Eng II – Antigone – Guiding Questions

Scenes 3-5, pp. 771-89

DIRECTIONS: Answer these questions as we discuss them in class.

  1. Anticipation Questions:MeGroupAfter play
  2. Being stubborn is the same
    as being dedicated.
  3. Leaders who have a sense of
    pride will help their societies.
  4. Only people with years of
    experience can show wisdom.
  5. There are many consequences
    worse than feeling regret.
  6. Write down any predictions that you have for what is about to happen as we finish the play.
  7. What do the ruins of the temple (p. 771) suggest about the endurance of Greek works of art?
  8. Take notes on Creon’s speech on p. 772. What can you deduce as his main points?
  9. A. What flaw in Creon’s character do lines 28-29 reveal?
    B. How might Creon’s rigidity drive him into a conflict that cannot be resolved?
  10. A. What is the focus of Haimon’s speech (p. 773) in one word?
    B. What basic limitation of human beings does Haimon describe?
  11. What does Haimon beg Creon to do?
  12. Which details of the image on p. 774 show that Creon and Haimon are father and son?
  13. Summarize Creon’s and Haimon’s points of view from lines 98-112.
  14. A. What is the message behind Creon’s words in line 123? Why does he say it in this way?
    B. How do Haimon’s words in line 125 warn of the fateful consequences of Creon’s decision?
  15. How does Creon respond to Haimon’s arguments?
  16. How do Creon’s decisions about Polyneices and Antigone blur the boundaries between the dead and the living?
  17. Jot down some notes on the key details of the beginning 20 lines of Scene 4. Summarize the conversation between Antigone and the chorus.
  18. What punishment for Antigone does Creon announce
  19. A. Which of Antigone’s virtues (good qualities) does the chorus point out?
    B. What flaw do they point out?
    C. Which does the chorus say is responsible for Antigone’s doom – fate or her own choices?
  20. What does the actress’s pose in the image (p. 778) suggest about Antigone’s attitude toward Creon?
  21. Why might Antigone say that her doom is a result of fare rather than a choice?
  22. A. Why does the chorus choose to recount Danae’s story at this point?
    B. Explain how the cases of Danae and Antigone illustrate the strength of the power of fate.
  23. Why does Antigone believe that she is not guilty of a crime?
  24. Which story does the Ode refer to previously?
  25. Take brief notes from the end of the ode. Identify two details that you would not include in a brief summary of the speech.
  26. A. Why does Teiresias tel Creon the story of the failed burnt offering at the altar?
    B. Identify the exact lines in which Teiresias tells Creon that his actions as king have affected all people of Greece.
  27. Judging from this image, what type of relationship do Creon and Teiresias have? Explain.
  28. What does Teiresias come to tell Creon?
  29. A. Describe Creon’s tragic flaw.
    B. What ideas in Creon’s speech to Teiresias reflect the king’s tragic flaw?
    C. Where does Creon seemingly place himself above the gods?
  30. Summarize Creon’s reason for rejecting Teiresias’ advice.
  31. A. To what three children is Teiresias referring? What words does he use?
    B. What are the main points of Teiresias’ speech?
  32. What does Teiresias say is Creon’s two-part crime?
  33. How do we know that Creon now recognizes his own tragic flaw?
  34. What scenes from Antigone might the jar (amphora-p. 784) portray?
  35. In what way do both the play and this vessel show the importance of conflict in Greek art?
  36. A. What kind of news does the messenger bring – good or bad?
    B. What words signal this kind of news?
    C. What reversal of fortune has the messenger come to announce?
  37. In the Paean, from whom does the chorus ask help?
  38. What information in lines 37-50 seems useless or pointless to include in a summary?
  39. What has happened to Antigone and Haimon?”
  40. Do you think the actress portraying Eurydice effectively conveys tragic grief? Explain.
  41. In what sense might Creon’s loss of his son be fitting punishment from his misjudgment?
  42. A. Compare/contrast Creon’s situation now with that at the beginning of the play (when he received word he lost his other son, Megareus).
    B. What reversal of fortune has Creon experienced?
  43. A. What is the central theme (message) of many Greek tragedies?
    B. In what way have events forced Creon to confront his own limitations?
  44. Refer back to Question 1. Have any of your initial responses changed? Explain why or why not.

QUESTIONS FOR YOU: p. 790.

  1. Do you think Creon should have changed his decision regarding Antigone? Explain.
  2. A. In lines 55-93, what advice does Haimon give his father?
    B. Describe Creon’s response to the advice.
    C. Contrast Haimon’s main concerns with Creon’s.
  3. A. What does Creon have done to Antigone?
    B. Is upholding the law Creon’s only motive, or is he also guided by a desire to appear strong? Support your answer with details from the play.
  4. A. What prophecy does Teiresias make about Creon?
    B. What action does Creon take because of the prophecy?
  5. A. Why does Creon say in the Exodus, “I have neither life nor substance?”
    B. Does Creon deserve his fate? Explain.
  6. Identify three characteristics of Greek tragedy that Antigone displays. Explain,
  7. A. What is Antigone’s tragic flaw? Explain.
    B. To what extent does this flaw lead to her downfall?
    C. To what extent does her downfall lead to the fate?
  8. Chart the play’s themes:

Lines 94-106 142-150

  1. What Does It Say?
  2. What Does It Mean?
  3. Why is it important?
  1. Summarize each of the following parts in a brief paragraph:
  2. Scene 3
  3. Scene 4
  4. Scene 5
  5. List the main characters and their flaws:
  6. A
  7. C
  8. E
  9. H
  10. I
  11. P