Antigone: Study Guide and Review Questions
Answer the following questions in complete sentences. Be sure to include textual evidence.
1. As the play commences, describe the initial situation as far as characters, conflict, and setting are
concerned.
2. Why is Antigone so upset? What is she asking Ismene to do? How does Ismene respond?
3. From the interactions between these two sisters, what can be deciphered about each one’s personality?
4. In lines 1-151, find at least one instance of foreshadowing regarding the fate of Antigone.
5. Once Creon enters, how is he different from the way he is depicted in Oedipus Rex?
6. Yet again, the metaphor/simile of Thebes as a sailing ship is used. Find an example of this in lines 232299. Additionally, what situation at the beginning of the play could be compared to the plague that
burdens Thebes in Oedipus Rex?
7. Who does Creon honor? Why? Why does he not honor this person’s older brother?
8. What does Creon decree as a result of his beliefs regarding the situation in Thebes?
9. Whose body is being guarded? Why?
10. Explain why the soldier is frightened. Compare his situation with that of Laius’
servant/shepherd/witness in Oedipus Rex.
11. Why does Creon become enraged? Is this a responsible reaction?
12. Explain Creon’s opinion regarding money. To what does he compare money? Why?
13. After the first conversation between Creon and the soldier, what does the soldier decide to do? Why?
14. Summarize the Chorus’ comments in lines 567-578.
15. Why is the soldier no longer afraid? What does he declare to the people of Thebes?
16. Explain exactly how and why Antigone is caught and then brought before Creon. What does she do
that causes the Soldier to arrest her?
17. Creon asks her why she commits this act. How does she respond to him? Explain her logic. What does
she believe?
18. To whom does the Chorus compare Antigone? Why is this comparison appropriate in this case?
19. How does Creon react to her misconduct? Why is he so upset? Examine lines 725-739.
20. Who does Creon also want to punish? Why?
21. In a heated argument, what does Antigone reveal about the popular opinion of the people of Thebes?
22. Ismene enters, crying, and she claims that she is also involve. How does Antigone react to this
proclamation of Ismene’s?
23. Explain lines 859-861, which are spoken by Creon.
24. What does Ismene reveal as a part of her assault on Creon? How does Creon react to her question?
25. Summarize the Chorus’ speech in lines 896-926.
26. Why is Haemon there? What advice does Creon try to offer his son regarding women?
27. In Creon’s long speech to his son, it appears that he is trying to prove something. What is at stake for
Creon as far as his political career is concerned?
28. What does Heamon say in order to try to sway his father’s decree regarding Antigone? He even offers
metaphors for support in lines 1111-1116. Explain those, as well.
29. How does Creon feel about these comments from his son? A threat is issued. From whom? Why? Of
what is this an example?
30. What sentence does Creon issue for Antigone? For Ismene?
31. Explain lines 1229-1255, which are spoken by the Chorus.
32. When Antigone enters, how does she look? Why? Of what is this symbolic? What then does she say,
which solidifies the perception of her in her last hours?
33. Summarize the Chorus’ speech in lines 1340-1349.
34. How does Antigone feel about her pending death? Why does she feel this way?
35. What does Antigone say in reference to the reason that she feels so strongly about the crime she has just
committed? See lines 1401-1452.
36. Summarize Antigone’s parting speech pertaining to her as a victim.
37. Who states the following lines? To what is this in reference?
“Man’s fate is determined, will not be denied
The child Antigone pays for the parents’ pride.”
38. Teiresias enters. What role does he play here?
39. Explain the process that Teiresias uses to “see” the future. What exactly does he “see”? What does this
mean?
40. What very practical advice does Creon receive from Teiresias? How does Creon react to this? To whom
is Creon being compared?
41. Why does Creon not believe Teiresias? What does he suspect Teiresias of doing?
42. How does Creon regard “fortune-tellers”?
43. There is a bold-faced lie in lines 1657-1658. Why is this false?
44. What “eye for an eye” prediction does Teiresias then make in lines 1666-1711?
45. Who convinces Creon to rethink his decree? Why? What does he decide to do?
46. What “tragic” news does the Messenger bring to the people of Thebes?
47. What do lines 1839-1840 mean?
48. Why does Eurydice say that she has entered the discussion? Why does she say that she must hear the
news of the Messenger?
49. Summarize the events that are related to us via the Messenger in lines 1861-1940.
50. How does Antigone actually die? What does Haemon do when he discovers her? Why does he do this?
With whom is he angry?
51. What does Haemon do as he is about to die? Why? What image does this create according to the
Messenger?
52. Who is worried, initially, about Eurydice? Why? Who then goes to investigate?
53. What does Creon feel as he re-enters carrying his son?
54. What are Eurydice’s last words, as conveyed to us via the Messenger? Why does she say this? Who is
Megareus?
55. How does Creon feel because of his actions? What does he want to occur now?
56. Summarize the Chorus’ parting speech. What message is being conveyed? Who ultimately has the
control?
57. What connections can be made between the events and characters in Antigone with those from Oedipus
Rex?