Antigone

According to Teiresias, why are the gods angry?

According to Tiresias, the gods were angry because Creon refused to bury Polyneices so they decided to curse Creon.

In lines 15-20, whose fate does Antigone compare to her own?

Antigone compares her fate to Nobie, who is the queen of Thebes with seven sons and daughters.

Why does Antigone say she defied Creon's law? Explain why Antigone welcomes the punishment of death.

Antigone said she defied Creon's law because she felt that God's laws were more important. Antigone is not afraid of death because she felt that it was worth it to do the right thing for her brother.

How does the Choragos react to Creon's decree?

Choragos would not against the laws that Creon enforces and believes that is his job to support his wishes so Choragos accepts Creon's wishes and supports them, but he does not want to help.

Throughout Scene 3, on what does Creon blame Haemon's insolence?

Creon blames Haemon's insolence on Antigone because of how Haemon let a woman get into his head.

What sin does Creon finally confess to?

Creon finally confesses to not burying Polynices and for locking up Antigone to die so he goes to try to fix his sins.

In line 29, Creon says that Antigone will probably plead "family ties" to avoid being punished for breaking the law. Explain how Creon has completely misread (or misrepresented) Antigone's character.

Creon has misread Antigone's character because she does not care if she dies because she knows that her actions will seem honorable in the Gods' eyes so she will have a good afterlife. The reason that she broke the law in the first place was her family ties.

In line 113, the Choragos asks Creon, "King, can it be that the gods have done this?" Why does this suggestion enrage Creon? What does it imply?

Creon is angry after this statement because he believes in the afterlife and is applied when someone says that Polyneices should be allowed into the afterlife after what he did to Thebes and that the Gods are not siding with him.

In Scene 1, what reason does Creon give for refusing to bury Polyneices?

Creon refused to bury Polyneices because Polyneices started a war with his native city, Thebes after he was exiled to spill blood and sell his people into slavery. Creon thinks that the only punishment acceptable for this deed is to leave Polyneices unburied.

In line 50, Creon laments, "Am I a prophet?" What did he say earlier in play that seems to be coming true now?

Creon said that when Antigone died then Haimone would die as well. Also, once he was on his way to save Antoine all these things that he said seemed to be happening.

In Creon's first speech to Haemon, what arguments does he use to justify his decision to sentence Antigone to death?

Creon says that a son should not side with a woman, but with his father. Also, he says that he should stick to what his father's believes since he is wiser.

`What does Creon assume is the motive behind Tiresias prophecies? What other times have we seen him suspicious of other people's motives? (include a short description, scene, and line

Creon thinks that the motive behind Tiresias prophecies are to get rich because in line 50-51 it reads, "In India gold or that synthetic gold from Sardis, get rich otherwise than by my consent to bury him." We have seen him suspicious other times when he was suspicious that the Sentry was the one who buried Polyneices.

What is ironic about Creon's comments in lines 76-79?

Creon's comment is ironic because he is saying that the toughest are the first to break, but he is portrayed as a strong and tough character.

What is Creon's first reaction when he hears that Antigone has disobeyed his law? What does Creon's reaction tell you about his relationship to Antigone?

Creon's first reaction is confusion because he does not understand why Antigone would want to disobey him like that. After the confusion, Creon gets angry and wants Antigone dead. This shows that their relationship is not like family, but more like Antigone is just one of Creon's citizens.

In order from the start of the play to the end of the play, list the characters that die.

First, Oedipus killed his father then his mother killed herself after she realized she married her son and shortly after Oedipus was struck by lightning from the gods. After that, Polyneices and Eteocles died fighting against each other over who would rule Thebes, Antigone hung herself when she was put in cell to die. After Haimone saw that she died he tried to kill his father which was unsuccessful and ended up stabbing himself. Finally, Eurydice kills herself because all of her family is dead.

What arguments does Haemon use to try to persuade his father to change his mind?

Haemon tries to persuade his father by telling him that Antigone did nothing wrong and what she did was not a crime so she will not be punished.

