Antigone Reading Notes Characters in Antigone 1. Antigone 2. Ismene 3. Argive 4. Creon 5. Eteocles 6. Polyneices 7. Vocabulary 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

4. 5. 6. Promulgation Promote or make widely known (an idea or cause). Desecrate Treat (a sacred place or thing) with violent disrespect. Interdict An authoritative prohibition. Unsepulchered Degeneracy The state or property of being degenerate. Firebrand A person who is passionate about a particular cause, typically inciting change and taking radical action.

Notes Prologue The starting paragraph implies that Antigone believes that there is nothing left to lose. The use of the word sheltered somehow makes us think that Ismene was protected from the horrors that Antigone has witnessed or heard. The main aim of the prologue is to give us information of what is going on in the state and informs us of Creons new law. The information that Antigones two brothers killed each other is given to us and that one was against the state and the other fighting for the state. The fact that Antigone says beyond the gates indicates outside the law. The way that Antigone talks to Ismene shows that she is very judgmental.

Summaries Prologue The prologue is important because it helps to set the theme and tell us about the relationship between Ismene and Antigone. It tells us their stand against or with Creon. It helps to set the theme of Loyalty towards Family vs. Loyalty towards the state. The prologue helps in the characterization of Antigone and Ismene.