First Thoughts is your impression of Haimon? How does your view of him change as the scene progresses? Shaping Interpretations this scene, Creon withstands a powerful assault on his thinking. Who makes the attack, and what effect does it have on Creon? line 29, says that Antigone will probably plead “family ties” to avoid being punished for breaking the law. How has Creon completely misjudged Antigone’s character? metaphors does Haimon use to argue that Creon should be more flexible? In lines 76–79 of Scene 2, Creon uses a similar argument against Antigone. At this point in the play, do you think that both Antigone and Creon should be more yielding, or do you believe that there are some principles that a person cannot compromise? Explain your opinion. do Creon’s attitudes toward women seem to influence his decision about Antigone? do you think Creon changes his mind about how to punish Antigone? How can he believe that he can absolve himself, or the state, of her death? Ode 3, the Chorus asserts that love is Haimon’s motive in defending Antigone. What other motivation can you suggest for Haimon’s actions?
Those sons whose mother was of heavenly birth! 765 Her father was the god of the North Wind And she was cradled by gales, She raced with young colts on the glittering hills And walked untrammeled in the open light: But in her marriage deathless Fate found means 770 To build a tomb like yours for all her joy. Journal Entry Five - Scene 4 and Ode 4 Antigone Reading Check Thoughts does Antigone’s first speech make you feel? Do you think Sophocles wants you to feel more sympathetic toward her than before, or less? Explain. Shaping Interpretations is Antigone’s tone in this scene different from her tone in earlier scenes? Do you think the change results from circumstance or from a change in her character? Explain. at line 25, Antigone accuses the Chorus of laughing at her and denying her “all pity.” What do you think she means by pity, and how does the Chorus respond to her? does Antigone mean in line 41 when she says that her father’s “marriage strikes from the to murder” her own marriage?
How does the Chorus argue against this view in lines 45–48? do you feel about the Chorus’s opinion, in lines 47–48, that Antigone is responsible for her own death? line 69, Antigone asks that punishment equal her own. What do you predict will happen to Creon in the final scene? Why do you think so? Antigone’s last lines in the scene, what does she ask the gods to remember? What motives do you think she has for making this public request? side notes in Ode 4 explain allusions to three Greek myths. Reread those notes. What does Antigone have in common with Danae, Lycurgos, and Cleopatra? Do you think Sophocles is using this ode to condemn Antigone for her pride or to praise her courage in accepting her fate? Explain. Extending the Text Greek tragedies, characters’ fates are closely tied to the histories of their families. How do some people today account for their current circumstances by looking to the past? SCENE V [Enter blind TEIRESIAS, led by a boy. The opening speeches of TEIRESIAS should be in singsong contrast to the realistic lines of CREON.] TEIRESIAS: This is the way the blind man comes, Princes, Princes, Lock-step, two heads lit by the eyes of one. CREON: What new thing have you tell us, old Teiresias? TEIRESIAS: I have much to tell you: listen to the prophet, Creon. 775 CREON: I admit my debt to you. But what have you to say? TEIRESIAS: Listen, Creon: I was sitting in my chair of augury, at the place
reversed the order of his tasks? would you describe the major conflict in Antigone? Is the conflict between absolute good and absolute evil, or is the conflict between opposing views of what is good? What position does Sophocles seem to take on this question? from the play that you think are especially important. Then, state what you think is the main theme in the does it reveal about human life? How do you feel about the theme? the end of this tragedy, Eurydice blames Creon for the disastrous turn of events. Creon accepts her curse, saying, “I alone am guilty” (line 121). What do you think of Creon’s statement of sole responsibility? 9. Extending the Text people criticize current movies and television for being too violent. How would you compare the level of violence you see in movies and television with the level of violence you witness in Antigone? How do you feel about having violent actions take place offstage rather than onstage?