Antigone
Guided Reading Questions
Answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Questions should be discussed in your
group, but everyone in the group should have their own answers in complete sentences which are
written in their own words and not copied from another group member.
You will keep a chart of the songs of the chorus and relate them to the action of the play.
Parados
Summary of the Song
Function of the Song
Polyneices attacked Thebes but
was defeated.
Gives background for Creon’s
order not to bury Polyneices
Ode 1
Prologue
Conflict. Note the seriousness of the conflict that is introduced in lines 52-58. What is Antigone going to
do, and what may happen to her as a result?
Character. Up to lines 84, what have you learned about Antigone the protagonist of the play? How would
you contrast her with her sister, Ismene?
Parados
Reading Classical Drama. Stop at line 44 in the Parodos. And summarize the background information
that the chorus gives in its song. How does the chorus view Polyneices?
Scene 1
Motifs in Drama. A motif is an element or concept expressed by the characters throughout a play that
helps develop the plot and theme. Although this is only the first scene of Antigone, the idea of treachery
versus loyalty has appeared several times. How do you think this motif might affect the plot?
Character. (ll. 8-30) This speech introduces Creon, who acts as Antigone’s antagonist. According to him,
what deserves the highest loyalty? Analyze Creon’s speech as a persuasive argument. What is his position
on the burial of Polyneices? What reasons does he use to support his claim? Is his argument logical? Does
he deal with the “counterargument”?
Conflict. (ll. 58-76) The sentry finds himself in the dangerous situation of telling the king bad news. How
do you feel toward the sentry at this point? Why? Why is the sentry afraid of telling Creon that somebody
put dust on Polyneices’ body? What does the audience learn about Creon from this interaction with the
sentry?
Classical Drama. Stop at line 78. Who do you think buried the body? Note the dramatic irony arising
from Creon’s assumption that the person who buried the body was a man.
Character. Notice how the sentry (lines 79-101), a minor character, relates to Creon. What does his
attitude tell you about Creon?
Classical Drama. The choragus poses a reasonable question in line 102. Judge Creon’s response, noting
what attitude he shows toward the gods. How is Creon’s attitude towards the gods similar to other kings
we have read about? How do you think this attitude will fair?
Tone. Identify the sentry’s tone as he explains to Creon what has happened to the body. Analyze the
writing to determine how Sophocles achieves this effect. Compare the syntax and diction of Creon’s
speech to that of other characters.
Dramatic Irony. At this point in the play, Creon doesn’t know that Antigone has buried her brother out of
loyalty to the family and principle. In lines 111-120, what does he think is the reason for the refusal to
obey his decree?
Character. What do you think of Creon so far? What seem to be his virtues? His flaws?
Ode 1
Reading Classical Drama. In your chart, summarize the message that this choral ode conveys about
human beings. How would you relate the ode to the preceding scene? Look at line 22, “When the laws
are broken, what of his city then?” How does this line in particular relate to the preceding scene?
Metaphor. Look at how Sophocles uses metaphor and simile in the ode. Find at least 5 examples and
connect them to the theme of the ode in particular and the play in general.
Scene 2
Dramatic Irony. Reread line 7, and note the dramatic irony. How might the sentry’s statement that “a
man should never be too sure of anything” apply to Creon?
Classical Drama. In classical drama, much of the action takes place offstage and is reported by minor
characters. How does the sentry’s speech (ll 23-49) create sympathy for Antigone?
Classical Drama. Reread lines 35–42, and paraphrase the metaphor that compares Antigone to a mother
bird whose chicks have been stolen. What emotion does this comparison reveal in Antigone. Find lines
that show Antigone was not afraid and that the sentry felt some regret about turning her in.
Character. Reread lines 57-72. What does Antigone believe is the supreme law? What is her attitude
toward death?
Conflict. How does Creon’s perception of Antigone as a threat to his manhood heighten the conflict
between them?
Motifs in Drama. How has the motif of treachery versus loyalty affected the characters and events? Who
is motivated by loyalty and who by treachery at this point in the play?
Theme. Reread lines 99-102. What is Antigone suggesting about the rule of kings and its effects on
citizens?
Conflict. Reread lines 110-114. Which statement sums up Creon’s outlook and loyalty? Which statement
sums up Antigone’s position?
Classical Drama. Greek tragedy explores humans’ relationship to the gods. How does Antigone’s
thinking about the gods differ from Creon’s thinking?
Theme. Discuss Antigone’s statement “it is my nature to join in love, not hate” (line 118). What message
about love do you think Sophocles is developing here? Keep in mind how Oedipus’ illicit love flows
beneath the surface of the play.
Character. What does Antigone’s treatment of her sister reveal about her character?
Conflict. Ismene reveals that Antigone is engaged to Creon’s son Haemon. What new issues could arise
from the conflict between Antigone and Creon?
Ode 2
Reading Classical Dram. Judging from this choral ode, how do the gods feel toward the family of
Oedipus? Be sure to put this on your song chart.
