SOPHOCLES, ANTIGONE, PT. 2
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Summarize the point Haemon is making to his father with the tree analogy in
lines 797-799.
2. Why is Creon not affected by Haemon’s statements that the whole city is of a
contrary opinion regarding Antigone’s sentence?
3. What are the double meanings that can be given to line 839?
4. What does Haemon mean when he says, "her death will kill another."? (line
843)
5. Does Creon execute Antigone as he said he would? (lines 870-879)
6. Why would the chorus sing a hymn to love at this time in the play? Doesn’t this
seem like an inappropriate time to be talking about love?
7. When Antigone appears for the first time since her sentence, how has her character
changed? (line 900 ff.)
8. What does she mention for the first time?
9. Does Antigone admit that what she did was wrong in lines 1013-1021?
10. In line 1034, Antigone says that she is being punished for "reverence, all for
reverence" the word that she uses for reverence is eusebian. This is the same word
that is used in 2 Peter 1:7 and is translated "godliness". It can also be
translated as "piety".
11. How genuine do you think her statement is?
12. With the entry of Tiresias (we have not seen him since early in Oedipus Rex) the
tables begin to turn as Creon is faced with increasing criticism. Were did we hear a line
like 1123?
13. Creon also resembles Oedipus for his tyrannous character. He shows the careless
disregard for the gods that Oedipus displayed. How is this shown in lines 1151-1153?
14. Line 1176-7 is also very similar to Tiresias’ interview with Oedipus. In lines
1181-1215 what does Tiresias say Creon’s error is?
15. After Tiresius’ speech, Creon very quickly breaks. He is quick to send his men to
make sure that Polynices does receive the proper rites. I must admit that he changes his
mind so quickly that the transitions seems a little implausible. Can you give an
explanation for why he changes so quickly rather than resisting the words of Tiresius like
Oedipus did?
16. At line 1239, the chorus begins the hymn of praise in honor of Dionysus, the patron
deity of Thebes. Why is it appropriate to sing praises to Dionysus at this point?
17. What does the chorus mean by "real delight" in line 1289?
18. Read lines 1431-1435; what similarities do you see between Creon and Oedipus?
19. What was your favorite part of this book?