“Antigone” Essay Prep



“Antigone” Essay Prep

LITERATURE AND YOUR LIFE

Reader’s Response Antigone and Ismene disagree over the burial of Polyneices. With whom do you agree?

Thematic Focus Antigone chooses to do what she thinks is right, rather than give in to Creon’s law. What consequences do you think she will face as a result of her choices?

Check Your Comprehension

1. Why does Antigone feel that her brother should get a proper burial?

2. How does Creon react to the news of Polyneices’ burial?

CRITICAL THINKING

Interpret

1. Explain what Ismene means when she says, “We are only women,/We cannot fight with men, Antigone!” [Interpret]

2. How might Ismene’s advice to her sister seem cowardly to some readers? [Analyze]

3. In his argument with Antigone, Creon declares “An enemy is an enemy, even dead.” What does he mean? Do you agree? [Interpret]

Extend

4. Compare and contrast the government of Creon in Thebes with a modern-day government. [Social Studies Link]

READING STRATEGY

Question the Characters’ Motives

To fully understand the action of the play, question the characters’ motives.

1. What was Ismene’s motive for not going along with Antigone at first?

2. What is Antigone’s motive for burying Polyneices?

3. What is Creon’s motive for insisting on Antigone’s death?

LITERARY FOCUS

Protagonist and Antagonist

A protagonist is the main character of a literary work, and an antagonist is a character or force in conflict with the main character.

1. Describe the conflict between Antigone and Creon.

2. What qualities of each character contribute to the conflict?

3. Give examples of actions and feelings that show that Antigone is the protagonist and Creon is the antagonist.

BUILD VOCABULARY

Using the ROOT –trans-

Knowing that the root –trans- means “through,” “above,” or “across” will help you define other words that contain –trans-. On your paper, write out each word and match each word with its appropriate definition (write out).

1. transparent a. send through the air

2. transmit b. lift up and move

3. transplant c. pierce through

4. transfix d. lets light shine through

Using the WORD BANK

Copy the words from Column A onto your paper. Next to each word, write the definition of each word from Column B.

Column A Column B

1. sated a. pointedly

2. anarchists b. oppressively hot or moist

3. sententiously c. go above or beyond the limit

4. sultry d. satisfied or pleased

5. transcend e. those who disrespect rules

BUILD GRAMMAR SKILLS

Coordinating Conjunctions

A coordinating conjunction links two words or grammatical structures of equal importance.

Practice Rewrite each pair of sentences as one sentence, with the coordinating conjunction but, for, or, or and. Choose the conjunction based on the way ideas are linked.

1. Antigone wants to bury her brother, Ismene is afraid to break the law that Creon decreed.

2. Oedipus learned the truth of what he had done. Antigone accompanied her father into exile.

3. Both Antigone and Ismene grieved. Their brothers killed each other during battle.

4. Ismene could choose to stand up to Creon. She could accept scorn from her sister, Antigone.

Writing Application Write a summary of Antigone from the Prologue through Scene 2. Combine clauses using each of the following coordinating conjunctions at least once: yet, for, and, and but.

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