Antigone Argument p. 1022-1024
Identify the argument of Antigone and Ismene
(In your own words: What is the argument of Antigone and why?
What is the argument of Ismene and why?)
Antigone: Antigone wants to bury her brother Polyneices because family loyalty is important to her and
she wants to obey the laws of the gods. She’s trying to save her brother’s soul.
Ismene: Ismene wants to stop her sister from burying their brother because it’s against the King’s law
and she does not want her sister to be killed. She’s trying to save her sister’s life.
Choose 1 side Antigone or Ismene
Ismene
Evidence (cite 3 phrases or sentences that shows
the argument or supports it)
Explanation (explain how each piece of evidence
either shows the argument or supports it)
“Bury him! You just said the new law forbids it.”
(Line 32)
In this statement, Ismene knows that Antigone
intends to bury their brother, but she has just
learned that the King’s law has forbidden anyone
to bury Polyneices because he’s a traitor to
Thebes.
“The law is strong, we must give in to the law / In
this thing, and in worse.” (Lines 48-49)
She is trying to convince Antigone of their civic
duty as citizens of Thebes. This is her main
argument. For good or ill, the law must be
obeyed.
“Antigone, I am so afraid for you!” (Lines 65-66)
In this statement we learn that Ismene loves her
sister and is trying to talk her out of breaking the
law for her own protection. She is afraid for her
sister’s sake not her own.
Compose a FATt Thesis sentence for your essay:
In Sophocles’ play, Antigone, Ismene wants to dissuade her sister from breaking the new King’s
law, forbidding anyone to bury their brother, and save the life of her only remaining sibling.
Compose a topic sentence for your first body paragraph – what is your topic and your controlling idea?
Topic – Ismene wants to stop Antigone from burying Polyneices, Controlling idea - Ismene
wants to obey the law and save her sister
Topic Sentence:
Ismene knows that Antigone wants to bury Polyneices, but she also knows it is against the law.
Antigone vs. Ismene Essay
Directions: In paragraph form, write your FATt thesis statement.
Go to the next line
Indent
Write your Topic Sentence and then write 2 examples of evidence with 2 explanations from your chart
that CLEARLY support your thesis. Your body paragraph should have at least 5 sentences, one topic
sentence, and two pieces of relevant and clearly explained evidence.
In Sophocles’ play, Antigone, Ismene wants to dissuade her sister from breaking the new King’s
law, forbidding anyone to bury their brother, and save the life of her only remaining sibling.
Ismene knows that Antigone wants to bury Polyneices, but she also knows it is against the law.
Ismene told her sister that, “the law is strong, we must give in to the law / In this thing, and in worse.”
(Lines 48-49) She is trying to convince Antigone of their civic duty as citizens of Thebes. This is her main
argument. For good or ill, the law must be obeyed. But, Ismene expresses, “Antigone, I am so afraid for
you!” (Lines 65-66) In this statement we learn that Ismene loves her sister and is trying to talk her out of
breaking the law for her own protection. She is afraid for her sister’s sake not her own.