Understanding the Chorus in Antigone: A Guide to Figurative Language

Name: ________________________ Date: _______________ Period: ______ English 10 Antigone – Activity 4.10 (“Chorus Lines”) CHORUS (a group of actors who moved and sang together) – acted as one character and spoke in unison during the Choral Odes, which separated the scenes of the drama. The Chorus might: • Set the mood • Summarize • Represent a point of view • Side with various characters • Warn of disaster Choral Odes contain a great deal of figurative language – imaginative language not meant to be taken literally, such as similes or metaphors. Figurative language: • Imagery – descriptive language used to create images by appealing to our five senses (example: greasy, stringy cheese on the pizza) • Simile – a comparison of two unlike things or ideas using the words like or as (example: the moon was as white as milk) • Metaphor – a comparison of two unlike things or ideas in which one think is spoken of as if it were another (example: the moon was a crisp white cracker) • Personification – giving human qualities to an animal, object, or idea (example: the wind howled as the storm approached) Below is the First Ode with a summary of the ode and annotations on the use of figurative language by Sophocles. In this ode, the Chorus comments on events that happened before the play opens – the fight between Antigone’s brothers Eteocles and Polyneices as Polyneices attacks Thebes to take the throne from his brother. Figurative Language Personification - “You” referring to the sunlight Imagery – glowing; golden Personification – “your sharper power” giving sunlight human qualities Imagery – “piercing screams” Metaphor – “an eagle” referring to the warrior – what does it say about the warrior to compare him to an eagle? Simile – “wings as white as snow” Chorus Lines: Actual Text Summary Ray of the sun, most beautiful at the seven gates of Thebes, you appeared at last. The Sent by Polyneices man infor white from desire the crown, Argos who marched he flew over our land here fightcovered is now like antoeagle forced back by your in snow-white wings light.weapons. with Sent by Polyneices’ desire for the crown, he flew over our land like an eagle covered in snow-white wings with weapons. Figurative Language Personification – “threats to swallow us”; “spears thirsting to kill” Imagery – “gorged themselves on Theban blood” Imagery – “golden pride” Personification – “breathing raging storms” Chorus Lines: Actual Text Summary He and his army circled around our seven gates ready to kill us. Before he could attack and take our tower, he was driven back. Thebes, his enemy, was too hard to conquer. Zeus – the king of gods – hates a bragger. Seeing them march here filled with pride, Zeus hurled a lightning bolt at him as he stood on our tower shouting about his victory. The fighter fell to the hard ground – the man who not long ago attacked us. But he didn’t get what he wanted as the war god Ares helped us. Ares killed them all. The seven captains of Thebes stationed at our seven gates honored Zeus except for two horrible men. These men – who were brothers – fought each other for power and both died. Now the goddess victory brings joy to Thebes. The fight is over – let’s try to forget and move on with music and dancing, with the god of wine Bacchus leading us in celebration. Analysis: Through the use of figurative language, there is a contrast in the way the Chorus speaks of the new day that dawned after the defeat of the army that was sent by Polyneices’ “warring claim” compared to the attack on Thebes. It is clear they do not approve of what Polyneices did. The bright and golden day brings hope to the city. The extended metaphor of comparing the warrior to an eagle carries through the whole ode. The eagle flies over the seven gates of the city – a predator that stalks and kills its prey with violence. However, Zeus comes down to save the city, striking down the warrior for his arrogance. The Chorus highlights the Greeks’ belief in the role the gods play in determining human fate and helps us understand their desire to stay in the gods’ favor.