Antigone Essay – The Sisters

Pre-writing Chart

TEACHER EXAMPLE ONLY – THIS IS A MODEL - DO NOT COPY

Thesis Statement:_Polyneices deserves to be honorably buried. I value my family and the laws of the gods. My sister, Ismene, should help me do what is right.______

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  1. Topic Sentence
My brother Eteocles was buried with honor and my brother Polyneices deserves to also have his spirit at rest. / Evidence – quoted with page & line numbers
“Creon buried our brother Eteocles with military honors, gave him a soldier’s funeral, and it was right that he should; but Polyneices . . . fought as bravely and died as miserably” (Sophocles 1022 lines 15-18).The king is only honoring Eteocles because he fought on the side of Thebes. I do not care which side my brother fought on. He is my brother and I do not want his spirit to be trapped on Earth. The king is wrong. All of the dead deserve to be properly buried.
  1. Topic Sentence
Nothing is more important to me than proving my loyalty to my family even if it means I leave behind a traitorous sister. / Evidence – quoted with page & line numbers
“It is the dead, not the living, who make the longest demands: we die forever . . . you may do as you like, since apparently the laws of the gods mean nothing to you” (Sophocles 1023 lines 58-61).My sister is being foolish. The gods must always come before anyone or anything else. She is betraying our family with her cowardice! I will not forget my brother and leave him in dishonor. She says she is afraid for me, but I am afraid for her. After she dies, the gods will know her for what she is--a traitor.
  1. Topic Sentence
I know that my sister does not want me to risk my life, but she does not understand how important it is to honor our brother. / Counter Argument
Ismene has told me that she is helpless and must yield to those in authority, but I disagree (Sophocles 1023 lines 50-51). We may be women, but we are not helpless. Anyone can stand up for what they believe in and do what is right. Polyneices is our brother! If we do not honor his death and sacrifice, who will? It is our duty to our brother and to the gods that we give him funeral rights. I will die in obedience to the gods even if it means I must die for disobedience to a king.
Conclusion paragraph
Creon should not have denounced my brother as a traitor and left him unburied. All men deserve to be buried, and it is our religious duty that they are given funeral rites. I may die for what I am about to do, but I believe that it is right. My sister should have agreed to help me. I cannot believe she refused! But, it is her choice, and in the end, when she realizes her mistake, it will be too late.