English midterm Flashcards
Antigone
The protagonist of Antigone, she defies Creon’s decree by burying her brother Polyneices, embodying resistance, familial duty, and moral conviction. Her actions challenge state power and demonstrate unwavering devotion to divine law. She is the tragic hero, whose hamartia (stubbornness and pride) leads to her downfall.
Ismene
Antigone’s sister who initially refuses to help but later offers to share her punishment. She represents caution and submission, highlighting the contrast between obedience and rebellion in the play.
Creon
The ruler of Thebes in Antigone, Creon’s hubris and rigid adherence to law result in tragedy. He prioritizes order over justice, leading to his downfall as his refusal to listen to reason causes personal and societal destruction.
Eteocles
One of Antigone’s brothers, who fought for Thebes and was granted an honorable burial. His death in the civil war against Polyneices sets the conflict in motion and raises questions about power and favoritism.
Polyneices
Antigone’s brother, labeled a traitor and denied burial by Creon. His body becomes a political tool in the struggle between state law and divine law, sparking Antigone’s defiant actions.
Haemon
Creon’s son and Antigone’s fiancé, Haemon pleads for Antigone’s life and ultimately dies by suicide after her death. His role highlights the generational conflict and the personal cost of Creon’s authoritarian rule.
Teiresias
The blind prophet who warns Creon of divine punishment for his actions. Though physically blind, he ‘sees’ the truth, symbolizing wisdom and the ignored voice of reason in the play.
the Chorus
A group of Theban elders who comment on events and offer philosophical insights. They serve as a moral barometer, mediating between the audience and the unfolding drama, reflecting societal norms and concerns.
Cordelia
The protagonist of An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, a young private investigator determined to uncover the truth about Mark Callender’s death. She challenges gender norms and the expectations placed on her profession, proving herself capable in a male-dominated field.
Bernie Pryde
Cordelia’s mentor, whose apparent suicide triggers her investigation. He represents a past generation of detectives and leaves behind a legacy that Cordelia must navigate as she forges her own path.
Mark Callender
The young man whose death is central to An Unsuitable Job for a Woman. His apparent suicide masks a deeper mystery, and his past actions, relationships, and hidden truths unfold as Cordelia investigates.
Ronald Callender
Mark’s father, a controlling and emotionally detached scientist whose behavior and decisions contribute to his son’s tragic fate. His cold rationality and secrecy contrast with Cordelia’s pursuit of truth.
Dr. Gladwin
A forensic pathologist who provides critical insights into Mark’s case. His expertise plays a key role in uncovering details that challenge the initial assumptions about Mark’s death.
Miss Markland
A housekeeper who provides key insights into Mark’s life. Her observations offer valuable details about the household dynamics and the events leading up to Mark’s death.
Miss Leaming
A supportive figure to Cordelia, offering guidance and assistance in her investigation. She represents a steady, rational presence in contrast to the turmoil surrounding the case.
Gary Webber
A suspect in Mark’s case, representing potential corruption and ulterior motives. His involvement in the investigation adds layers of intrigue and deception.
extended metaphor
A sustained comparison used throughout a text. In Antigone, the ‘ship of state’ metaphor represents governance. In An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, Cordelia’s investigation serves as an extended metaphor for defying gender roles.
Aristotle’s definition of tragedy
A serious drama involving a tragic hero with a fatal flaw, leading to catharsis. Antigone follows this structure, while An Unsuitable Job for a Woman modernizes tragedy through detective fiction.
hubris
Excessive pride leading to downfall. Creon’s hubris results in tragedy. In An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, Ronald Callender’s arrogance blinds him to his moral failings.
rhetoric
Persuasive speech. Creon and Antigone use rhetoric to justify their actions. Cordelia employs investigative rhetoric to uncover truth.
anagnorisis
The moment of recognition in tragedy. Creon’s comes too late, as does Cordelia’s realization of Mark’s true fate.
pathos
Emotional appeal in literature. Antigone evokes sorrow for its doomed characters, while An Unsuitable Job for a Woman elicits sympathy for Mark’s unjust death.
dramatic irony
When the audience knows more than the characters. Present in both texts—Antigone’s fate is sealed, and Cordelia’s discoveries are anticipated.
