Antigone Study Guide Questions – Part 1
Adapted from Roger Dunkle’s Classical Origins of Western Culture Study Guide © 1986 by Brooklyn College and Temple University’s Study
Guide for Sophocles’ Antigone
Prologue
1. What is Ismene's view of the relationship between men and women (45-67)?
2. Briefly analyze the characterization of these two women in the prologue.
3. What dramatic purpose does the character of Ismene serve?
4. In the Greek text the word, philos, which can loosely be translated as `friend', is
frequently used by the two sisters in the prologue. Philos is related to the verb philein `to
love' and can be used as we use the word "friend", but also can be applied to a blood
relative and therefore often means something like our "loved one".
To whom does Antigone apply this term in the prologue ?
5. How far is Antigone prepared to go on behalf of her loved one (66-89)?
6. Why does Antigone, employing an oxymoron3, say that she will "do holy things
criminally" when she refers to her proposed deed?
7. What conflict of values is represented in this phrase?
8. Why does Antigone assume that Creon's order is directed against her and Ismene?
*(When Creon appears later, consider whether his conduct and language in fact supports
her assumption)*
9. Do you sympathize at all with Ismene’s caution? Does Antigone treat her fairly?
10. Why is Antigone so concerned with glory? Should she be?
11. How old do you think Antigone is?
Parodos
12. After the initial dialogue the Chorus emerges for their first choral ode (stasimon), which
concerns the previous night's battle. The events described in the parodos are presented
rather obscurely in poetic language as is characteristic of choral songs Contrast the
picture of Polyneices drawn there with Antigone's earlier discussion of her brother; does
your opinion of him, and of Antigone's position, change at all?
13. The "man who had come from Argos" refers in a collective sense to the Argive army
which supported Polyneices in his attack on Thebes. Which side in the war does the
Chorus favor and why?
Scene 1 - First Episode - Creon, Chorus and Guard
Throughout this scene, pay close attention to the assumptions Creon makes about gender.
14. Creon in his first appearance in the play delivers a long speech outlining the philosophy
that guides his actions and his edict (8-53). What human institution does Creon believe to
be most important in life?
15. Compare his beliefs with those of Antigone. On what specific points does Creon
contradict Antigone ? Note the language of Creon's edict (49-53).
16. What is the Chorus's initial attitude toward Creon's decree (53-54)?
17. What is the dramatic purpose of the character of the Guard?
18. How is he characterized in this scene?
19. What view of Creon does the Guard present to us (63-72)?
20. What is Creon's reaction to the Guard's news (73-144)?
21. When Creon talks about the gods and the law (116-122), is he talking about the same
types of gods as Antigone does?
Ode 1 - First Stasimon (pg. 781)
The first stasimon, often referred to as the "Ode to Man", is one of the most famous choral
songs in Greek Tragedy. The Chorus begins by singing: "There are many wondrous things and
yet nothing is more wondrous than man”. The Greek word for "wondrous" is deinos, which is
ambiguous in its meaning. It can also mean "terrible" (i.e., "producing fear"). The Chorus
obviously intends the meaning "wondrous" when it praises man for his mastery of nature by the
development of civilized skills. This praise of man's achievement of civilization is reveals the
Chorus’ views of human progress in an optimistic way.
22. Make a list of man's civilized skills as enumerated by the Chorus.*
23. According to the Chorus, is there any limitation to man's mastery of nature?
24. In this vision of the Chorus, what is human greatness? What are the limits of human
ability and action? When can a daring man get in trouble?
25. To whom is the Chorus referring in the last stanza of the ode when it sings?
Choral odes often generalize a given problem specific to the play’s action into a
statement about human life as a whole. Is that the case here? If so, then is the chorus
alluding to Antigone, or to Creon, or to both?
26. Who appears on-stage immediately after this ode? Connect the appearance of this
character with what the chorus sings in the last stanza of the "Ode to Man".
Scene 2 - Second Episode (pg.781)- Guard, Antigone, Creon, Chorus and Ismene
27. The second episode presents the face-to-face confrontation of the two antagonists,
Antigone and Creon. What is the attitude of the Chorus and the Guard with regard to the
capture of Antigone?
28. Why is Creon surprised when the Sentry brings in Antigone?
29. How does Antigone defend her defiance of the edict (66-80)?
30. How does Antigone view the relationship between laws made by man and those created
by the gods?
31. What is Creon's view of the relationship between man and woman and the relative
importance of blood ties vs. the ties of citizenship?
32. How does this contrast with Antigone's view of the same?
33. Antigone’s defense to Creon is very important, so read it carefully. Ismene defends
Antigone and asks Creon how he could kill his own son’s bride. Has there been any
reference to this relationship before?
34. What is Antigone's attitude with regard to her deed (109-134)? with regard to Ismene's
attempt to share responsibility for the deed (148-162)?