Themes in Antigone. Antigone by Sophocles

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Muriel Henry
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theme in Antigone. Your theme is death. The different treatment of Eteocles and Polyneices. Discussions of Hades and the gods. Creon s attitude towards Antigone s death and his guilt (lines 854 860).

You are going to be researching and writing an information sheet for the rest of the class on a theme in Antigone. Your theme is misogyny. Women s and men s rights at the time.

1 theme in Antigone. Your theme is death. The different treatment of Eteocles and Polyneices. Discussions of Hades and the gods. Creon s attitude towards Antigone s death and his guilt (lines ). The Chorus discussion of the different mythical people who have died horribly (lines ). The idea of fate and Antigone s punishment for Oedipus mistake. You are going to be researching and writing an information sheet for the rest of the class on a theme in Antigone. Your theme is misogyny. Women s and men s rights at the time. Creon s comments at the beginning of the play, regarding men s and women s roles. Creon and Haemon s discussion and the attitudes expressed there about women ( lines ). Ismene s views on women (beginning of the play) and the Chorus reply to Creon about Haemon The representation of the female characters in the play. The overall message of the play and significance of this Page 1 of 5

You are going to be researching and writing an information sheet for the rest of the class on a theme in Antigone. Your theme is the Chorus. The different roles of the Chorus.

2 You are going to be researching and writing an information sheet for the rest of the class on a theme in Antigone. Your theme is the Chorus. The different roles of the Chorus. (Tip: The Chorus does not always take a passive role and just tell the story. See lines for an example.) The differing styles in which the Chorus speaks. (Can you explain what these styles are?) The purpose of the Chorus. Who the Chorus might have been i.e. was it just one person or many? How you would direct the Chorus on stage. Does the Chorus know the outcome of the story before it starts? Are they an observer or do they actually know what is going to happen? You are going to be researching and writing an information sheet for the rest of the class on a theme in Antigone. Your theme is the gods. Who are the key gods in Antigone? Include the fates in your discussion. How positive/negative is the portrayal of the gods? What are the differing characters attitudes towards the gods? What is the significance of Creon taking one view of Polyneices burial and Antigone another? Are the gods shown to be real, or do the tragic events of the story happen because of human folly? Page 2 of 5

3 You are going to be researching and writing an information sheet for the rest of the class on a theme in Antigone. Your theme is literary techniques. The use of alliteration. The use of imagery particularly similes and metaphors. The use of prose/poetry. (Tip: is there any significance to when characters sometimes use poetry? Do some characters use it more than others? Why?) The differing ways/styles in which characters speak. Characters in Antigone character in Antigone. Your character is Ismene. The relationship between the two sisters and how Ismene is treated by Antigone. Who is shown to be correct over Antigone s decision to bury Polyneices. Why doesn t she appear again after lines 545? Could there be a dramatic reason for this? The contrast between the way in which she speaks to Antigone and the way in which she speaks to Creon. your character s role Page 3 of 5

4 Characters in Antigone character in Antigone. Your character is Haemon. Haemon s role in his discussion with Creon and the techniques he uses to bring across his point. Haemon s relationship with his father. Haemon s relationship with Antigone. Did they fall in love, or was the marriage arranged, as would have been normal in those days? His death at the end. Was this predictable and did it fit in with what you understand of the character? your character s role. theme in Antigone. Your theme is deus ex machina. To what extent is the ending of the play deus ex machine. (Tip: you may need to re explain what this term actually means?) Is the ending of the play successful or weak? What is the overall message of the play? Does the play still have any relevance today/would audiences still enjoy watching it? Explain your view Page 4 of 5

5 You are going to be researching and writing an information sheet for the rest of the class on a theme in Antigone. Your theme is politics and democracy. The references to obedience and the role of Creon (consider particularly the argument between Ismene and Antigone at the beginning of the play). Creon s change of mind at the end of the play (pay particular attention to the Chorus views on this). The role of men and women in the play and their differing power relationships. The story behind Antigone i.e. how Creon gained power in the first place. The overall message of the play Page 5 of 5

Antigone Study Guide Oxford World Classics Translated by H.P.F. Kitto, 1962

Antigone Study Guide Oxford World Classics Translated by H.P.F. Kitto, 1962 Name: Complete the following study guide as we read. I will be spot-checking it during the course of the play. You will be graded