Exam 2

Question 1

Russ (1959)

Answer 1

A middle-aged white man who is grieving the loss of his son. He’s trying to sell his house in Clybourne Park, which has become a predominantly African American neighborhood.

Question 2

Bev (1959)

Answer 2

Russ’s wife, a middle-aged white woman who is also dealing with the aftermath of their son’s death. She’s trying to maintain a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos

Question 3

Karl (1959)

Answer 3

A middle-aged white man who lives in the neighborhood and is concerned about the potential impact of the Younger family, an African American family, moving in. He represents the anxieties and prejudices of the white community.

Question 4

Francine (1959)

Answer 4

The Youngers’ African American maid. She’s reserved and observant, witnessing the tensions between the white characters

Question 5

Albert (1959)

Answer 5

Francine’s husband, who works as a garbage collector. He’s present but doesn’t have a significant role in the play

Question 6

Lena (2009)

Answer 6

A middle-aged African American woman who wants to buy the house in Clybourne Park and tear it down to build a bigger home. She’s representing the gentrification and changing demographics of the neighborhood

Question 7

Kevin (2009)

Answer 7

Lena’s husband. He’s supportive of Lena’s plans but is also trying to navigate the racial tensions surrounding the sale of the house

Question 8

Tom (2009)

Answer 8

A white lawyer who represents Steve and Lindsey, the couple who wants to buy the house from Lena. He’s caught in the middle of the racial tensions and tries to maintain professionalism

Question 9

Lindsey (2009)

Answer 9

A white woman who, along with her husband Steve, wants to buy the house in Clybourne Park. She’s pregnant, which adds another layer of complexity to the discussions about the neighborhood’s future

Question 10

Steve (2009)

Answer 10

Lindsey’s white husband. He’s enthusiastic about the prospect of living in Clybourne Park but struggles to understand the historical and racial significance of the neighborhood

Question 11

Kenneth (2009)

Answer 11

Dead son, killed himself after being accused of killing civilians. War hero.

Question 12

Antigone

Answer 12

The titular character and daughter of Oedipus. She is fiercely loyal to her family and determined to honor her brother Polynices by giving him a proper burial, despite the decree of King Creon

Question 13

Ismene

Answer 13

Antigone’s sister. Unlike Antigone, Ismene is initially hesitant to defy Creon’s decree out of fear for her own safety. However, she later expresses her desire to share in Antigone’s punishment, although Antigone refuses

Question 14

Eurydice

Answer 14

Creon’s wife and Haemon’s mother. Eurydice has a minor role in the play, but her presence is significant, especially in the aftermath of the tragedy

Question 15

Creon

Answer 15

The king of Thebes and Antigone’s uncle. Creon initially appears as a strong and authoritative leader but becomes increasingly stubborn and tyrannical as the play progresses. He issues the decree forbidding the burial of Polynices and insists on enforcing it, even in the face of opposition

Question 16

Haimon

Answer 16

Creon’s son and Antigone’s betrothed. Haemon is torn between his loyalty to his father and his love for Antigone. He tries to reason with Creon to reconsider his harsh punishment of Antigone but ultimately meets a tragic fate

Question 17

Teiresias

Answer 17

A blind prophet who warns Creon of the consequences of his actions and advises him to reconsider his decision regarding Antigone and Polynices. Tiresias’s prophecy ultimately comes true, leading to further tragedy

Question 18

Characteristics of Tragedy

Answer 18

Elevated characters – “better than average”
Elevated language
Evokes pity & fear – katharsis or catharsis
Contains a reversal – peripety
Contains recognition – shift from ignorance to awareness - anagnorisis
“tragedy tries as hard as it can to exist during a single daylight period”
Shift from good fortune to bad
Stories based on historical characters

Question 19

Qualities of a Tragic Character

Answer 19

Good
Appropriate
Likeness to human nature
Consistency
Tragic Flaw – hamartia, an error in judgement
“Such is a man who is neither a paragon of virtue and justice nor undergoes the change to misfortune through any real badness or wickedness but because of some mistake;”

Question 20

Functions of the Chorus

Answer 20

Sets the mood
Narrates, recaps what has happened or is happening
Serves as a character - giving advice, asking questions, expressing opinions
Can serve as ideal spectator - reacting the way the dramatist hopes the audience will
Serves a rhythmical function, slows down action to allow audience to reflect or anticipate
Creates spectacle w/dances

Question 21

Structure of a Tragedy

Answer 21

Prologue – introductory section of a literary work which originally explained or commented on the action of the play which it preceded
Parados – the entrance of the chorus
Scene - a subdivision of a play
Ode – a lyric poem meant to be sung
Strophe – first section of choral ode, performed while chorus is moving
Antistrophe – second section of choral ode, performed while chorus is moving
Epode – third section of a choral ode
Paean – any solemn song or chant; song of triumph
Exodus – final scene or departure