Paper Prompt (45 pts.)

Prompt as presented in Poulakos's syllabus: "A 5-6 page paper discussing the ways in which some rhetorical concepts function within the play that you will be assigned." --> 45/200 points

Prompt as particularly designed for you: With the text explicitly in mind (and the context of its writing implicitly so), write a 5-6 page paper (with standard margins) about how the following terms play/interplay in Sophocles' "Antigone":

1) pragmatographia: vivid description of an action or event.
2) macrologia: long-winded speech; using more words than are necessary.
3) exuscitatio: emotional utterance that seeks to move hearers to like feelings.

These terms (and longer definitions of them) can be found in Richard Lanham's excellent little reference book "A Handlist of Rhetorical Terms." If you are or intend to be a COMMRC major, you may want to acquire your own copy. Otherwise, you can view mine during my office hours. Please email me to let me know if you're coming by to flip through it.

You MUST write on at least two terms, but will be rewarded accordingly for writing thoughtfully on all three terms. Remember that it will serve you well to refer to the Poulakos and Poulakos textbook. You may also see "in's" for such related terms as "ethos", "dissoi logoi", &c. However, you should focus most of your analytical attention on the above two/three terms. Your paper is due Wed, April 12, WITHOUT EXCEPTION. You must bring the paper to class yourself and on time, as I will subtract just as many points from the paper as minutes you are late turning it in.

Grading Criteria: You'll be evaluated on the quality of your ideas and the soundness of your thesis and argument(s). Grammar and spelling are not in and of themselves a grade, but poor grammar and inaccurate spelling affect meaning and can sometimes effect one you don't intend; therefore, points will be deducted when awkwardness or ambiguity arise from an error. Be not discouraged, though, from employing a little playful irony.

Good luck!

Two other chorus segments

Here are the chorus segments for John A. and Adrienne S. For the read-through tomorrow (Feb. 22), everyone can use her/his copy of the book, but we'll need to have a more condensed version for rehearsals in a couple of weeks. We also need to decide on a fixture of the theatre that has been fodder for many dramas: understudies. We should definitely appoint understudies for Antigone and Creon--the other parts perhaps, too.

John A.
p347, Chorus: "Sunshaft of the sun, most replendent sun that ever shone on Thebes, the Seven Gates of Thebes. The warrior who came with shields in Argive stand at arms, scattered now before the lancing sun."
p356, Chorus: "What visitation do I see from heaven? And one I wish I could deny. I am amazed. It is Antigone. What! They bring you here in charge? Poor Antigone, daughter of unlucky Oedipus. Were you rash enough to cross the king? And did they take you in your folly?" "Coming from the house, and just in time."
p371, antistrophe iii: "Pious is as pious does, but where might is right, it's reckless to do wrong. Self-propelled to death, you go with open eyes."
p381, Messenger: "In attendance on your Lord, we took him deep into the plain where Polyneices lay abandoned still--all mauled by dogs."
p382, bottom of page: "A groan agonized and loud--broke from Creon when he saw him. 'You poor misguided boy!', he sobbed, staggering forward."
p384, chorus at top: "Look, the king himself draws near, his load in a kind of muteness crying out his sorrow (dare I say it?) from a madness of misdoing started by himself and no other."


Adrienne S.
p365, Antitrophe II: "Beyond imagining wise: his cleverness and skills through labyrinthine ways for good and also ill. Distinguished in his city when law-abiding, pious, but when he proclaims unsavory ambition, citiless and lost. And then I will not share my hearth with him; I want no parcel of his thoughts."
p369, 4th episode leader: "And now you turn on me, unman my loyalty, loose my tears to see you, Antigone, pass your wedding bower, death's chamber, pass so easily."
p381, Messenger: "Dear mistress, we were there. We shall not try to glaze the truth; for where is there comfort in a lie, so soon found out? The truth is always best."
p382. messenger at bottom: "Let me go into the house and see. Extremes of silence, as you say, are sinister. Her heart is broken and can hide some sinister design."

Xairete! This is the inaugural Antigone post...

Welcome, Poulakianites!

Now we have an out-of-class e-kklesia (get it?!) where we can toss around ideas without the vulgar vagaries of multiple emails or snail mails.

Though I am a member of many blog communities, this blog is the first I've ever set up; therefore, for the first few weeks at least, you'll have to advise me or at least tolerate my well-intentioned bumblings.

You all know my email address, so drop me a line if you have any advice from the get-go. Otherwise, you should start posting your ideas here promptly. Make sure to title them sensibly (even using page/line numbers) and to tag your name to them.

Xairete (Greek for "good health"),
Michele