Name: ______Date:______Period:______
Antigone Reading Guide Prologue, Parados, Scene 1 and Ode 1
Answer each question in a complete sentence.
Prologue and Parados (pp. 1022):
- Teiresias is a blind prophet. How important might the detail of the prophet’s blindness be to the story?
2. Based on the first lines of the play, how are Antigone and Ismene’s personalities different?
3. In lines 25-27, what emotionally loaded words does Antigone use? What is her motive in using these words in her conversation with Ismene?
4. In line 35, Antigone says “Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way.” What does this reveal about Antigone’s personality?
5. In one complete sentence, explain Ismene’s argument against aiding Antigone.
6. When the prologue ends, what decision has each girl made? How does Antigone feel about Ismene’s decision?
7. What story does the Parados tell? Summarize it in three to four complete sentences.
8. How does the Parados different in TONE from the prologue? Explain your answer with supporting details from the text.
9. Identify two external conflicts and two internal conflicts you see in the play.
External Conflict / Internal Conflict10. Based on the prologue and parados, what do you expect the outcome of Antigone’s plan to be? Be sure to explain your thinking.
Scene 1 and Ode 1:
1. In Creon’s first words to the Chorus, what were the “storms” that threatened to destroy the Ship of State?
2. What reasons does Creon give for not allowing Polyneices to be buried?
3. How does the end of Creon’s speech differ from the beginning (lines 45-49)?
4. How does the Choragos feel about Creon’s commands (lines 56-59)? How do you know this?
5. Summarize the news that the Sentry must give to Creon?
6. How does the Sentry seem to feel about speaking to Creon? What can we infer about Creon due to the Sentry’s reaction?
7. The choragus is bold enough to suggest to Creon that perhaps the gods wanted Eteocles buried. What is Creon’s reaction to this suggestion? What assumption does Creon make?
8. What order does Creon give the Sentry before his departure? Quote his exact words from the text that have the order.
9. Define DRAMATIC IRONY using his literary glossary. Explain where the dramatic irony in this scene occurs.
10. Read the verses to the ode and list the three main ideas of it.
11. On the basis of the final verse of Ode 1, why do you think the Chorus supports Creon?
Name: ______Date:______Period:______
Antigone Reading Guide Scene 2 and Ode 2
1. The sentry returns with someone under arrest? Who is this?
2. What does Creon’s reaction in lines 18-21 suggest about his relationship with Antigone? In other words, why would he be surprised that she was the guilty party?
3. Summarize the sentry’s report of what he witnessed Antigone doing? What metaphor does he use to describe her actions?
4. Do you feel that the metaphor was effective? Why or why not?
5. Using Antigone’s own words, explain why she dared to deny Creon’s orders.
6. In lines 106-118, Creon and Antigone are defending their own actions. What reason does each give for doing what they did?
A. Antigone---
B. Creon---
7. Lines 119-127 have contrasting images of Ismene, one from the Choragos and one from Creon. What are they?
8. In this scene, Ismene wants to join Antigone in the death sentence. From what you know of her, what do you think is her motivation?
9. From what you know of Antigone, why do you think she rejects Ismene and excludes her from the death sentence?
10. What new twist to the plot is revealed when Ismene reminds Creon that Antigone is “But your own son’s bride!” What is even more shocking about Creon’s insistence that Antigone die even after this is revealed?
11. Based on what you know about Creon’s personality, do you believe his son will be able to sway his opinion?
12. Use your literary glossary and define FOIL CHARACTER.
13. Ismene serves as a foil character to Antigone. What does she help emphasize about Antigone? Complete the chart below that helps illustrate the differences between the two.
Major Character Traits / Makes Decisions Based On…Antigone
Ismene
Name: ______Date:______Period:______
Antigone Reading Guide Scene 3
1. What question does the choragus begin with? What is Creon’s response to its question?
2. In his first line, how does Haemon seem to feel towards his father? What motivation might he have for greeting his father in this manner?
3. Why does Creon say that he’s actually doing his son a favor by ridding him of Antigone? What does this suggest about his role of women?
4. What reason does Creon give for why he can’t pardon her since she’s family?
5. What does Creon say that suggests that his manhood feels threatened by Antigone and her actions?
6. What suggestion is Haemon making when he says “Yet there are other men who can reason, too; and their opinions might be helpful.” What reaction from Creon would you expect from this suggestion?
7. What does Haemon reveal about how the people feel about Antigone’s punishment?
8. Explain what Haemon is trying to get Creon to understand with his metaphor about the trees bending? (line 80-82)
9. What emotional appeal does Haemon imply when he says “Then she must die. But her death will cause another?”
10. What reversal does Creon make in his punishment of Antigone? Why does he believe that this will be viewed more favorably in the eyes of the people?
11. A syllogism is when a logical conclusion can be inferred based on factual information given. Complete this syllogism that Creon uses in his argument with Haemon:
A. Anarchy can be prevented if all laws are strictly enforced.
B. Antigone cannot be pardoned because she broke the law.
C. ______.
Name: ______Date:______Period:______
Antigone Reading Guide Scene 4-5 and Exodus
Scene 4:
1. Reread the opening lines of the choragus. What emotion is he feeling regarding Creon’s decision to punish Antigone?
2. Antigone compares herself to Niobe. Why might Antigone compare herself to this woman? *Be sure to read the footnote that explains who Niobe was.
3. Who does Antigone cast some of the blame on for her fate? Was she right to assign this individual a portion of the blame? Why or why not?
4. What does the chorus remind Antigone about who controlled her fate?
5. Antigone seems to come to accept her eventual death, but what desire does she express for Creon?
6. Summarize the summaries told in Ode 4. What do these stories seem to have in common with Antigone’s?
Scene 5:
1. What purpose does Tieresias have when visiting Creon?
2. What did Tieresias witness that he believes is a warning sign from the gods?
3. What is Creon’s reaction to the advice Tieresias provides?
4. Tieresias tries to caution Creon a second time. Paraphrase the warning he gives in lines 70-87.
5. In the passage listed above, identify one example of a logical appeal Creon uses.
6. In the same passage, identify one example of an emotional appeal Creon uses.
7. At the end of scene 5, Creon finally experiences a change of heart. What evidence did the choragus present before him that makes him realize he was wrong? Does Creon change his decision with an open heart or with reluctance? Support your answer with a specific line reference.
8. Complete the following syllogism that shows the logical reasoning of Creon as he considers what to do to Antigone.
A. Tieresias is a great prophet that has never been wrong.
B. Tieresias has predicted that Creon will experience great sorrow if he punishes Antigone.
C. Therefore, ______.
Paean and Exodos:
1. Why does the messenger say that Creon is a walking dead man? What has Creon lost?
2. Summarize the news that the messenger gives to Queen Eurydice. What effect does hearing the news have on her?
3. Creon acknowledges that he caused the death of Haemon and Antigone. What other death did he cause indirectly? How does Creon feel about this?
4. Creon wishes for what punishment for his actions? Will the choragus allow Creon to have this punishment? Why or why not?
5. What lesson does Creon finally come to learn from this experience? If he had learned his lesson sooner, what plot events may have been different?