Understanding Antigone
1. Analyze Sophocles’ characterization of Antigone in the following regards: Be specific in
all responses.
A. What is Antigone’s attitude toward the laws of Thebes? Why doesn’t she view
herself as a traitor?
B. Why does Antigone risk death to bury Polyneices?
C. Why won’t Antigone let Ismene join her? Why does Antigone want Ismene to
publicize her deed?
D. To what extent, if any, is Antigone ambivalent about her sacrifice?
E. Why is Antigone considered a hero? Consider her devotion to her principles and
her attitudes toward advice and death.
2. Analyze Sophocles’ characterization of Creon: Be specific.
A. To what extent, if any, does it matter that Creon’s edict is called an emergency
decree? Does Creon have the right to issue such an edict? Explain.
B. Read the paragraph in the Introduction that discusses the Greek concepts of arête,
hubris, ate, and nemisis, and explain Creon’s actions in terms of these concepts.
C. Could Creon have honored Eteocles and still have buried Polynices? If so, how?
D. Why is it important that Haemon is Creon’s sole surviving son?
E. What does Creon’s attitude toward disobedience reveal about him?
F. Why does Creon change Antigone’s sentence from stoning to death to burial
alive?
G. In what ways do Creon’s responses to Tiresias show disrespect for the gods? How
do his responses fit into the psychological pattern of arête, hubris, and ate?
H. What does Creon’s burial of Polynices before rescuing Antigone say about him?