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Brooke AlderseBaes
MAJOR WORKS DATA SHEET
Title: Antigone
Author: Sophocles
Biographical Information about the Author
Because Sophocles lived so long ago the records are
debated. However, most scholars believe that he
Date of Publication: 441 BC
was born in Colonus, not far from Athens, to his
parents. His father owned a store, most likely for
Genre: Tragedy
armor. Sophocles learned music and it is said that
Historical Information about the period and
the musician Lampros helped Sophocles master his
place of publication – what was happening in
talents. He was married twice, and had two sons
the world the author lived in and how might
Lophon and Agathon. He became a treasurer of
that have influenced him?
Athens around 442 BC. He was also a general in the
revolt of Samos, and served under Pericles. Later he
Antigone was written in 441 BC, in Athens. At this
was chosen to be a general in the war against
time Sophocles was appointed as a general to
Syracuse. Athens lost this revolt of Syracuse and
lead a military expedition against Samos. Even
Sophocles was chosen to lead the city state in the
though this war was happening, the play does not
time of emergency after the military failure. From
have any propaganda or allusion to Athens itself. what scholars can tell, Sophocles was most likely a
Sophocles was a prominent politician in this war,
well rounded man, knowing literature, music, and
with being one of the ten generals leading the
having political abilities as well, that the people of
takeover of Samos, but does not mention his city
Athens adored.
state at all. Antigone also does not include any
arguments against anarchy, even though Athens
Characteristics of the Genre
itself was the world's first known democracy. The
only idea that links Antigone to Athens would be Ancient Greek tragedies had influential and
powerful protagonists. These protagonists have
the epiklerate, that was common in the ancient
wonderful lives that turn bad quickly. This causes
city states of Athens, Sparta, and Gortyn. This
the protagonist to go through agony and makes the
system was meant for men who had no male
heirs when they died. The epiklerate then had the tragedy more tragic. In the ancient Greek plays, the
protagonist usually has a tragic flaw, that will play a
daughter heiress marry the fathers closest
key role in the downfall of the protagonist. The
relative, even if the women was married, she
heart breaking ending must also happen, whether it
would be divorced to maintain the ownership of
the fathers property in the family. This law was in is death or chaos in the tragedy something terrible
place because women could not own property in must happen. Usually, the protagonist will accept
Athens. The epiklerate is the only possible link to responsibility for their mistakes and/or fights for a
larger cause. This is called a catharsis, where the
Athens that Sophocles used in the play. The
protagonist will still find good in life even after
tragedy does not seem to be affected by what
losing everything.
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was happening in Sophocles life at the time.
Plot Summary
Antigone, Ismene, Polynices, and Eteocles are all children of Oedipus. When Oedipus dies, the two sons
Polynices and Eteocles both agree that they will take the throne once every other year . Eteocles being
the oldest son, takes the throne first, but does not step down from power after his year is done.
Polynices attacks Thebes along with six other princes, in the battle, both of the sons die. Creon the king
of Thebes, allows Eteocles to be buried but has Polynices' body rot where it is found, and will not allow
anyone to bury him. Antigone feels that this is wrong, and tries to bury her brother. She is caught and
turned into Creon who lets her go, telling her to stay in her room and fake being ill. Creon has decided
that Antigone's marriage to his son Hameon is more important than her death is. Later that night,
Antigone asks to be killed because her "disease" is spreading, which is really her telling Creon that she
would rather die than not bury her brother. When in the cell she writes Haemon a letter saying "Forgive
me, my darling. You would all have been so happy except for Antigone". Antigone is then immured and
the news is given to Creon. The stones are removed and Antigone has hung herself in her cell. When
finding this her fiancé, Haemon, stabs himself and lays beside her. Eurydice, Haemon's mother and
Creon's wife, slits her throat when discovering Haemon has killed himself. This leaves Creon and the
guards still living at the end of the tragedy.
