ENG3UI Unit 2 – Power and the Art of Discourse Oct-Nov 2008
J. Rice
Antigone
Focus scenes
These are the scenes we will be focusing on in our study of the play. You should re-read them as much as possible, noting on your own any points of discussion or any questions you may have about their contents, language, or themes. Study of the focus scenes will be supplemented by outside readings, due on the same dates as the focus scene readings.
Supplemental Readings
You should read these items alongside your re-reading of the above scenes. You will be expected to refer to them in discussions of the play. However, you should not allow anything you read to dictate your interpretations, merely to inform them. Interpretations should always be based on close reading of the text, and supported by well-interpreted evidence from the text.
All line numbers refer to the Fagles translation of the text.
To follow the links on this page, hold down the Control key while clicking on the link.
Focus Scene 1 – October 28: Lines 179 – 239
Theme: Establishing a leader’s power
Supplemental Reading:
Machiavelli handout (review and apply to the theme of this scene study)
President Kennedy’s Inaugural Speech (apply to theme, compare/contrast to Machiavelli and Creon)
Focus Scene 2 – October 29: Lines 489 – 527 and 706-859
Theme: Civil disobedience and justice
Supplemental Reading:
“Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King, Jr in 50 Essays, p.220 (if you have time, read the full piece; if not, read the introductory material and paragraphs 13-22 inclusive)
Focus Scene 3 – November 4: Lines 1090 – 1144
Theme: Persuading the reluctant audience
Supplemental Reading:
CULMINATING ASSIGNMENT – Tuesday, November 18: In-class written rhetorical analysis of one of the following scenes. Handout with details to follow.
Lines 249-376
Lines 528-593
Lines 959-1034
Lines 1144-1221
Lines 1300-1387