Antigone Reading Guide Questions
Name ____________________________
Answer each question in a complete sentence.
Prologue and Parados (pp. 1022)
1. Teiresias is a blind prophet. How important might the detail of the prophet’s blindness be to the story?
2. Based on the first lines of the play, how are Antigone and Ismene’s personalities different?
3. In lines 25-27, what emotionally loaded words does Antigone use? What is her motive in using these words in
her conversation with Ismene?
4. In line 35, Antigone says “Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way.” What does this reveal about
Antigone’s personality?
5. In one complete sentence, explain Ismene’s argument against aiding Antigone.
6. When the prologue ends, what decision has each girl made? How does Antigone feel about Ismene’s decision?
7. What story does the Parados tell? Summarize it in three to four complete sentences.
8. How does the Parados different in TONE from the prologue? Explain your answer with supporting details from
the text.
9. Identify two external conflicts and two internal conflicts you see in the play.
External Conflict
Internal Conflict
10. Based on the prologue and parados, what do you expect the outcome of Antigone’s plan to be? Be sure to
explain your thinking.
Scene 1 and Ode 1
1. In Creon’s first words to the Chorus, what were the “storms” that threatened to destroy the Ship of State?
2. What reasons does Creon give for not allowing Polyneices to be buried?
3. How does the end of Creon’s speech differ from the beginning (lines 45-49)?
4. How does the Choragos feel about Creon’s commands (lines 56-59)? How do you know this?
5. Summarize the news that the Sentry must give to Creon?
6. How does the Sentry seem to feel about speaking to Creon? What can we infer about Creon due to the
Sentry’s reaction?
7. The choragus is bold enough to suggest to Creon that perhaps the gods wanted Eteocles buried. What is
Creon’s reaction to this suggestion? What assumption does Creon make?
8. What order does Creon give the Sentry before his departure? Quote his exact words from the text that have the
order.
9. Define DRAMATIC IRONY using his literary glossary. Explain where the dramatic irony in this scene occurs.
10. Read the verses to the ode and list the three main ideas of it.
11. On the basis of the final verse of Ode 1, why do you think the Chorus supports Creon?