At the end of Scene 3, Creon changes the mode of punishment. Why does he make this change? Do you agree that the method he proposes absolves the State of her death? Why or why not?

He changes his punishment because human convinces him and I do not agree with the method that he proposes because it is way too harsh since they are family and since she is just trying to help her brother.

According to Ode 1, why are human beings the most wonderful of the world's wonders? In what single aspect are they limited?

Humans are wonderful because they use their words in an intelligent way and they can control animals, but they are limited because they can't cheat death.

Do you agree with the Chorus's opinion that Antigone is responsible for her own death? Why or why not?

I do agree with this opinion even though she should not be killed because she knew that she would die if she buried her brother, but she did it anyways because she knew that it was the right thing to do.

Why do you think Creon refuses to change his mind? Does he believe that he is doing what is best for Thebes, or is he afraid to appear weak? How do Creon's attitudes toward women seem to influence his decision about Antigone?

I think Creon refuses to change his mind because he does not want to seem weak not that it is the best thing for Thebes. His attitude towards women influences his decision because he does not think that they are capable of great actions.

Why do you think Ismene changes her mind about her brother's burial? Do you think Antigone is justified in rejecting Ismene's support, or is she being too hard on her sister? Explain.

I think Ismene felt bad that Antigone was going to die and she would be alive by herself and she also probably get bad she did nothing to help her brother. I think Antigone's reaction is justified because Ismene did nothing to help her and she does not want Ismene to die after doing nothing.

Why do you think Creon first went to bury Polyneices and then went to save Antigone?

I think he first went to bury Polyneices so when he saves Antigone he can tell her that she buried Polyneices and he may have thought that the gods would forgive him immediately if he buried Polyneices.

"The State is King!" declares Creon in line 107. "Yes," replies Haemon, "if the State is a desert." What do you think Haemon means? Do you agree with him? Why or why not?

I think he meant means that the desert represents that the king is not very powerful because a desert is deserted and that a King would do nothing since there is nobody there. I agree with Haemon because without the people helping the King then the State would not be successful.

Creon accepts his blame at the end of the play saying, "I alone am guilty." Do you agree or do you think the blame should be shared? Or was Creon merely an innocent instrument of the gods' revenge on the House of Oedipus? Explain your opinion.

I think it was Creon's fault because without his unfair rule then Polyneices would have been buried so Antigone would not have broken the law which would have not caused all of Creon's family to die.

What are your feelings about Antigone in this scene? Does she seem to have changed in any way since Scene 2? If so, do you find her more sympathetic as a character or less? Explain your response.

I think she is afraid to die and is having second thoughts. Also, it seems that she wants revenge on Creon which is proved that she is not sympathetic because she wishes death on Creon

In line 25, Antigone rebukes the Chorus for laughing at her and denying her "all pity." Is she right about the Chorus? Explain your reasoning.

I think she is right about the CHorus since they never form their own opinions and side with Creon.

In lines 99-100, Antigone tells Creon, "All these men here would praise me/ Were their lips not frozen shut with fear of you." Based on what the Choragos says to Creon in this scene, do you think Antigone's statement is correct? Explain.

I think this statement is correct since Choragos follows Creon even if he does not agree with his decisions.

What does Antigone look forward to in death? What curse does she place on Creon?

In death, Antigone looks forward to the afterlife and she curses Creon by wishing him death.

The Paean is recited after Creon has changed his mind be before the plot is resolved. At this point in the play, why is it appropriate for the Chorus to call on the god Dionysos to "come with clement feet"? What is the Chorus asking the god to heal?

It is appropriate for the Chorus to call on Dionysos because the Chorus is asking t god to heal Thebes and release the curse. They are doing this because Creon made up his mind to fix his sins and to go save Antigone and to bury Polyneices.

What is ironic about Teiresias situation?

It is ironic that Teiresias is blind because Oedipus is also blind also he can see more and knows more than the people who can physically see. He is a blind prophet.

Who does the Choragos seem to agree with more, Creon or Haemon? What lines make you think that?

