Chapter Abstracts and helps for Antigone
In the introductory portions of your text, you are given
thorough background description as well as a summary of the
books. I am giving you these helps, but expect to read this
book deeply (more than once).
Prologue
• Antigone and Ismene commiserate about the brothers they lost in the war.
• Antigone learns her brother will not get a proper burial.
• There is a decree that anyone who disobeys the burial law will be stoned to death.
• Antigone decides to bury her brother anyway.
• Antigone goes against the wishes of her sister.
Parados
• The Chorus tells the audience about the battle.
• Polyneices led the attack on his own home.
• Polyneices and Eteocles slew each other.
Scene 1 (First Episode)
• Creon addresses the people, represented in the Chorus.
• Creon notes that loyalty must be earned.
• Since Eteocles fought for Thebes, he will get a proper burial.
• A sentry tells Creon someone tried to bury the body with loose dirt.
Ode 1 (First Stasimon)
• The Chorus praises the greatness of man.
• The Chorus does not condone anarchy or entertainment of such thoughts.
Scene 2 (Second Episode)
• The sentry informs Choragos that Antigone is the one who tried to bury the body.
• The sentry hands over Antigone.
• Antigone does not deny anything when she is questioned.
• Creon orders the death of Antigone and Ismene.
• Creon and Antigone argue over the death of Polyneices.
• Ismene tries to take the blame for the actions.
Ode 2 (Second Stasimon)
• It is implied that Antigone's problems are the result of her father, Oedipus.
• The Chorus now shows compassion.
Scene 3 (Third Episode)
• Haemon comes and expresses concern to Creon about his fiancee's punishment - Antigone is
his fiancee.
• Haemon lets his father know that some of the people think Antigone's actions were right.
• Haemon tries to get Creon to respond to reason.
• Creon becomes upset with Haemon and orders Antigone to be killed in front of Haemon.
• Haemon leaves and says he will never see his father again.
• Creon takes away the death sentence for Ismene and changes Antigone's sentence to death
by starvation.
Ode 3 (Third Stasimon)
• This ode praises love and its power over all.
Scene 4 (Fourth Episode)
• Antigone is brought before Creon.
• The Chorus is sympathetic to Antigone.
• Antigone accepts her punishment and responsibility for her actions.
• Creon orders Antigone to starve to death.
Ode 4 (Fourth Stasimon)
• The Chorus compares Antigone to Danae.
• The Chorus laments the powerlessness of man over destiny.
• The Chorus also laments how the powerful are not immune to grief.
Scene 5 (Fifth Episode)
• The prophet cautions Creon that he is on the edge of fate.
• Creon accuses Teiresias of being paid to say what he is saying.
• The prophet notes that Creon will be paid back corpse for corpse.
Exodus
• The Messenger commiserates on the dominion of fate.
• Antigone hangs herself.
• Haemon tried to stab his father when he was trying to console him, but then stabbed himself.
• Choragos condemns Creon for his actions.
• The queen also kills herself, cursing Creon in her final moments.
Character Descriptions
Antigone
This character is a strong-willed young woman who decides to bury her brother against the
edict of her uncle, the new king.
Chorus
This character is another convention of Greek drama. They comment on the actions of the
characters in the play and underline moral points.
Chorus Leader
See Koryphaios
Creon
This character was proclaimed regent (or ruler) after another's tragic fall from power. He has
raised his sister's children as his own following her descent into madness.
Eurydice
This character appears late in the play, when she senses something is wrong with her family,
and is then informed of the deaths of others by a messenger.
Haemon
This character is engaged to be married. He tries desperately to persuade his father to see
reason by allowing the burial and the release of his beloved.
Ismene
This character loves her sister and brothers, but she refuses to help her sister. She reminds her
sister that according to their role as women, it is not for them to decide what is right or wrong.
Koryphaios
This character is the chorus leader who functions as an adviser.
Leader
See Koryphaios
Messenger
This character brings the news of the deaths to others in the play.
Sentry Guard
This character informs at the beginning of the play that someone has buried and performed
death rituals.
Teiresias
A respected prophet, this blind character was well known to ancient Greek audiences from the
Theban legends.
Object Descriptions
Thebes
This city is located northwest of Athens, once ruled by Oedipus.
Colonus
This is the location of Oedipus' death. A place in the Greek city-state of Athens, it is a quiet
suburb of the main city.
Body (of Polyneices)
This is identity of the corpse slain in battle outside of Thebes.
Decree (of Creon)
This is given by the ruler and Antigone is supposed to obey this in order to avoid a death
sentence, but the older sister doesn't listen.
Zeus
This is the king of all gods. He rules the Heavens.
Danae
This is the mother of the Greek hero Perseus who experienced much suffering. The Chorus
compares her fate to that of Antigone.
Phineus
This is an ancient prophet whose wife blinded his two sons.
Fate
This is an uncontrollable divine force that predetermines future events.
Seven armies
These were mustered together from Argos by Polyneices in order to attack Thebes.
Bacchus
This is the Greek god of wine and revelry.
Argos
This is a plains region south of Thebes on the Peloponnesian Peninsula in lower Greece.
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