Characters
This protagonist believes loyalty to the gods and her family is more important than loyalty to the king
Antigone
In what Greek city-state does Antigone take place?
Thebes
State the main conflict in the play as listed in the study guide.
The main conflict is between moral duty (gods laws) and government power (man's laws).
Credibility
Why does Antigone believe Polyneices must be buried?
Antigone believes Polyneices must be buried because the gods require proper burial rites and her brother’s death deserves to be honored.
Name Creon’s son, who is also engaged to Antigone
Haimon
Which two brothers fight and kill each other in the play?
Eteocles and Polyneices
According to the guide, what belief about women does Antigone challenge?
That women should follow male authority.
Which appeal attempts to make the audience feel sadness, fear, or guilt?
Pathos
Why does Ismene initially refuse to help Antigone?
Ismene initially refuses to help because she is afraid of Creon’s punishment (death).
This character is Antigone’s sister who initially refuses to help bury Polyneices.
Ismene
What specific order does Creon give regarding Polyneices after the civil war?
Creon orders that Polyneices will not be buried and anyone who buries him will be put to death/ executed.
What does Antigone prioritize over loyalty to the king?
Loyalty to the gods (and family) over the king.
Logos is an appeal to
logic and/or reasoning
What warning does Teiresias give Creon?
Teiresias warns Creon that the gods are angry with him and that he must make amends.
Give two character traits used to describe Antigone in the study guide
Brave, loyal, determined (any two)
Why does Antigone ask Ismene to help her before she buries their brother?
Because Antigone believes the gods require proper burial rites and she wants to honor her brother.
How does Creon’s pride contribute to the tragedy?
Because Antigone believes the gods require proper burial rites and she wants to honor her brother.
Give an example from the play (one-sentence) of how a character’s argument could use logos (reasoning or evidence).
Antigone arguing that her brother deserves a burial because the gods expect it.
OR
Creon argues that Polyneices is a traitor because he fought against his own city.
OR
Haimon begs Creon to listen to others who view Antigone's actions as good.
What lesson does Creon learn at the end of the play?
Creon learns that excessive pride and refusing to listen to others caused the tragedy.
Identify the character who warns Creon that the gods are angry and summarize his condition
Teiresias; he is blind and a prophet who warns that the gods are angry.
What happens to Creon at the end of the play?
He loses everything, including his wife and son.
How does Antigone’s action function as both a personal duty and a political challenge?
Antigone’s burial of Polyneices is a religious and familial obligation, so it’s a personal duty; because it directly defies Creon’s law, it becomes a political act that challenges state authority.
Explain how Creon’s speeches could be seen as an appeal to ethos; reference his beliefs about rulership.
He's the king, in a position of authority
The author of the play, Antigone
Sophocles