Name _______________________________________
Per _________
Spring 2012
Mrs. Potts
Directions: Write the definition for each word below in the space provided.
1. anarchists:
2. aphorism:
3. blasphemy:
4. carrion birds:
5. chorister:
6. deference:
7. lamentation:
8. piety:
9. sated:
10. sententiously:
11. sultry:
12. transcends:
13. vile:
Literary Terms
1. catharsis:
2. chorus:
3. dialogue:
4. foil:
5. metaphor:
6. monologue:
7. motivation:
8. ode:
9. prologue:
10. tragedy:
11. tragic flaw:
12. tragic hero:
Prologue
1. Where is the play set? (Be more specific than “a palace.”)
2. What order has Creon given regarding Polyneices' body?
3. Why does Ismene tell her sister, "You’re too rash"?
3. What happened to Antigone and Ismene's parents? (BE SPECIFIC)
4. Why doesn't Ismene help her sister?
Parados
1. When the Chorus members first appear what background information do they
provide?
2. How did Antigone and Ismene's brothers die?
Scene 1
1. What do the senators say that shows they are puzzled by Creon's summons?
2. Briefly explain the line of succession that resulted in Creon's ascension to power.
3. According to Creon, how is he acting in the state's best interest by denying
Polyneices’ burial?
4. What does Creon want the senators to do?
5. Why does the sentry keep stopping to think about what he had come to say? What is
he afraid of?
6. What does the Chorus Leader mean when he says, “could this act not be something
from the gods”?
7. What does Creon mean when he responds that “No one can tolerate what you’ve just
said, when you claim gods might care about this corpse.”?
Scene 2
1. Who is Antigone? What is her relationship with Creon?
2. How was Antigone captured and by whom?
3. What happened right before Antigone was detected alongside of the body?
4. What was Antigone doing with the dust and wine?
5. Creon accused Antigone of being proud of her outrageous deed. Cite one of her lines
that demonstrates her pride.
6. According to Antigone, why doesn’t anyone in the city express approval of her
actions?
7. Why does Ismene say that she helped Antigone?
8. Why doesn’t Antigone let her sister take some of the blame for her actions?
9. Why doesn’t Creon order Ismene killed?
Scene 3
1. Does Haimon support his father’s decision to execute Antigone? How do you know
this?
2. According to Haimon, do most people support his father’s decision?
3. Why does Haimon mention trees during flood time to his father? What literary
element is this an example of?
4. Why does Haimon leave when Creon orders Antigone to be brought forth?
5. How does Creon intend for Antigone to die?
Scene 4
1. Why does Antigone say she must go to Acheron?
2. Who was the daughter of Tantalus’ death? How is her death similar to Antigones?
3. What reason does the chorus give for disagreeing with Antigone’s self-comparison
with Niobe?
4. According to Antigone and the Chorus, who is ultimately at fault for all of the events
in Antigone?
Scene 5
1. Who is Teiresias?
2. What does Teiresias advise Creon to do?
3. What does Creon think of Teiresias’ advice?
4. Teiresias predicts that Creon will pay for Antigone’s death—how?
5. How does Creon change his plans after listening to Teiresias?
Exodos
1. Why does the messenger say that Creon has lost all?
2. How did Haimon die?
3. What was done with Polyneices’ body?
4. Whom does Creon blame for his son’s death?
5. How does Eurydice die—and whom does Creon blame?