SOPHOCLES, ANTIGONE, Pt. 1
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Write a one page summary of the plot of this play. It is helpful to
keep these relationships in mind during your reading. The children (and siblings) of
Oedipus are Ismene, Antigone, Eteocles and Polyices. Oedipus' wife (and mother) is Jocasta
whose brother is Creon. Creon is married to Eurydice and their son Haemon is
engaged to Antigone.
2. What are the two meanings that can be given to line 57?
3. In line 57, Antigone states that Creon, "has no right to keep me from my
own." Is this true?
4. In lines 60-80, what arguments does Ismene use to persuade Antigone from her plans?
5. In line 86, Antigone says "if I die in the act, that death will be a glory"
and in line 112 she says that the worse thing to suffer is a death without glory. What
warning is contained for her in the chorus that begins at line 116?
6. How did Eteocles and Polynices die?
7. Why can Creon say (in line 180) that "the ship of state is safe"?
8. Why did Creon decree such a harsh punishment (no proper burial) for Polynices?
9. After the sentry comes and tells Creon that someone has given Polynices the burial
rites, the Leader of the chorus suggests that it might of actually been the gods who
performed the burial. Why is this suggestion so unacceptable to Creon? (see lines 317ff)
10. The chorus beginning at line 377 is quite fascinating. It is basically a hymn in honor
of the greatness of Man. What are some of man’s abilities that it extols?
11. What do lines 409-412 mean?
12. Does this hymn remind you of any of the Psalms?
13. Psalm 8 is very similar but there is a very important difference. Read Psalm 8 and see
if you can find it.
14. After the sentry brings the accused Antigone back from the site of Polynices body,
Creon asks her if she knew of the official decree against his burial. Why doesn’t she
just tell him that she was unaware of the decree so that she can avoid being punished?
15. What arguments does Antigone use to defend herself before Creon? (see lines 499ff)
16. In lines 551-554, Creon implies that Antigone glories in her crime. Is it true that
she glories in her crime?
17. In line 561, Antigone says "Give me glory". Does this sound like something a
typical woman would say?
18. Antigone justifies her burying her traitor brother by saying "Death longs for the
same rites for all." but Creon replies, "Never the same for the patriot and the
traitor." Who would you side with at this point in the argument?
19. Can Antigone be seen as sincere when she states, "I was born to join in love, not
hate--that is my nature" (line 590)?
20. Why does Antigone not want Ismene to join her in dying?
21. What is the nature of Creon’s relationship to his son?
22. Summarize Creon’s thoughts in lines 751-761.
23. What message does Haemon bring to his father?