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Antigone – Reading and Study Guide
Episode 1:
1. Identify each of Oedipus’ children.
2. What has Creon said is to be done with the bodies of Eteocles and Polyneices?
3. What will happen to a person if he disobeys Creon orders?
4. How do Antigone and Ismene differ in their views about obeying Creon’s orders?
5. Why does Antigone feel so strongly about burying Polyneices?
6. List the past events revealed by the Chorus during the Parodos.
7. When Creon begins to speak in episode one, what does he compare running a state to?
8. What is Creon’s motivation behind denying Polyneices a funeral?
9. Is Creon justified with his reasons?
10. What does Creon ask of the chorus when he speaks to the Choragus?
11. What does Creon mean when he says, “[T]he wisest have sometimes been known to count a
few coins too many”?
12. What news does the Sentry bring Creon?
13. Why does Creon say the burial is not the work of the gods?
14. Whom does Creon think has buried Polyneices? Why does he think this?
15. What does Creon assume about the motives of those who have disobeyed him?
Stasima / Ode 1:
16. The Chorus says that man is the greatest wonder of the earth. List some examples of what
mans has accomplished.
17. What does the Chorus say is the one thing that is beyond man?
Episode 2:
18. What does Antigone say about the laws of Kings as opposed to laws of gods?
19. What explanation for her action does Antigone give to Creon?
20.
What does the Choragus think about Antigone?
21. What is the double insolence that Antigone is guilty of according to Creon?
22. What does Antigone think the Chorus really thinks about her action? And what does she say
is the reason they are not speaking their mind?
23. How does Antigone feel about Ismene claiming she too is guilty? Why does Antigone treat
Ismene this way?
24. What do we discover about Antigone’s relationship to Haemon? How does Creon’s decision
help develop the theme of oikos vs. polis?
Stasima / Ode 2:
25. What is the general theme of ode 2?
Episode 3:
26. How does Creon feel about following laws?
27. What does Haemon tell Creon people are saying about his decision on Antigone? Why
won’t these people tell Creon what they think?
28. Explain the tree metaphor that Haemon uses. How does it explain Creon’s actions?
29. How would Creon and Haemon’s conversation be of interest to an Athenian audience who
would be interested in the topic of democracy?
30. How does Creon choose to execute Antigone? What is the benefit of executing her in this
manner?
Stasima / Ode 3:
31. What does the chorus say about love in Ode 3?
Episode 4:
32. Why does Antigone compare herself to Niobe? (See note on Niobe in text).
Stasima / Ode 4:
33. What is the theme of Ode 4 and how does it connect to the previous episode?
Episode 5:
34. What prophecy does Teiresias give to Creon at the beginning of the episode?
35. What does Creon accuse Teiresias of?
36. What does Creon finally decide and why?
Stasima / Ode 5 – Paean:
37. What is the chorus doing in this ode?
Exodus:
38. In what conventional manner is the messenger used?
39. What does the messenger reveal about everything that happened?
40. The second time the messenger enters the stage, what does he reveal?