Name Period
Antigone Close Reading Questions
Prologue
1. Who are Antigone and Ismene? Who are Polyneices and Eteocles?
2. What are Antigone’s first words, and what do these words suggest about her commitment to family?
3. Why does Ismene say that she has been robbed of two brothers by “a double death”? How did her brothers die?
4. What degree has been issued by Creon about the burial of the two brothers? Why is Polyneices being treated differently than Eteocles?
5. What is the penalty for breaking the decree set forth by Creon?
6. What does Antigone wish to do for Polyneices? Describe the conflict being established between Antigone and Creon.
7. Describe Ismene’s character. What contrast between Antigone and Ismene is suggested in lines 26-35?
8. Antigone makes what is, in essence, a religious argument to her sister. What is her argument? Quote the text to support answer.
9. Describe Antigone’s character and her feelings toward her brother and gods’ laws. How are we to view Antigone and Ismene as opposite characters? What kind of language does Ismene use to describe her sister?
Parodos
10. Summarize the tone and content of the chorus’s first song.
11. Based on the imagery used, what seems to be the people view of Polyneices and Eteocles?
Scene 1
12. What is Creon's view of the people of Thebes?
13. According to Creon (lines 18-20) what deserves the highest loyalty?
14. How does Creon believe a ruler earns the respect of his people?
15. What does Creon believe is the worst choice by a leader?
16. What extended metaphor does Creon use to describe Thebes?
17. What is Creon decree? Why does he issue it?
18. Lines 31-42. Do you think Creon is justified in treating Polyneices’ corpse this way? What do you think his motive is?
19. How is Creon’s speech, especially lines such as “the man who puts the interests of his friends, /, Or his relations, before his country/There is nothing good can be said of him.” meant to be contrasted with Antigone’s earlier speeches to her sister?
20. Analyze this statement, “our Ship of State, which recent storms have threatened to destroy, has come safely to harbor at last, guided by the merciful wisdom of Heaven.” Discuss the sailing metaphor and its implications. How does the metaphor describe Creon’s view of his leadership position? See also Creon’s first words.
21. What command does Creon give to the city’s elders? What does this command say about his leadership style?
22. According to the Sentry, how has the body of Polynices been treated or “buried”?
23. What question does the chorus leader ask Creon about this “burial”? What does Creon’s reaction show about his character?
24. Why does Creon believe the Gods could not be responsible for this “burial”? What is Creon’s theory about what happened to the body?
Ode 1
25. According to Ode 1, what is the most wonderful of all the world’s wonders?
26. Of all the winds, man has made himself secure against all except one. Which wind is that?
27. List man’s accomplishments according to Ode 1
28. What does this Ode convey about human greatness and tragic limitation?
Antigone Scenes 2-3 Close Reading Questions
Scene 2
1. Why is the Sentry thrilled to have Antigone arrested? What event does the Sentry describe?
2. Lines 33-45. How does the sentry’s speech create sympathy for Antigone?
3. What argument does Antigone make to Creon about the “The immortal unrecorded laws of God. They are not merely now: they were, and shall be, Operative forever, beyond man utterly.”
4. The chorus leader describes Antigone as “headstrong” and “has never learned to yield.” Do these words appear to be positive or negative qualities within the play’s thematic? Explain.
5. Lines 99-104. What does Antigone assume about the chorus? Do you think she is right?
6. Who does Creon accuse and condemn along with Antigone? Is this decision valid? What kind of leader is Creon?
7. After Antigone remarks that “It is my nature to join in love, not hate.” a remark which seems to represent her character generally, Creon asserts, “Go join them, then; if you must have your love, Find it in hell!” (lines 118-120). Why is it especially significant that Antigone is a woman? How would the Greeks have understood the dynamic between Antigone and Creon?
8. What is ironic about the fact that Creon calls Ismene a “Snake in my ordered house, sucking my blood / Stealthily” (lines 125-126).
9. Interpret Creon’s lines 148-150.
10. Why does Antigone tell Ismene that “You shall not lessen my death by sharing it”?
11. New information enters the scene... To whom is Antigone scheduled to marry? What is Creon’s view of woman?
12. How does Creon feel about the bond between Antigone and Haemon?
Ode 2
13. What is the main idea of Ode 2?
14. Line 28. Interpret line 28 and explain how it applies to Creon.
Scene 3
15. . What is Haimon’s initial response when his father asks how he feels about the king’s decision to execute Antigone?
16. What does Creon say that men pray for? What do these words suggest about his relationship with his son?
17. Lines 26-44 What do Creon’s words tell you about his views of government and his role as king?
18. Why is Creon intent on harshly punishing, even family members, all those who break the law?
19. Lines 51-60. In what ways does Haemon’s speech reflect the ideals of democracy?
20. What does Haimon tell King Creon about the people of Thebes’ allegiance to him?
21. How does the city feel about Antigone’s crime?
22. Whose point, King Creon’s or Haimon’s, does the Choragos support?
23. Describe Creon’s death sentence for Antigone.
24. Summarize Creon’s and Haemon’s argument in lines 95-134. What causes Creon’s fury? How does Haemon respond? (answer in paragraph form on a separate piece of paper)
Ode 3
25. What does the chorus believe has prompted confrontation between Haemon and Creon?
26. What possible themes have emerged in Odes 1, 2 and 3? Review the other two Odes and create a brief list here.
Antigone Close Reading Questions
Scene 4 and Ode 4
1. Whose fate does Antigone compare to her own? Why might she use this comparison?
2. What does Antigone beg the people of Thebes to bear witness to (line 29)?
3. Who does Antigone blame for her terrible misfortune?
4. What does Creon sarcastically say would have man singing forever?
5. Lines 75-80. What do these lines suggest about what Antigone values most?
Scene 5
6. Who is the blind prophet who comes to speak to King Creon?
7. What does the prophet claim that he heard which frightened him?
8. What happened when the prophet began “the rites of burnt-offering at the altar”?
9. What does the prophet claim to be the cause of the gods’ reaction to their offerings?
10. Lines 18-32. What do these lines suggest about how the gods view Creon’s refusal to bury Polyneices?
11. What does the prophet claim can be done to repair the evil performed against the gods?
12. What is King Creon’s reaction to Teiresias’ message?
13. What is it that Creon claims all prophets love?
14. What warning does Teiresias give to King Creon if he refuses to heed the prophecies?
15. What advice does the Choragus give King Creon once Teiresias leaves?
16. How does King Creon react to the advice of the Choragus?
Paean
17. Analyze the allusions to Dionysus. What do they illustrate in regard to Thebes?
Exodos
18. Who does the messenger claim is “a walking dead man”?
19. How has Teiresias’ prophecy that Creon would pay to the gods “flesh of [his] own flesh” come true?
20. Who is Eurydice?
21. What were Creon and the messenger doing when they prayed to Hecate and Pluto?
22. What did King Creon and the messenger do as soon as they finished their tasks regarding Polyneices?
23. Describe what Creon saw when he looked through the crevice into Antigone’s tomb.
24. Describe Haemon’s reaction when Creon entered Antigone’s tomb.
25. What happened after the messenger relayed the news about Haemon and Antigone to Eurydice?
26. Interpret the Choragus’ lines 139-143. What does each line mean? Translate each line directly. Continue to use academic English, not slang.
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