Antigone Guided Questions - hollidayhonorseng10

Antigone Guided Questions - Honors English 10
Prologue/Parados and Scene I/ Ode I DUE : Friday, October 21
Scene II/Ode II DUE : Monday, October 24
SEMINAR ON FLEX DAY – Tuesday, October 25 or Wednesday, October 26
Scene III/ Ode III DUE : Thursday, October 27
Scene IV/Ode IV, Scene V/ Paean, and Exodus DUE : Monday, October 31
SEMINAR ON FLEX DAY – Tuesday, November 1 or Wednesday November 2
While reading Antigone, find the answers to the plot questions. Your answers should be quick and accurate – i.e they DO NOT
need to be in complete sentences.
For discussion topics, your answers should be more detailed in complete sentences and should include evidence from the book to
help support your answers.
Prologue and Parados : Guided Plot Questions
1) What problem does Antigone report to her sister?
2) What does Antigone intend to do about this problem?
3) What is Ismene’s reaction to this intention?
4) Consider Antigone’s reference to the word “traitor” (p. 190). Though a typically political term, how does Antigone mean it here?
5) Briefly paraphrase what the chorus sings about in the Parados.
Discussion Topic(s) :
Briefly characterize the two characters we meet in this scene. What does their interaction and treatment of one another reveal to us
about each?
Scene I and Ode I : Guided Plot Questions
1) Briefly paraphrase Creon's opening speech.
2) What does the sentry come to tell Creon?
3) Where does Creon send the sentry to do at the end of the scene?
Discussion Topic(s) :
Looking at only Creon's opening speech, consider his values and beliefs. Is there anything inherently wrong with his principles?
Choral odes often generalize a given problem specific to the play's action into a statement about human life as a whole. Is that the case
here? If so, is the chorus talking about Antigone, Creon, or both?
Scene II and Ode II : Guided Plot Questions
1) What does the sentry find Antigone doing? How does she react?
2) How does Creon react to Antigone being brought before him?
3) What is Antigone’s defense?
4) What is the attitude of the Chorus (Choragos) and the Sentry with regard to the capture of Antigone?
5) Why is Ismene brought before Creon?
6) What does Ismene say in response? What is Antigone’s reaction to her sister here?
7) Who is Haimon? What do we learn of his relationship to Antigone here?
Discussion Topic(s) :
Consider the concept of moral law v. civil law. What is Antigone’s view of this? How does Creon differ?
A foil character is either one who is opposite to the main character or nearly the same as the main character. The purpose of the foil
character is to emphasize the traits of the main character by contrast only. In what way is Ismene a foil character to Antigone? How is
Creon perhaps a foil as well?
Consider the concept of honor (or timЀ) that is so critical in Greek society. Who seems most honorable to you thus far? Why?

In Athens society of this time (where this play would have been originally presented), wealthy girls would have lived in near seclusion
and been married shortly after they began menstruation – between the ages of 12-15. Defiant behavior in girls was considered a
problem to Athenians; in fact, girls were often sent away to live in a sanctuary during their pre-puberty years. Through the eyes of an
Athenian, how would Antigone’s behavior have been viewed?
Scene III and Ode III : Guided Plot Questions
6) How does Haimon approach Creon in his discussion of Antigone’s sentence?
7) According to Haimon, what is the people's response to Creon's mandate of death for Antigone?
8) What criticisms does Haimon make of Creon?
9) What does Haimon threaten?
10) How does Creon change Antigone’s sentence?
Discussion Topic(s) :
Compare the Creon in this scene to the one who first entered the play. Has he changed in language and conduct?
The ancient Greeks had two words for love – philia (meaning something like friendship) and eros (which has more to do with passion).
When the chorus talks of love in Ode III – which do they mean? Why is the chorus generalizing about love here?
Scene IV and Ode IV : Guided Plot Questions
4) Describe the Chorus's treatment of Antigone in the beginning of Scene IV.
5) What new side of Antigone's character do we see in this scene?
Discussion Topic(s) :
Consider the mythical tales the Chorus sings of in Ode IV. How do they comment on Antigone's situation? Does the chorus seen
alarmed by Antigone's defiance or impressed with her heroism?
Scene V and Paean : Guided Plot Questions
8) What omens does Tiresias report?
9) Why does he come see Creon in this scene?
10) What is Creon's initial reaction to Tiresias?
11) How does Creon change his mind in this scene?
Discussion Topic(s) :
What change in Creon's character do we witness in this scene? What do you think forces this change?
How has Creon's view of moral and civil law changed by this point in the play? Do you think this makes him more or less admirable as a
character?
Exodus : Guided Plot Questions
1) What news does the messenger bring the chorus at the beginning of the scene?
2) What does Creon find in the cave when he arrives?
3) What is the result of Haimon's confrontation with Creon?
4) Why does Eurydice commit suicide?
Discussion Topic(s) :
Why do you think that Creon goes to bury Polynices first rather than to Antigone's cave, as he said he was going to do in the previous
scene?
Could Creon be considered a tragic hero? Why or why not? Could Antigone be considered a tragic hero? Why or why not?
What moral lesson does the Chrous see in Creon's fate at the end of the play?