Explain the last three lines of the ode. Whom do you think these lines apply to?
Scene 3
Theme. Reread lines 11-19. What is Creon’s view of family relationships?
Theme. Based on lines 11-36, to whom, according to Creon, does Haemon owe his loyalty? Is this view in
keeping with Creon’s view of the public’s duty? Explain.
Theme. Reread lines 35-44. What are Creon’s views about government and his role as king?
Conflict. How does Creon’s perception of women contribute to his conflict with Antigone?
Theme. Reread lines 55-60. How do Haemon’s views of government differ from Creon’s?
Theme. Compare Haemon’s words to Creon’s words in Scene 2, beginning “The inflexible heart breaks
first…” (line 77, pg. 1083). What do both speeches suggest about inflexibility?
Create a chart where you compare and contrast Creon’s exchange with Antigone to his exchange with
Haemon. How do the topics of discussion differ? Are they similar in any way? Who is more emotional,
Antigone or Haemon? Who argues more persuasively?
Classical Drama. How does the choragus respond to Creon’s and Haemon’s arguments? How similar is
your response?
Theme. Interpret Haemon’s reply in line 108.
Dramatic Irony. Look at lines 119-121. What might Haemon mean? What does Creon think he means?
Character. What do you think about Creon’s decision to bury a person alive when he has refused to bury
a person who is dead?
Ode 3
In your chart, summarize the message about love expressed in this ode. How does the ode relate to the
exchange between Haemon and Creon?
Scene 4
Theme: In lines 11-14 and 33-36, how does the chorus view Antigone’s punishment for her act of
conscience and loyalty?
Personification. Reread lines 28-30. What is Antigone personifying? How is she personifying them?
Why would she personify them? What do her words tell you about ancient Greek culture?
Classical Drama. Reread lines 45-48. To what does the chorus attribute Antigone’s tragic downfall?
Classical Drama. How do you judge the way Antigone accepts her death? Does she show qualities of a
tragic hero?
Character. How would you describe Creon’s rage? Antigone says that Creon’s voice is “like the voice of
death” (line 73). Do you think her description is a good characterization of Creon’s words and actions?
Theme. What is Antigone’s highest loyalty?
Ode 4
Reading Classical Drama: What insights into Antigone’s situation do you get from the myths that this
ode alludes to? Summarize your thoughts in your chart.
Analyze the evolving viewpoint of the chorus and choragus. How has their attitude toward Antigone
changed since the beginning of the play? How do they view her act of conscience now? What feelings do
they convey?
Scene 5
Classical Drama. Reread lines 18-32. What do they suggest about how the gods view Creon’s refusal to
allow Polyneices to be buried?
Summary. Summarize the status of all the important characters at the beginning of this scene.
Character. At what point in the play has Creon leveled charges? How and why does his attitude toward
Teiresias change during the scene? Why do you think Creon levels charges of corruption against an
acknowledged wise man?
Theme. In lines 70-83, Creon has accused Teiresias of selling out. To what does Teiresias say one should
pay his loyalty?
Character. What does Creon’s exchange with Teiresias reveal about Creon’s view of himself and others?
Predict how Teiresias’s prophecy might be fulfilled.
Character. Why does Creon change his mind?
Irony. Discuss the significance of the confrontation between a blind prophet who sees the truth and the
“seeing” king who is deaf to reason and blind to the truth. How does this confrontation support the play’s
themes. Irony, and images of light and dark? What message is Sophocles suggesting about the nature of
Truth?
Paean
Reading Classical Drama. What mood is created by this paean to the god Dionysus?
Exodos
Character. What information did the play’s other messenger—the sentry—reveal? How does the
messenger in the Exodos introduce his terrible news? Why do you think this messenger seems so
subdued yet unafraid?
Character. Creon’s queen has only 7 lines, yet her presence is strongly felt in this scene. Account for her
significance. Does Eurydice’s power come from her words? Or does it derive from the information that
Creon transmitted about his views on women? Or is there something else that elicits sympathy toward
her?
The messenger reports that Creon had asked this question: “Am I a prophet?” (line 51) Ironically, when
Creon appears in person, he takes on a truth-teller role. Find specific lines spoken by Creon that echo
those spoken by Teiresias. What truths does Creon tell? What is the meaning of Creon’s transformation?
Classical Drama. Summarize the tragic catastrophe that events have led to.
Character. In lines 86-92, what does Creon suggest was the effect of his unbending loyalty to the laws of
the state?
Classical Drama. Reread lines 86-98. How does Creon view his actions?
Classical Drama. Creon assumes responsibility for the terrible events that have occurred. To what
extent is he a tragic hero?
Allegory. An allegory is a story that functions on two levels: a literal and a symbolic level. Allegories often teach a
moral lesson through their symbolic meaning. Antigone can be read as an allegory about obedience, or as the choragus
says, “submission to the gods.” How does the ultimate fate of each character support this reading of Antigone?