Antigone the First Feminist?
Goals
• Define two types of literary criticism
• Analyze Creon and Antigone using
feminist criticism
• Decide if Sophocles intended this play to
be a statement about feminism
In Your Class Notes Today We Will
Define…
• Literary Criticism
• Archetypal Literary Criticism
• Feminist Literary Criticism
Literary Criticism
• is the study, discussion, evaluation, and
interpretation of literature
Review
We have studied various narrative and
character archetypes in mythology…
right?
Remember any?
This is a type of literary criticism…
Archetypal Literary Criticism
• focuses on recurring archetypes in the
narrative, symbols, images, and character
types in order to interpret a text.
• Today we are changing it up, and starting
with a new critical approach
Feminist Literary Criticism
• is a type of criticism that interprets a text
by focusing on the politics of women's
lives, gender inequality, and gender
stereotypes
• Gender Stereotypes
– Generalizations, or assumptions, that one sex
makes about the other
Exploring Gender Stereotypes
• Boys
– Describe the stereotypical princess in
literature
• Ladies
– Describe how the stereotypical king would act
in literature
Examples of the Two Types of
Criticism in Action
• Archetypical Criticism
– Try to understand how the
character and story fit the
patterns of myth
– (How is Wonder Woman like
the classical Greek heroes?)
• Feminist Criticism
– Try to understand the
inequalities that exist in her
life and the stereotypes that
may exist in the character
– (Why does the female
superhero have to show that
much skin?)
Partner Assignment
• Create a list of quotes in your notes that
demonstrates…
First Partner
• Whether Creon is a dominating or compassionate king (4
quotes that support your stance)
Second Partner
• Whether Antigone is a strong or weak female princess (4
quotes that support your stance)
• Use pages 191-226, and we will share
Discussion guidelines
1. Read questions
2. Discuss answers
3. Write the group answer on a sheet of
paper with SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
4. I will collect this paper
Discussion in Pairs
1. Is Creon a benevolent or dominating king?
2. Is Antigone a strong or weak female character?
3. Do Creon or Antigone break/follow any gender
stereotypes?
4. Is Creon’s anger and frustration toward Antigone
caused by the fact she is a woman who is standing up
to him?
5. Do you think Sophocles intended for the theme of this
play to focus on how women are treated poorly by men?
Whole Group Discussion
3. Do Creon or Antigone break/follow any gender
stereotypes?
4. Is Creon’s anger and frustration toward
Antigone gender based or is there something
more to it?
5. Do you think Sophocles intended for the theme
of this play to focus on how women are treated
poorly by men?
Whole Group Discussion
6. What is the main theme of this play then?
Okay, One Wrap Up Question.
• If Sophocles was not intending to make a
feminist play, then why did he choose a
girl to stand up to Creon in the play?
• Why not pick a boy, a man, or a grown
woman?
Hint: Think in terms of weakness