Name
Antigone, by Sophocles
Block
Date
TASK: Write a eulogy for either Creon or Antigone. (Creon doesn’t die at the end of the play…so
pretend it’s sometime after his death.) In your eulogy, explain what the character wanted to accomplish,
defend his or her actions, and offer an apology for the unforeseen tragic consequences that resulted from
these actions. The eulogist can be anyone, but Ismene or the Leader might be good choices. You must use
quotes from the play, so take notes!
A. EULOGY LENGTH: One page, double-spaced and typed. (100 points)
B. COMPLETED GRAPHIC ORGANIZER FOR YOUR EULOGY: (25 points)
Aristotle’s Poetica:
“Tragedy is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete and of a certain magnitude; in language
embellished with each kind of artful ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play,
in the form of action, not narration, though pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these and
similar emotions.”
In Greek tragedy, the tragic hero is someone who believes that his goal is just, and that his actions will lead
him towards his goal. He realizes, however, that he has led himself away from his goal, and towards
catastrophe. (The moment of this realization is called anagnoresis. After this, is the turning point of the
play, and the fortunes of the tragic hero are reversed.) Remember that in Greek drama, the tragedy centers
around an argument, or agon, for which there are no easy answers, and that the protagonist and antagonist
represent opposite sides of this difficult argument – not necessarily “good” and “evil.”
C. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION QUESTIONS. (50 Points)
What is the argument, or agon (theme) in Sophocles’ play, Antigone?
Which side does Creon represent? Which side does Antigone represent?
Who is the protagonist? Who is the antagonist? Describe the hamartia for each one.
What might happen if Antigone doesn’t bury Polyneices? List two possibilities, positive and negative.
What might happen if Creon allows her to bury him? List two possibilities, positive and negative.
Does Antigone achieve her goal? Explain why.
Does Creon achieve his goal? Explain why.
Who has an anagnoresis, or epiphany in the play? How does this increase the sympathy you have for
this character?
9) Is it moral to do nothing, as Ismene (the tritagonist) does, in order to keep peace?
10) Why is it important to have understanding or sympathy for the antagonist? Do you think good
literature should have a compelling conflict, where there is no easy solution? Why?
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8)
D. VOCABULARY WORDS: (25 Points)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
peripeteia
anagnoresis
hamartia
hubris
tragic hero
agon
protagonist, antagonist, tritagonist
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
chorus
choral ode/strophe/antistrophe/epode
prologue/episode/epilogue/envoi
catastrophe
catharsis
ANTIGONE
WHAT IS HER GOAL?
CREON
WHAT IS HIS GOAL?
MORAL JUSTIFICATION FOR HER GOAL:
MORAL JUSTIFICATION FOR HIS GOAL:
EVIDENCE (WORDS OR DEEDS) IN THE
PLAY THAT ILLUSTRATES THIS
JUSTIFICATION:
EVIDENCE (WORDS OR DEEDS) IN THE
PLAY THAT ILLUSTRATES THIS
JUSTIFICATION:
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
SUFFERING CAUSED BY HER ACTIONS:
SUFFERING CAUSED BY HIS ACTIONS:
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
IS SHE AWARE OF THE CONSEQUENCES
OF HER ACTIONS?
IS HE AWARE OF THE CONSEQUENCES
OF HIS ACTIONS?
EVIDENCE (WORDS OR DEEDS)TO
ILLUSTRATE THIS:
EVIDENCE (WORDS OR DEEDS)TO
ILLUSTRATE THIS:
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
WAS HER GOAL ACHIEVED?
WAS HIS GOAL ACHIEVED?
APOLOGY FOR CONSEQUENCES
UNFORESEEN?
APOLOGY FOR CONSEQUENCES
UNFORESEEN?