Describe the author’s style
An example that demonstrates that style
Depending on what translation is being
read, poetic form or prose. The poetic
form has a iambic pentameter. The
pentameter has five iambs per
sentence, usually. An iamb which is a
two-syllable combination that stresses
the second syllable. The Chorus speaks
in couplets, reminding the audience
that the Chorus is not really a
character at all.
The five iamb in the iambic pentameter:
To me, Antigone, no word of friends
Has come, or glad or grievous, since we twain (I.i.10-11)
The couplet:
Against our land the proud invader came
To vindicate fell Polyneices' claim. (I.i.107-108)
Memorable Quotes
Quotation
I didn't say yes. I can say no to
anything I say vile, and I don't
have to count the cost. But
because you said yes, all that you
Significance
The political heroism in Antigone's resistance is her refusal of
state power. Antigone says no to all she finds vile, and in this
sense she is more powerful than the ruler on the throne.. Despite
all his power, Creon finds himself helpless, unable to act on his
own. He does not want to execute her but has to order her death.
He has the duty of king and must stay true to his duties because
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can do, for all your crown and your
trappings, and your guards—all
he holds power. He has surrendered himself entirely to the state.
Creon is rendered loathsome, terrified of what his office requires
of him and yet unable to act otherwise.
that your can do is to have me
killed.
Antigone recants her love for Haemon toward the end of her
confrontation with Creon. Creon has unmasked her brothers as
where he stops growing pale with
treacherous gangsters, making her act and death march entirely
gratuitous. Its political, moral, filial, and religious motivations
fear when I grow pale, stops
appear entirely external. Thus Creon offers the dazed Antigone
thinking that I must have been
the promise of human happiness. This vision of human happiness
killed in an accident when I am
provokes Antigone's final, fatal explosion. She refuses to
five minutes late, stops feeling that
moderate herself: she will have everything as beautiful as it was
he is alone on earth when I laugh
when she was a child or die. Anouilh underscores the infantile
and he doesn't know why—if he
quality of this desire: Antigone's fiery love recalls the plight of a
child who cannot handle the even momentary loss and separation
too has to learn to say yes to
of the beloved. Antigone insists on her desire in its primary form.
everything—why, no, then, no! I
if Haemon reaches the point
do not love Haemon!
Characters
Name
Role in the Story
Significance
Adjectives
Antigone .
The play's tragic heroine. She
will try to bury her dead
brother's body when this act
has been outlawed by the
king.
Antigone is the play's tragic
heroine. However, She is the
antithesis of the
melodramatic heroine
Boyish and curses
her girlhood. She is
difficult and wants
her way.
A practical man, he firmly
distances himself from the
tragic aspirations of Oedipus
and his line. As he tells
Antigone, his only interest is
in political and social order.
Practical, and
power hungry, he
lives as the king of
Thebes and is
committed to his
duties.
Creon - .
Antigone's uncle and the
father of Antigone's fiancé.
He is the king of Thebes and
will order Antigone's death.
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Ismene
This is Antigone's older sister
who tries to dissuade her
from burying Polynices'
body.
Haemon
Antigone's fiancé and the son
of Creon.
Eurydice
Creon's wife and Haemon's
mother.
She is ultimately Antigone's
foil, being everything that
Antigone is not.
Docile and
reasonable, she is
obedient and
listens to Creon.
She is girly and
beautiful.
When he first appears,
Antigone tells him that she
does not love him. Then the
second time he appears, he is
begging Creon to spare her
life. Later he kills himself after
Antigone does.
Young and in love,
he follows
Antigone in
suicide.
Eurydice is considered Creon's
last punishment because after
she dies, he is left all alone
with his responsibility and
kingship.
Nice and obedient
she stays out of
the way of Creon's
duties. She loves to
knit.
Setting
Significance of opening scene
The tragedy is set in the city state of Thebes just
as Oedipus the King was. Oedipus has just died,
and his eldest son Eteocles has just fought a
battle against his other son Polynices for the
throne of Thebes. Eteocles would not give up the
throne, which was set in an agreement with
Polynices that he would. Creon then does not
permit Polynices to be buried because of his
attack on the city state.
