Antigone Note and Discussion Guide
Scene/Ode
Key
characters
- Antigone
Prologue/
Parados
- Ismene
- Creon
Scene 1/
Ode 1
- Sentry
- Creon
Scene 2/
Ode 2
- Antigone
- Ismene
Three-bullet
summary
Ode’s
meaning
My prediction of what’s
to come
- Antigone wants to bury
Polyneices against the
decree of Creon.
- Ismene feels that they
should not defy authority.
- Antigone becomes angry
and says that she does not
need her sister's help.
The parados
(introductory ode) tells
the story of the battle
(Polyneices v. Eteocles).
???
- Creon explains his decree
to the town's elders (DO
NOT BURY POLYNEICES).
- A sentry tells Creon that
someone has buried body.
- Creon loses it, threatens to
kill the sentry if no one is
found.
The "Ode to Man" -- It
celebrates all of man's
accomplishments, but it
also mentions that he
cannot defeat death.
All is well in Thebes (for
now).
It also questions his
response in the face of
chaos (Creon).
- The sentry caught Antigone The "Ode to God" -- the
burying the body.
Gods are angry with the
- Antigone defiantly tells
family of Oedipus.
Creon that she was aware of Antigone is the "last
what she was doing.
flower" in the line to be
- Creon decides that both
cursed.
sisters will be killed (despite
Antigone's relationship with
his son, Haemon).
???
???
- Creon
Scene 3/
Ode 3
- Haemon
- Antigone
Scene 4/
Ode 4
- Chorus (citizens)
- Creon
- Tieresias
Scene 5/
Ode 5
- Creon
- Choragus
- Messanger
Exodus
- Creon
- Eurydice
!
- Creon interprets Haemon's
show of respect as agreement.
- Haemon asks him to be
flexible.
- The two end up in an
argument; Creon will lock
Antigone away.
- The "Ode to Love" -highlights power of love in
creating this rift between
father and son
- Antigone laments her death
as she is led from town.
- The citizens tell her that her
death is of her own doing.
- Creon impatiently tells the
guards to take her away.
- The fourth ode alludes to
other ancient myths that
mirror Antigone's fate
(imprisonment).
- Tieresias advises Creon to
change his mind.
- Creon accuses him of bribery
and false prophecies.
- Tieresias warns of suffering for
Creon.
- Creon changes his mind (at the
urging of Choragus).
- The final ode (paean)
serves as the Ode to
Dionysus, asking for mercy
on the city of Thebes.
We find out:
- Haemon killed himself (after
trying to kill Creon).
- Antigone hanged herself.
- Eurydice stabbed herself.
- Creon is left to suffer with the
consequences of his actions.
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