Antigone Study Guide/Review Questions

Part 3:

Scene 4:

1. How is Antigone different in this scene than she has appeared in the previous
scenes?
Antigone transforms from being stubborn and underestimated too courageous and open-
minded. She is now scared and worried about her death. We see an empathic one
sensitive. Hopeless and depressed side of Antigone because she is going to die.
2. Creon enters this scene for a short time. What is his attitude? Has he undergone
any change?
No, He is happy to get rid of Antigone.
3. What comfort does the Chorus offer Antigone in this scene? Antigone thinks that
the Chorus is making fun of her. Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
He tells her that at least she will die with honor. I don not think he is making fun of her
because what he said might be true since she is actually obeying the gods hence, she will
die honored, if she did.
4. Antigone compares herself to Niobe (Tantalus’s daughter) who because of her
grief turned to stone. Who is Niobe and what does Antigone say that she and
Niobe have in common? What difference and similarity between the two does the
Chorus see?
Sophocles introduces the goddess Niobe, a queen who was punished by the gods. In the
play, Antigone refers to Niobe as “Tantalus's daughter” and the “stranger queen from the
east” Antigone says that since she and Niobe share the same fate, Antigone's act is
renown because Niobe is a god. the chorus says Niobe was just reckless and Antigone is
finding compensation with an old sin. Both doomed figures who both lost their family.
5. Is Antigone’s faith in the gods wavering here? How do you know this, and what
does it say about her character and stance?
Yes, she doesn't feel as though they're going to save her, even though she did a favor to
the gods. she thought the good would prevail and the Gods would save her from death but
that's not true. She points out that they aren´t not helping her and don´t care.
6. Antigone is going to be buried alive. Why is this punishment especially horrible
for her? (Keep in mind the crime for which she is being punished!)
She was trying to appease the gods but now it is up to then if she dies
7. Antigone prays that Creon's punishment "equal my own." Based on what
happened in Scene III, how do you think this will come true?
No

Ode 4 (The Fourth Choral Song):

 8. In this ode the Chorus alludes to three Greek myths that were familiar to the
ancient Greek audiences. How are the fates of the characters in these myths
related to Antigone’s fate?

Each of the three suffered because of hubris, but they accepted their fate.

Scene 5:

1. The fifth scene brings the appearance of the blind prophet Teiresias. What
dramatic purpose does he serve?

In Antigone, the prophet Teiresias serves the role of trying to warn Creon of the ill effects
of his decisions about Polyneices and Antigone.

2. Teiresias tells Creon that the only crime is pride. How has Creon shown that he is
guilty of pride?

Creon will not listen to anybody; he will not admit he is wrong.

3. Why does Creon finally give in? What part does the Choragus play in Creon’s
decisions?

Creon finally gives in because he is afraid that the gods will be angry with him and
punish him. The Choragos is like Creon's conscience because he is telling him, guiding
him, towards the right decision.

4. Tiresias says, "A good man yields when he knows his course is wrong and repairs
his evil. The only crime is pride." Do you agree? Does Creon agree?

I agree, Creon comes to his sense to realize he is wrong

5. Creon says of Tiresias, "The generation of prophets has always loved gold."
Tiresias responds by saying, "The generation of kings has always loved brass.”
What does Tiresias's response mean? How does it especially apply to Creon?

it means that the kings have always loved the prophets that can be bribed.

6. Why do you think Creon finally changes his mind? Knowing what you know
about Greek tragedy, do you think he will be in time to prevent anything horrible
from happening?

I believe he only listened after hearing what would happen if he lets her die. People
would turn against him. I think he is on time.
 7. How has the character of the Chorus (or its leader, the Choragus) changed
throughout the play? Where in the play do you think the Chorus speaks for
Sophocles himself?

Choragus at first was against Antigone, now they go against Creon. After talking to
Teresias the chorus speaks for Sophocles

Exodos:

8. Violence is certainly a part of Greek drama, but it was never portrayed onstage.
How does Sophocles tell us what happens to Antigone, Haimon, and Eurydice?

Sophocles uses the messenger to tell the audience what happens to Antigone, Haimon,
and Eurydice.

9. How is Teiresias’ prophecy from Scene 5 fulfilled in this scene? How has Creon
changed since the beginning of the play? What does he finally come to
recognize?

‘flesh of your own' Haimon kills himself. creon's wife and son have died (family). Creon
eventually realizes that all the deaths are his fault

10. Respond to this quote by Creon: "Fate has brought all my pride to a thought of
dust." What do you think it means?

Creon had everything yet he had fallen and with that everything fell with him

11. Why do you think that Creon goes to bury Polyneices first rather than to
Antigone’s cave, as he said he was going to do in the previous scene?

Because Polyneices is dead and his body was left to nature to destroy while Antigone is
alive in her chamber.

12. What moral lesson does the Chorus see in the fate of Creon at the close of the
play?

That pride can lead to the downfall of man. As a representation of terrible and pious
events that could happen at any time or place that traces the fall of a character of great
stature.

13. Is Creon a tragic figure? Do you feel sympathy for him at the end as someone
who initially tried to do what was right yet was overwhelmed by circumstance, or
do you believe that he is a bullying, misogynistic control freak who gets what he
deserves?
 I feel sorry for Creon and believe him to be a victim of tragedy rather than conspiring
for the tragedy of others. He tries to live by the values he holds dear rather than
submit to the will of the gods like Antigone does. He spends time lecturing to his son
Haemon about the value of family, and while his own family, including his own son
turns against him, Creon appears to stick to his own family values whether right or
wrong, they are his morals alone that he values above all else, even more than the
good of his own people

14. Could the play have been called Creon instead? Explain.

The Tragedy of Antigone is not called Creon because Antigone is more important than
Creon, she is more controversial, and she is more admirable. Antigone played a bigger
role than Creon in that she defied the law and started the whole play's chain of events,
eventually leading to nearly everyone's death.

15. Do you think Antigone is a tragic figure? If so, what tragic characteristics does
she have? If not, why not?

Antigone is the tragic hero because she sticks to her beliefs in the Gods and family and
dies because of her loyalty to them