The chorus opens the tragedy by announcing who
all of the characters are. They introduce Antigone
and how she will die young at the hands of the king.
They introduce Haemon and how he proposed to
Antigone at the ball instead of Ismene. Then they
focus in on Creon, who was left with the duties of
king when his brother Oedipus died, and his sons
who were meant to rule, died in their battle against
each other.
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Significance of ending/closing scene
Symbols
1. Antigone vs. Creon. Their relationship
symbolizes many other relationship such as man
vs. god, man vs. woman, laws of man vs. the laws
of gods, civic duties vs. ties to family.
2. Creon's burials. Creon refuses to bury the dead
Polynices, but allows Antigone to be buried alive.
This symbolizes just how committed he is to
being a "sensible" king and allowing his duties to
come first.
3. Birds. Sophocles uses birds in his diction to
help describe some of the characters and
circumstances in the play. Polynices is described
as an eagle, describing him as a bird of prey,
making him sound like more of the aggressor.
Which he is. Antigone is described as hovering
over Polynices' dead body like a mother bird. This
is showing that Antigone cares for her brother,
and is trying to protect him and bury him after
death. Teiresias the fortune teller, tells Creon
about the birds fighting, which is really Teiresias
telling Creon that he has created an unbalance in
nature by not allowing the burial of Polynices.
These same birds also feast on Polynices' flesh
and then excrete their waste, demonstrating
more bad things are to come from not burying
Antigone asks her guard to give her final words to
Haemon in a letter, and in turn, has to give her ring
to the guard in order for him to deliver the
message. This is a sign of her last thoughts, and of
her handing away her happiness in marriage. The
ring may also signify letting go of these ideas, and
giving in to her ultimate demise. Because she is
giving away her future she will also die a virgin and
not live a happy life being married to Haemon. Her
words will not get to Haemon, and instead are
meant to the audience, "if not for Antigone...". If
she had only listened to Creon, she would not have
started the string of suicides that will follow her
death in this closing scene as well.
Old AP Questions
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Polynices.
4. Eurydice's knitting. The Chorus says she will
knit until she dies. This is true when she only
stops knitting to stab herself with her needle. This
also represents the life-string concept of the
Fates in Greek mythology, and how the Fates will
cut each person's string when they're life is
meant to end.
5. Creon's attack. When Antigone defies Creon
and will not obey him, he grabs her arm and
twists it behind her back. To this she says she
feels nothing. She has now crossed into power,
by defying Creon and not having consequences,
this is symbolizes how she has moved into power
and into the man's realm.
Possible Themes
1. Determination. Antigone, Creon, and Polynices are all determined to get what they want. Polynices
wanted to take his rightful place on the throne, and dies trying. Antigone wants to bury his body, and
dies for it. Creon, is determined to keep Antigone in line and stay true to his duties as the new king. For
his determination he loses all of his family, and must live out his duties as a lonely king. Determination
turns into the characters damnation, or at least their ultimate demise.
2. Power. Antigone, Creon, and Polynices are all desiring power in this play. Polynices wants his rightful
place and powerful king from his older brother, Antigone wants her own power to bury her brother and
wants the power to be in control of herself, while Creon is the most powerful by having the throne and
having control over Antigone. Whether the character is power hungry, or has the power already, these
three characters are driven by it.
3. Mortality. Antigone, Haemon, and Eurydice all commit suicide at the end of the play. These characters
look favorably on death because they cannot escape their fate(another possible theme). Everyone must
die one way or the other, however, Antigone chooses death because she has accepted her fate. She
knows that she would rather die and be with her father and her brothers than living and not being able
to do her brother's body justice. Haemon and Eurydice commit suicide because they aim to escape their
fate. Haemon is fated to live his life without Antigone which he cannot bear, and kills hi mself. Eurydice is
then fated to live her life without Haemon, and commits suicide to escape her fate.
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