimedia
Task 4: Antigone
1. Find a family tree picture of Antigone's family online...
Taken from: http://lincoln.debbieyoon.com/antigone/
This will be useful to help you know how to say the key characters names:
Taken from: http://lincoln.debbieyoon.com/antigone/
Here is the Antigone synopsis taken from http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/o/the-oedipus-trilogy/play-summary/antigone
2. Read the synopsis:
After the bloody siege of Thebes by Polynices and his allies, the city stands unconquered. Polynices and his brother Eteocles, however, are both dead, killed by each other, according to the curse of Oedipus, their father.
Outside the city gates, Antigone tells Ismene that Creon has ordered that Eteocles, who died defending the city, is to be buried with full honors, while the body of Polynices, the invader, is left to rot. Furthermore, Creon has declared that anyone attempting to bury Polynices shall be publicly stoned to death. Outraged, Antigone reveals to Ismene a plan to bury Polynices in secret, despite Creon's order. When Ismene timidly refuses to defy the king, Antigone angrily rejects her and goes off alone to bury her brother.
Creon discovers that someone has attempted to offer a ritual burial to Polynices and demands that the guilty one be found and brought before him. When he discovers that Antigone, his niece, has defied his order, Creon is furious. Antigone makes an impassioned argument, declaring Creon's order to be against the laws of the gods themselves. Enraged by Antigone's refusal to submit to his authority, Creon declares that she and her sister will be put to death.
Haemon, Creon's son who was to marry Antigone, advises his father to reconsider his decision. The father and son argue, Haemon accusing Creon of arrogance, and Creon accusing Haemon of unmanly weakness in siding with a woman. Haemon leaves in anger, swearing never to return. Without admitting that Haemon may be right, Creon amends his pronouncement on the sisters: Ismene shall live, and Antigone will be sealed in a tomb to die of starvation, rather than stoned to death by the city.
The blind prophet Tiresias warns Creon that the gods disapprove of his leaving Polynices unburied and will punish the king's impiety with the death of his own son. After rejecting Tiresias angrily, Creon reconsiders and decides to bury Polynices and free Antigone.
But Creon's change of heart comes too late. Antigone has hanged herself and Haemon, in desperate agony, kills himself as well. On hearing the news of her son's death, Eurydice, the queen, also kills herself, cursing Creon.
Alone, in despair, Creon accepts responsibility for all the tragedy and prays for a quick death. The play ends with a somber warning from the chorus that pride will be punished by the blows of fate.
Now answer these questions:
What do you think of this story?
Why do you think Sophocles wrote this play?
Why do you think the Greek audiences might have wanted to see this play?
Read the first scene from 'Antigone':
If you get stuck with understanding the text:
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/o/the-oedipus-trilogy/summary-and-analysis-antigone/lines-1116
Scene
The same as in Oedipus the King, an open space before the royal palace, once that of Oedipus, at Thebes. The backscene represents the front of the palace, with three doors, of which the central and largest is the principal entrance into the house. The time is at daybreak on the morning after the fall of the two brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, and the flight of the defeated Argives. ANTIGONE calls ISMENE forth from the palace, in order to speak to her alone.
ANTIGONE
Ismene, sister, mine own dear sister, knowest thou what ill there is, of all bequeathed by Oedipus, that Zeus fulfils not for us twain while we live? Nothing painful is there, nothing fraught with ruin, no shame, no dishonour, that I have not seen in thy woes and mine.
And now what new edict is this of which they tell, that our Captain hath just published to all Thebes? Knowest thou aught? Hast thou heard? Or is it hidden from thee that our friends are threatened with the doom of our foes?
ISMENE
No word of friends, Antigone, gladsome or painful, hath come to me, since we two sisters were bereft of brothers twain, killed in one day by twofold blow; and since in this last night the Argive host hath fled, know no more, whether my fortune be brighter, or more grievous.
ANTIGONE
I knew it well, and therefore sought to bring thee beyond the gates of the court, that thou mightest hear alone.
ISMENE
What is it? 'Tis plain that thou art brooding on some dark tidings.
