Name_____________________________ Classwork/Homework

Antigone- Prologue
8 points
Answer the following questions:

1. What is King Creon’s decree? (A decree is an order.) What

is the punishment for violating this decree?

2. In lines 26-27, Antigone tells her sister, Ismene, that she must
be a “true sister or a traitor to her family.” What, according to
Antigone, must they do in order to be “true” sisters?

3. Why does Antigone want to do this thing? There are several reasons.

4. How does Ismene respond to Antigone when she explains what she wants to do? Review lines 43-
51. What do these lines tell you about Ismene? What kind of a person do you think she is?
5. How does Antigone react to Ismene’s refusal? Review lines 52-58 and line 66. When Antigone
tells Ismene, “you have yourself to consider, after all,” is she being serious or sarcastic?

6. Describe Antigone? What kind of a person is she? Defend your answer with a quote from the text.

7. Ismene fears death; Antigone, however, says that there are many of types of deaths and that the
worst kind would be—what (see line 81)? What does this mean to you?

8. Ancient Greek theaters were often so large that many members of the audience would be seated far
away from the stage (see photo of theater on page 667). Thus, an actor would need to make
exaggerated gestures and wear large masks representing his dominant emotion (e.g., sad, happy,
scared) in a particular scene. Draw pictures of the masks that the actors portraying Ismene and
Antigone would wear during this Prologue.