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CURRENT EVENT | December 31, 2014

Syrian Women and Antigone

Conflict and violence in Syria have displaced women and children to surrounding nations. Refugees living in Beirut, Lebanon have found voice and kinship through the ancient tragedy Antigone. Sophocles wrote Antigone in 441 BCE. The play is about a Princess dealing with the loss of war and daring to challenge the powerful. 250 years later some Syrian women see themselves in Antigone and have adapted the play to reflect their experiences.

Story Length: 5:14

Listen to the Story:

SOURCE:

National Public Radio © 2014

12/13/2014


Listening Comprehension Questions

  • Describe the plot of Sophocles’s tragedy ‘Antigone.’
  • What qualities does Princess Antigone have that resonate with the Syrian refugees?
  • How have the Syrian women been impacted by the conflict in their homeland?
  • What impact has participating in the play had on these women? What impact did the play have on the audience its opening night?
  • Are theater programs like this a good use of money to support refugees?

Classroom Discussion Themes

  • Have you ever personally related to a character in a book or play?
  • What themes from Ancient literature still resonate today?