ANTIGONE
What, hath not Creon destined our brothers, the one to honoured burial, the other to unburied shame? Eteocles, they say, with due observance of right and custom, he hath laid in the earth, for his honour among the dead below. But the hapless corpse of Polyneices-as rumour saith, it hath been published to the town that none shall entomb him or mourn, but leave unwept, unsepulchred, a welcome store for the birds, as they espy him, to feast on at will.
Such, 'tis said, is the edict that the good Creon hath set forth for thee and for me,-yes, for me,-and is coming hither to proclaim it clearly to those who know it not; nor counts the matter light, but, whoso disobeys in aught, his doom is death by stoning before all the folk. Thou knowest it now; and thou wilt soon show whether thou art nobly bred, or the base daughter of a noble line.
ISMENE
Poor sister,-and if things stand thus, what could I help to do or undo?
ANTIGONE
Consider if thou wilt share the toil and the deed.
ISMENE
In what venture? What can be thy meaning?
ANTIGONE
Wilt thou aid this hand to lift the dead?
ISMENE
Thou wouldst bury him,-when 'tis forbidden to Thebes?
ANTIGONE
I will do my part,-and thine, if thou wilt not,-to a brother. False to him will I never be found.
ISMENE
Ah, over-bold! when Creon hath forbidden?
ANTIGONE
Nay, he hath no right to keep me from mine own.
ISMENE
Ah me! think, sister, how our father perished, amid hate and scorn, when sins bared by his own search had moved him to strike both eyes with self-blinding hand; then the mother wife, two names in one, with twisted noose did despite unto her life; and last, our two brothers in one day,-each shedding, hapless one, a kinsman's blood,-wrought out with mutual hands their common doom. And now we in turn-we two left all alone think how we shall perish, more miserably than all the rest, if, in defiance of the law, we brave a king's decree or his powers. Nay, we must remember, first, that we were born women, as who should not strive with men; next, that we are ruled of the stronger, so that we must obey in these things, and in things yet sorer. I, therefore, asking the Spirits Infernal to pardon,seeing that force is put on me herein, will hearken to our rulers. for 'tis witless to be over busy.
ANTIGONE
I will not urge thee,-no nor, if thou yet shouldst have the mind, wouldst thou be welcome as a worker with me. Nay, be what thou wilt; but I will bury him: well for me to die in doing that. I shall rest, a loved one with him whom I have loved, sinless in my crime; for I owe a longer allegiance to the dead than to the living: in that world I shall abide for ever. But if thou wilt, be guilty of dishonouring laws which the gods have stablished in honour.
ISMENE
I do them no dishonour; but to defy the State,-I have no strength for that.
ANTIGONE
Such be thy plea:-I, then, will go to heap the earth above the brother whom I love.
ISMENE
Alas, unhappy one! How I fear for thee!
ANTIGONE
Fear not for me: guide thine own fate aright.
ISMENE:
At least, then, disclose this plan to none, but hide it closely,-and so, too, will I.
ANTIGONE
Oh, denounce it! Thou wilt be far more hateful for thy silence, if thou proclaim not these things to all.
ISMENE
Thou hast a hot heart for chilling deeds.
ANTIGONE
I know that I please where I am most bound to please.
ISMENE
Aye, if thou canst; but thou wouldst what thou canst not.
ANTIGONE
Why, then, when my strength fails, I shall have done.
ISMENE
A hopeless quest should not be made at all.
ANTIGONE
If thus thou speakest, thou wilt have hatred from me, and will justly be subject to the lasting hatred of the dead. But leave me, and the folly that is mine alone, to suffer this dread thing; for I shall not suffer aught so dreadful as an ignoble death.
ISMENE
Go, then, if thou must; and of this be sure,-that though thine errand is foolish, to thy dear ones thou art truly dear.
Answer the following questions: (cut and paste them on to your blog to answer)
1.What information does Antigone give to Ismene at the beginning of this scene?
2.What has just happened in the sisters’ family?
3.What does Antigone plan to do? Why?
4.Does Ismene plan to join her? Why or why not?
5.What story does the chorus tell us about?
