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Honors World Literature First Quarter Bonus Assignment

Sophocles Theban Plays

Anna Phillips
Dr. Collie
Honors World Literature
28 September 2015

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Anna Phillips
Dr. Collie
Honors World Literature
28 September 2015

Ethos, Logos, Pathos

Ethos in Antigone

Ethos is the credibility or reliability of a source. It comes from the Greek word for character,
and the word ethic is derived from ethos. This rhetorical strategy is seen throughout the work
of Antigone, especially from one character, Haemon. He is neutral within the story because he
doesnt display any heroic qualities, nor does he have excessive pride like Creon. For these
reasons, the audience can trust him for what he says and does. Even though Im young, a good
idea might come from me: It would be best by far that man be born full of all the knowledge
there is, but if it usually happens not to turn out that way, to learn from those who speak well is a
good substitute (Sophocles 731-736). Haemon is not only the opposite of his father, Creon, who
lacks ethos, but he is also a citizen of Thebes which is why he is trustworthy to the audience.

Ethos, Logos, Pathos

Logos in Antigone

Logos is the use of facts and statistics to support a point. By having reasonable cause to
support your actions, you would have the ability to do anything or convince someone else to

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something. Towards the end of the play, the chorus was able to convince Creon to free Antigone.
The gods, provoked, never wait to mow men down (Sophocles 1104). By using a logical
statement of the gods personalities, the leader of the chorus paved the way for Antigone to be
freed from her tomb. The chorus had a reasonable cause, and therefore, had the ability to make
someone do something.

Ethos, Logos, Pathos

Pathos in Antigone

Pathos is the language that appeals to ones emotions or values. A great example of pathos
within the play is Antigone herself. Antigone was one rebellious and courageous woman to the
end. She defied her uncle Creons laws by having a proper burial done for her brother
Polyneices. Then when Creon found out, he punished her and put Antigone in a tomb until she
died. On this last and lonely royal scion, see what I suffer from these men for reverencing the
rights of man (Sophocles 940). This one line appealed to the audiences emotions to convince
them that what Antigone did only good, and that her punishment was unjust. She swayed the
audience to side with divine law rather than human law, by appealing to their emotions.

How to Read Literature like a Professor

Violence within the Theban Plays

Violence is one of the most personal and even intimate acts between human beings, but it can
also be cultural and societal in its implicationsit can be symbolic (Foster 88). Violence in

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Sophocles Theban plays is more than just violence, but it shows how powerful a humans
thoughts and beliefs can lead them to doing. For example, Jocastas death was pretty violent; she
committed suicide and hung herself. The act of suicide and the persons hidden agenda for doing
it, can mean more than one might think. Sometimes when we think of a character in a book or
movie that kills them self, it meant that they had no hope, were depressed, etc. In Oedipus Rex,
Sophocles shows how powerful the emotion of guilt can be by writing the scene of Jocastas
death. She was ashamed for giving up her son as an orphan, then having married him and had
children with him. Death that is violence is meaningful, and it can reflect why certain actions
took place.

Moral Courage
The Courage of Antigone

Antigone bled moral courageousness. When Creon did not give Polyneices a proper burial
then forbade anyone to do so, Antigone knew what she had to do. With knowing of the
consequences, she risked giving her brother what he deserved because she believed it was
morally right. And does not Creon treat our brothers twain one with the rites of burial, one with
shame (Sophocles 22-23). It was a right to him that he received a proper burial, so that he could
be with the gods. Creon denied that human right, however Antigone took it upon herself to be
brave, and go against human law for that of divine law. She was morally courageous for her
brother.

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