paradox
A seemingly contradictory statement. Antigone’s punishment for an honorable act and Cordelia’s role in a male profession are paradoxical.
hamartia
A tragic flaw leading to downfall. Creon’s rigidity and Ronald Callender’s neglect serve as examples.
catharsis
Emotional purification. Antigone provides it through tragedy, while An Unsuitable Job for a Woman does through resolution of mystery.
the ship of state
A political metaphor in Antigone, comparing Thebes to a ship. Governance and control are central in both texts.
filial duty
Responsibility to family. Antigone and Mark Callender both suffer due to family obligations.
Destiny / Fate
Preordained events. Antigone’s fate is tragic, while Cordelia’s investigation follows a path of uncovering destiny.
yielding
A theme in Antigone, where Creon’s refusal to yield causes tragedy. In An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, Cordelia’s persistence contrasts with those who submit to power.
mortality
Both texts explore death—through tragedy in Antigone and murder in An Unsuitable Job for a Woman.
method(s) of punishment
In Antigone, Creon condemns Antigone to be entombed alive, a cruel and symbolic punishment that represents isolation and suppression. In An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, punishment is more psychological, as Mark Callender suffers under his father’s cold authority. Both texts explore how punishment can be unjust and driven by power rather than fairness.
spectacle
In Antigone, spectacle is a key element of tragedy, especially in the dramatic suicides of Antigone, Haemon, and Eurydice. In An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, Cordelia’s discovery of Mark’s death and her investigation create a spectacle of their own, exposing hidden truths.
a chamber (stone or bridal?)
In Antigone, Antigone is entombed in a stone chamber, which also serves as her ‘bridal chamber’ in death. This reflects Sophoclean tragedy’s blend of love, death, and fate. In An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, Mark’s secret room, his father’s lab, and the isolated cottage all serve as metaphorical chambers that hold secrets and hidden fates.
the gods
The divine plays a critical role in Antigone, where religious duty to the gods conflicts with Creon’s law. Antigone believes in the supremacy of divine law. In An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, there is no direct reference to gods, but Cordelia’s pursuit of truth can be seen as an almost sacred duty, echoing Antigone’s devotion.
civil war
The conflict between Eteocles and Polyneices sparks Thebes’ civil war, reflecting the destructiveness of power struggles. In An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, the ‘civil war’ is more personal—a conflict between father and son that ends in Mark Callender’s death.
birds of prey
Teiresias warns Creon that birds of prey are feeding on Polyneices’ unburied body, symbolizing divine anger. In An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, the natural world also reveals truth—Cordelia’s observations, much like those of Teiresias, help uncover hidden corruption.
sight and blindness
In Antigone, literal and metaphorical blindness are crucial themes—Teiresias, though blind, sees the truth, while Creon refuses to ‘see’ until it is too late. In An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, Cordelia acts as the seer, uncovering truths others are blind to, paralleling Teiresias.
blood types
Blood plays a symbolic role in both texts. In Antigone, familial bloodlines dictate fate, as Antigone’s lineage curses her to tragedy. In An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, forensic blood analysis is key to solving Mark’s murder, making blood a literal clue to the truth.
a prayer book
Religious faith is central to Antigone, where divine law takes precedence. In An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, a prayer book might symbolize moral introspection, something Ronald Callender notably lacks.
a Renaissance oil painting
A reference in An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, it represents art, history, and hidden meanings—much like the layers of deception Cordelia peels away. In Antigone, art is not explicitly referenced, but tragedy itself is a dramatic form with deep artistic heritage.
a gardener’s cottage
In An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, the gardener’s cottage serves as a key location holding secrets about Mark’s death. In Antigone, no literal cottage exists, but the idea of a secluded place where truth is buried connects both texts.
a gun
A modern instrument of power and death in An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, reflecting how violence is hidden beneath civility. In Antigone, weapons are less central, but power still results in tragic deaths.
a lipstick
An object of femininity in An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, symbolizing Cordelia’s navigation of a male-dominated world. In Antigone, there is no direct equivalent, but Antigone’s femininity is a critical part of her defiance and tragedy.
