Antigone Prologue Study Guide. 3. Why does Antigone feel it is her duty to bury Polyneices? Why doesn t Ismene?

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1 Prologue 1. Where does the action of the play take place? 2. What has happened in Thebes the day before the play opens? 3. Why does Antigone feel it is her duty to bury Polyneices? Why doesn t Ismene? 4. What strategies are used by Antigone to try and convince Ismene? Look at the way Antigone speaks to Ismene at the beginning, middle, and end of the section. 5. What does Ismene mean when she says, We are only women; we can t fight with men? How does this statement relate to Antigone s saying her crime is holy? What is the implication? 6. What do you think Antigone means when she tells Ismene If that is what you think, I should not want you, even if you asked to come? Why do you think Antigone feels this way? 7. What is Antigone s response when Ismene says she will keep Antigone s plans secret? Why does Antigone react this way? 8. Ismene says, Impossible things should not be tried at all. If this were so, how would the world be different?

2 9. Compare Antigone and Ismene. Use evidence from the text to support your answer. 10. Contrast Antigone and Ismene. Use evidence from the text to support your answer. 11. What line(s) best capture Antigone s feelings or beliefs in this section? How do you know? 12. What line(s) best capture Ismene s feelings or beliefs in this section? How do you know? 13. What is the purpose of the Parados? Scene 1 1. What extended metaphor does Creon use to discuss his government? What two things are compared? How are they alike? Do you think this is an appropriate comparison? Why/why not? 2. What does Creon say about friendship and its role in government? Do you agree with him? Why/why not? 3. In his first speech, Creon explains why he has chosen to deal with his nephews the way he will. He then says his audience can see the wisdom behind his decisions. Has Creon given adequate reasons for his

3 decision? Why/why not? In other words, is he justified when he commands that no one should bury Polyneices? 4. How does the Choragos respond to Creon s decision? What does this response show us about the people of Thebes and their feelings toward their leaders? 5. Describe the Sentry s behavior. Why do you think he feels this way? What does his behavior tell us about Creon? 6. How does the Choragos respond to the Sentry s news? Why do you think the first response is about the gods? 7. Describe Creon. What characteristics make him a worthy ruler? What characteristics make him an unworthy ruler? What is his fear? 8. What is the dramatic irony in this scene? 9. Contrast the ideas Antigone, Creon, and the Choragos have about the law. What are their attitudes toward the laws of the gods? What are their attitudes toward the laws of kings?

4 10. According to the Ode, what is the greatest of the world s wonders? What makes it so wonderful? 11. What does the Ode say about human weakness or limitation? 12. What warning does the chorus seem to be giving? Why is this warning significant in light of Creon s actions? What is Creon doing that would inspire the Chorus to make such a warning? Why are Creon s actions questionable? 13. Predict what you think might happen to Creon if he continues on the course he has set. Scene 2 1. How could the Sentry s words O King / A man should never be too sure of anything apply both to himself and Creon? 2. How does the Sentry feel about his arrest of Antigone? How can you tell? 3. What comparison is made of Antigone by the Sentry? What does this comparison suggest about her?

5 4. Creon says that Antigone has her head hanging when she is brought to him. Why do you think her head would hang? 5. Antigone says that her uncle smiles at her while she is giving her speech. Why do you think he is smiling? 6. Explain what the Choragos means by the comparison of Antigone to her father: Like father, like daughter: both headstrong, deaf to reason! / She has never learned to yield. What do you know about Oedipus that makes this true? 7. How are lines an example of dramatic irony? (Hint: Think about how the words relate to Creon.) 8. Why do you think Creon accuses *Ismene+ equally with her sister? What does that tell us about him? 9. What does Antigone mean when she says that the men of Thebes keep their tongues in leash? Do you think she s right? Why/why not? 10. The fundamental disagreement Antigone and Creon have is whether wicked people deserve proper burial or not. What is each s opinon? Who do you think is right? Why? 11. Remember that a tragic flaw is a personal weakness that brings about the fall of a character in a tragedy. What flaws do Antigone and Creon show in this scene?

6 12. Why do you think Creon thinks Antigone and Ismene are aiming at *his+ throne? What does this show us about him? 13. Explain what Antigone means when she says words are not friends. 14. Why do you think Ismene thinks she and her sister are equally guilty? Why is she willing to share her sister s punishment? 15. Is Antigone being egocentric or a self-indulgent martyr in refusing to share punishment with Ismene? Or is she privately determined to save her sister s life? Why do you think so? 16. Who is Haimon? Why does Ismene bring up his relationship with Antigone? Why do you think Sophocles, the playwright, chooses until now to reveal this information? 17. What message is the Chorus trying to convey in Ode II? How is the ode s thought and tone similar to or different from the Ode I? 18. Is Antigone getting what she deserves, or is she being treated unfairly? If you were one of her friends, what advice would you give her?

