ANTIGONE STUDY GUIDE #1: PROLOGUE Scene #2

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ANTIGONE PROLOGUE – Scene #2 Study Guide

PROLOGUE Questions

1.  What is Antigone upset about? What does she plan to do?

2.  What are the four reasons Ismene states to try and talk Antigone out of her plan? (see lines 36-52 for help)

3.  Consider the last lines of the Prologue, spoken by Ismene. Does she think Antigone is doing the right thing? Why or why not?

4.  Compare and contrast the personalities of Ismene and Antigone. Focus especially on ideologies.

5.  Why does Antigone seem to be rude to Ismene yet fully devoted to her slain brother? (Hint: see line 59)

PROLOGUE Important Quotations

1.  “Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way”

(a) Who is speaking?; (b) What does this quote reveal about the speaker’s personality?

2.  “We are only women,/ We cannot fight with men”

(a) Who is speaking?; (b) How does the speaker believe she is suppose to behave?

Scene 1 Questions

1. What is the “Ship of State” Creon is referring to? What literary device is being used here?

2. Re-read lines 32-35. What does Creon care more about – being loyal to one’s friends or one’s government? How do you know?

3. Remember that an archetype is a recognizable pattern of a character. What sort of archetype does the sentry fit? What is his purpose?

4. This scene introduces Creon, who is now the King of Thebes. Also, several character flaws are revealed in this scene. Identify TWO and provide an example in the form of a quote.

5. On the contrary, name some aspects of Creon’s character that are strong or god-like.

6.  Predict how Creon will react when he learns who buried Polyneices.

7.  How does Creon relate to our idea of modern politicians?

Scene 1 Important Quotations

1. “I swear by God and by the throne of God, / The man who has done this thing shall pay for it! / Find that man, bring him to me...”

(a) Who is speaking?; (b) What is ironic about the words of this quote?

2. “Are you sure that it is my voice, and not your/ conscience?”

(a) Who is speaking?; (b) What is the speaker suggesting is Creon’s real reason for being upset?

3.  “How dreadful it is when the right judge judges wrong!”

(a) Who is speaking?; (b) What does the speaker mean by this statement?

Scene 2 Questions

1. Who informs Creon of Antigone’s offense?

2. Analyze whether of not the Sentry is happy to arrest Antigone. What is his motivation?

3. Why would Creon feel threatened that Antigone and Ismene might want his throne? How does this relate to his character flaws?

4. Why does Ismene confess so easily?

5. What are some reasons that Antigone might be bitter about Ismene’s confession?

6. What does Creon think of each sister? Do you agree? Why or why not?

7. Re-read the last lines of Scene II (lines 163-4). How does Creon undermine Ismene and Antigone? What does this say about him?

Scene 2 Important Quotations

1. “Your edict, King, was strong, / but all your strength is weakness itself against the immortal unrecorded laws of God”

(a) Who is speaking?; (b) Why does the speaker feel that Creon’s law is weak?

2. “This death of mine / is of no importance; but if I had left my brother / Lying in death unburied, I should have suffered”

(a) Who is speaking?; (b) What does this quote reveal about the speaker’s motivation?

3. “Who is the man here, / She or I, if this crime goes unpunished”

(a) Who is speaking?; (b) Why is the speaker concerned with proving he is the man in this situation?