It seems that Choragos tries to be indifferent but, there are hints that he is siding with Haemon since he is more rational and Choragos also does not fully agree with what Creon is saying. Also, the Choragos is questioning what Creon said.

What do the Choragos and the Messenger expect Eurydice to do? What does the audience know that the characters on stage do not?

The Choragos and the Messenger do not expect Eurydice to commit suicide, but the audience does. This is called dramatic irony.

In Ode 1, what opinion does the Chorus express about the importance of law in society? Explain how this opinion is a comment on the basic conflict in the play so far.

The Chorus says that when the laws of nature are kept then the city will go smoothly and as normal. In this play, the conflict is that Polyneices Did not get buried and Antigone goes against Creon's laws not to bury him which is against the laws which may cause problems.

In Ode 3, what seems to be the Chorus' viewpoint of love?

The Chorus' viewpoint of love is that they think it is scared and that everybody should experience love in their lifetime because it is inevitable.

How has the Sentry's attitude toward Creon changed since the last time we saw him?

The Sentry feels like he needs to prove himself to Creon and that he is loyal. Also, he proves that he is innocent and turns in Antigone.

What does Creon accuse the Sentry of having done? What accusation is the Sentry making when he says, "How dreadful it is when the right judge judges wrong"?

The Sentry is accused of being the one who buries Polyneices, by Creon. When the Sentry says this he is referring to Creon being the right person, but he is doing then he makes the wrong decision.

In lines 83-87, what news does the Sentry announce to Creon? Why is the Sentry so reluctant to deliver his message?

The Sentry is so reluctant to deliver the message because he knows that Creon will get angry with him and he does not want to be punished when he says the Polyneices was buried

What seems to be the Sentry's attitude toward Antigone? What might this foreshadow?

The Sentry thinks of Antigone as a friend. This foreshadows that Antigone may be saved by the Sentry instead of being killed by Creon.

What do lines 18-32 suggest about how the gods view Creon's refusal to allow Polyneices to be buried? How are the gods expressing themselves?

The gods are angry that Creon refused to bury Polyneices since Creon is rejecting them so the gods are expressing their anger by cursing Thebes.

In line 119, Haemon declares, "Then she must die. But her death will cause another." Describe two possible interpretations of this threat. Do you take this threat seriously? Why or why not?

The threat is that Haemon would kill Creon or that he would kill himself. I would take this seriously because Haemon is very serious when he makes this comment.

In lines 30-33, the Sentry describes a whirlwind. What is the significance of the whirlwind? Why do we hear about this from the Sentry instead of seeing it on stage?

The whirlwind signifies Polyneices going to the afterlife after being buried by Antigone. We hear this from the Sentry because he is one of the few people who saw it happen along with the other Sentries and that it was hard to create a whirlwind. Also, maybe God's created this whirlwind so that he could be buried.

What do lines 44-48 suggest about Creon's view of himself and the gods?

These lines express that Creon's view is that he is not afraid of the gods and that he doesn't care what Teiresias said because Creon thinks it is inaccurate and foolish. Also, he is very arrogant in thinking that he is better than the gods because Creon is going against what the gods are saying. he thinks the gods do not care about him and that there is nothing he can do to upset the gods because they are to busy to care about him.

In Ode 4, the Chorus alludes to three Greek myths. What fate does Antigone share with Danae, Lycurgos, and Cleopatra? Would you say that the purpose of this ode is to glorify Antigone's fate or to condemn her pride? Explain.

They all have the same fate as Antigone because they were all put in a dark room to die and rot. I think the purpose of this is to glorify her fate because those people were important and they received the same fate as Antigone.

At this point in the play, what dramatic irony do we feel- that is, what do we realize that Creon doesn't?

We know that Antigone buried Polyneices and Creon does not.

In line 41, what does Antigone mean when she says that her father's "marriage strikes from the grave to murder" her own? In lines 45-48, how does the Chorus argue against her?

When Antigone says this she means that marriage sprouts from murder because her father married his mother after killing his father. The Chorus argues against her because they said that she did this to herself.