Antigone – Part II
Tragic Hero Lit Devices
Sophocles
Creon /
Antigone
Plot
100
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100
100
100
200
200
200
200
200
300
300
300
300
300
400
400
400
400
400
500
500
500
500
500
FINAL
Tragic Heroes 100
Creon might be considered a traditional
Greek tragic character because he:
Suffers greatly because of a flaw in
his character.
Tragic Heroes 200
Does the Choragos agree with Creon’s
final statement, “Fate has brought all my
pride to a thought of dust”?
No, because he believes Creon’s pride
caused his ruin.
Tragic Heroes 300
What is the character flaw that
brings down most tragic heroes?
Hubris (excessive pride)
Tragic Heroes 400
Is the curse of Oedipus the cause of Creon’s
downfall?
Not directly. Antigone is Oedipus’ daugher, so
it impacts her, but Creon is only Oedipus’
brother-in-law.
Tragic Heroes 500
The play states, “There is no happiness
where there is no wisdom”. List / explain
how 3 characters demonstrated a lack of
wisdom and what it cost them
Various: Creon, Antigone, Ismene,
Haimon, Euridice, Polyneices, etc.
Literary Devices 100
Sophocles characterizes Antigone by making
references to other characters in Greek mythology
including Niobe, Danae, and King Lycorgos using
which literary device?
Allusion
Literary Devices 200
The phrase “Stubborn tree” is an
example of which literary device?
Personification
Literary Devices 300
When Haimon says to his father, “…the same thing
happens in sailing; make your sheet fast, never slacken –
and over you go, head over heels and under; and there’s
your voyage” he is metaphorically referring to:
Creon’s stubborn pride
Literary Devices 400
When Haimon is speaking to his father, he
states that “her [Antigone’s] death will cause
another” what literary device is being used?
Foreshadowing
Literary Devices 500
The line, “Love, unconquerable waster of rich men…
even the pure Immortals cannot escape you, and mortal
man, in his one day’s dusk, trembles before your glory” is
an example of which literary device?
Personification
Sophocles 100
“Antigone” by Sophocles is the third play in a
series of ____ plays, which was a common
organization for tragic plays in ancient Greece:
Three
Sophocles 200
In a sixty year period, Sophocles
produced how many plays?
123 plays
(only 7 survive as of today)
Sophocles 300
Sophocles plays were so popular that
what measures were taken to protect him
as a celebrity ?
The military had to protect him from his
fans and maintain order
Sophocles 400
Sophocles playwriting career paralleled
what historical era?
The rise and fall of the Athenian empire
Sophocles 500
Sophocles was born in what city (The
setting for the 2nd play in the three play
story of Oedipus)
Kolonos
Creon / Antigone 100
Antigone’s motive for burying
Polyneices is her ____________ .
Loyalty
Creon / Antigone 200
What best explains Creon’s
motivation for decreeing that
Polyneices should go unburied?
He does not want to honor a traitor
(who threatens his rule)
DAILY DOUBLE
Creon / Antigone
Describe at least one moment (with specific details) in the
story of Antigone when Creon exhibits hubris by ignoring
the good advice of others. Explain why this lapse in
judgment is significant to the plot of the story.
His refusal to listen to Antigone
His refusal to listen to his son; Haimon
His refusal to listen to the prophet; Teiresias
Creon / Antigone 400
What primary characteristic does Creon reveal in the following
words?
“This girl is guilty of a double insolence, / Breaking the given laws
and boasting of it. / Who is the man here, / She or I, if this crime
goes unpunished?”
Hubris (pride)
Creon / Antigone 500
Which conflict best describe the
character flaws of the main characters in
Antigone?
Creon’s stubbornness against Antigone’s
selfishness.
Plot 100
Readers can sympathize with Antigone
because of her…
Struggle to do what she feels is right
Plot 200
By identifying with Haimon, readers
can best understand…
The atmosphere in Thebes following
Creon’s decree
Plot 300
What makes Creon relent regarding his
decision to imprison Antigone and not
bury Polyneices?
He fears punishment from the gods
Plot 400
What is the meaning of Teiresias’
statement, “The generation of kings
has/always loved brass”?
Kings always seek apparent/ perceived value
rather than real value
Plot 500
Which quotation best expresses
an important theme of Antigone?
“The only crime is pride.”
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Centuries of critics and readers have debated who
the tragic character is in Antigone—the title
character or Creon. Which one do you believe is
the tragic character?
Answers will vary