7 19. Compare and contrast Antigone s and Ismene s ideas about and reactions to their situation. 20. A foil is a character whose attributes, or characteristics, contrast with and therefore shed light on the attributes of another character. How is Ismene a foil for Antigone? Scene In the first line of this scene, the Choragos says that Haimon is the last of all *Creon s+ sons. Has this fact influenced the way Creon treats Haimon? Why/why not? 22. How does Creon think children should act? Do you agree that an obedient child is the best child? Why/why not? 23. What persuasive techniques does Haimon use with his father? Look especially at what he says on pages How does he attempt to change his father s mind? 24. Look again at lines How do Haimon s words echo Antigone s earlier claim to Creon? 25. Explain what Haimon means in lines What does he mean that this type of person turns out empty?

8 26. What two comparisons does Haimon use to make his point about stubborn, unyielding people? How do these comparisons echo Creon s words in Scene 2, lines (p. 664) about Antigone? What do we learn about Creon here? 27. How does the Choragos react to Haimon s speech? Does this have an effect on Creon? Why/why not? 28. What two reasons does Creon give for not listening to Haimon? 29. When Haimon says that his concern is only for his father, do you think he is telling the truth? How is this request trying to help Creon? What other concerns do you think Haimon has? 30. In line 113, what does Haimon accuse his father of doing? Why do you think Haimon has waited so long to reveal this true opinion of his father s actions? 31. What is Haimon implying when he says that Antigone s death will cause another? Do you think Haimon will make good on this threat? 32. Describe how Creon revises his plan for Antigone. What does he hope to accomplish with this new plan? Is this new plan likely to please the Theban people?

9 33. What view of love does Ode 3 convey? Do you agree or disagree with this view of love? 34. Has your opinion ever been discounted because of your age? How do you think American society perceives teenagers? How can you make yourself be heard? 35. If you were Haimon, how would you feel about your father at the end of this scene? How could you change the situation to make him see things from your perspective? Scene 4 1. How would you describe Antigone s attitude in this scene? Why do you think it is different from how we saw her earlier in the play? Does this change in Antigone make you think any differently of her? 2. What allusion does Antigone use as a comparison to herself? What is she trying to achieve by using this allusion? 3. How does the Chorus react to Antigone s use of this allusion? 4. What from Antigone s past does the Chorus blame for Antigone s predicament? What from the present does the Chorus blame? Which do you think is more at fault, the acts of the past or present? Which do you think Sophocles intends for readers to believe is responsible? Why?

10 5. Why do you think Antigone is more willing to hear blame of past actions than present actions? 6. Explain Creon s quote: And if she lives or dies, / That s her affair, not ours: our hands are clean. Why do you think he wants to remain blameless? 7. Antigone compares her tomb to a bridal bed O tomb, vaulted bride-bed in eternal rock suggesting that she will be married to Death. Why is this an appropriate description? 8. Why do you think Antigone does not mention Eteocles in the list of those she will see in the underworld? 9. What does Antigone pray will be done to Creon if he was wrong? 10. What adjectives does the Choragos use to describe Antigone s heart? Do you agree with this description? Why? 11. Identify the allusions in Ode IV. What is the purpose of these allusions? 12. Why is it sometimes difficult for people to take responsibility for their actions? What kind of society would exist if no one were held accountable for his or her behavior?

11 Scene 5 1. What specifically has prompted Teiresias come to visit Creon? What does he urge him to do? 2. Explain the paradox in what Teiresias says: My boy described it, / Seeing for me as I see for others. What role does blindness play in this scene? 3. Explain this quote by Teiresias: Think: all men make mistakes, / But a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong. / And repairs the evil. The only crime is pride. Do you agree with him? Why/why not? 4. What does Teiresias mean when he says that Creon is a king because of him? What from the story of Oedipus is he referring to? 5. Why does Creon accuse Teiresias of *selling+ out? What other character(s) does he accuse of taking bribes? What inferences can we make about Creon s character from these accusations? 6. What does Teiresias say that finally changes Creon s mind? What warnings does he give Creon? Look specifically at lines and How does the Choragos react to Teiresias visit?

12 8. A paean is an ode or hymn appealing to the gods for assistance. To which god is this paean addressed? What assistance do you think the Chorus is requesting from him? 9. What news does the Messenger bring to the Choragos? 10. Explain how and why Haimon dies. 11. Why do you think Creon says he has a blind heart (line 87)? How can a heart be blind? 12. Why does Creon say he murdered Haimon? 13. What news does the Messenger bring to Creon? What is his reaction? 14. The messenger says Eurydice blames Creon for the death of their first son, Megareus, who died in the battle led by Eteocles and Polyneices. How is Creon also responsible for his first son s death? 15. Is the Choragos sympathetic to Creon? How do you know? 16. What does the Choragos mean when he says that the sky is deaf (line 133)? 17. Explain the last lines of the Choragos. What do you think we are supposed to learn from this play?

13 18. Who is the tragic hero of the play? Justify your answer.