Background

Research about Sophocles

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Research about Greek Plays:

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Passage / Material

Read up to line 179 and write the following:

1. Summary of what happened (the conversation between Ismene and Antigone, and the
chorus’ song).
2. Compare and contrast the character traits between Ismene and Antigone based on their
conversation.
3. The chorus uses a series of literary devices to depict the war that has just subsided (i.e.
imagery and metaphor).
a. What are some details of the war that the chorus has depicted?
b. What are the moods of the chorus? How does the mood transition? To show
what?
Finish reading Creon’s speech (up to lines 235) and answer the
following questions:

1. What is the tone that Creon adopts to address the “countrymen” of the state of Thebes?
Why is he adopting this tone? What about the context of the story makes this tone
fitting?
2. Creon speaks, “And whoever places a friend / above the good of his own country, he is
nothing: / I have no use for him” (lines 203 - 204) and “These are my principles. Never at
my hands / will the traitor be honored above the patriot. / But whoever proves his loyalty
to the state - / I’ll prize that man in death as well as life” (lines 231-235). What does this
show about Creon’s values? What does Creon care the most?
3. Briefly, in your own words, summarize the main plot of the story that has happened
before Creon’s coronation that has led to Creon making the speech now.

Read up to line 378, where the sentry informs Creon of his

discovery of the burial of the corpse of Polynices, and Creon
responds. Answer the following questions:
1. Based on the sentry’s initial set of words to Creon before he informs him of the burial
(lines 250 - 265), what do these words implicitly reveal about Creon’s character,
personality, and standing in the minds of others or those who are less important than
him?
2. Summarize in your own words what the sentry is saying in lines 282 - 314. What events
have happened to lead to the sentry’s fear and Creon’s fury?
3. What literary devices could you find in Creon’s response (lines 316 - 355) that shows
him to be contrary to the authoritative and calm image that he attempts to present
himself initially in his inaugural speech? What is your impression of Creon now?

In Sophocle’s famous Ode to Man excerpt from “Antigone” (lines 377- 415), how is the thesis of
“the greatness of men and their limitations in face of nature” portrayed? Write a literary
paragraph response on this.

Up to lines 594:
1. What does the conflict between Creon and Antigone show about their differences in
values? What does Creon value? What does Antigone value? Write a paragraph
response with quotational support and explanations.

Read up to line 655

1. What is the view of Creon of the role of women as exhibited through his words? How are
his views illustrated (Use quotational support please)?
 2. What does Ismene’s interaction with Antigone in this part of the passage show about
her? Does she care about Antigone? Why or why not?
3. Has Antigone relented about her views on honoring her family? Use quotes from the text
to support.

Up to lines 704
1. Give a brief summary of the message that the Chorus is trying to send here in this
passage.
2. What is the general role of the chorus in Greek plays? (You can do your own research)
How is the role played by the Chorus demonstrated in the play?
3. What kind of relationship do the Greeks have with religion? How is this relationship
demonstrated in this passage?
4. What is the meaning of “foul is fair, fair is foul” (line 697)? How should you interpret this
line in this context?

Read up to line 859

1. From the conversation that Creon speaks to his son, what does it show about Creon’s
value system, and how he sees his son and their relationship together? (lines 713 - 761).
2. Provide quotational proofs from the monologue to support the previous point (#1)?
3. What does Haemon show through his response to Creon, regarding his (Haemon’s)
values and perspectives? How is he different from Creon? How has he shown tactics in
communicating with his father to send across his message effectively? (lines 764 - 809).
4. What is the role of the “LEADER” in this circumstance?
5. What does the argument between Creon and Haemon show about each character’s
personality and character traits? (lines 809 - 859)

Read up to lines 958.

1. What literary devices does Creon use to portray his sour wishes for Antigone? What do
these vehement wishes illustrate about Creon’s personality and mindset? (lines
870-878).
2. The monologue by the Chorus that ensues praises “LOVE”. What is love according to
the chorus? How does love have conflicting nature? (lines 879-894)
3. What does the dialogue between Antigone and the Chorus show regarding the
speculation on the theme of life vs. death?

Up to lines 1144
1. What are the differences in values between Antigone and Creon as highlighted through the
monologue that Antigone gives before her “live burial”? (lines 978-1021)
2. Do Antigone and Creon both think that they are following the order of law and the order of
God? Explain about what they each think differently regarding what God wants.

3. In the speech of Tiresia, how does he use imagery to create mood? What mood does he
create? (lines 1102-1122)

4. What does Tiresia suggest in his first speech to Creon? What does Tiresia suggest Creon
should do with his current acts? What are the consequences of Creon’s decision to imprison
Antigone? (lines 1102-1144).

To the end of the entire play of “Antigone”:

1. By calling Tiresia a “rhetoric” (line 1160), what is Creon suggesting about the advice of
Tiresia?
2. Who is the “before you have surrendered / one born of your own loins, your own flesh
and blood, / a corpse for corpses given in return” (lines 1183-1186) in Tiresia’s
prophecy?
3. “You, you have no business with the dead, nor do the gods above—this is violence you
have forced upon the heavens” (lines 1191-1193) emphasize what rule and regulation
that the seer attempts to impose on Creon?
4. What decision has Creon come to after conversing with the chorus and after Tiresia
leaves in anger?
5. What message does the messenger send regarding Creon’s past versus current state?
(lines 1273-1290)
6. How did Antigone die? What was Haemon’s reaction to her death?
7. “Creon shows the world that all of the ills / afflicting men the worst is lack of judgment”
(lines 1371-1372).
8. Near the end when Creon finds out more deaths are happening in his household, what
does the use of repetition show about his mindset and mental state? (in lines
1412-1419).
9. What is the moral of the lesson that Sophocles wants the audience to learn through his
play? (lines 1466-1470).