Antigone Study Questions

• What problem does Antigone report to her sister at the beginning of the play?  What does she intend to do?  How does Ismene react?
• What is Ismene's understanding of the relations between men and women?  Do you sympathize with Ismene's caution?
• What is the function of the chorus in the play?
• Read the first stasimon, the "ode to man," carefully.  How does it describe the human condition?
• What is the nature of the argument between Antigone and Creon?
• Why does Creon change Antigone's punishment?
• What does Creon think a relationship between father and son should be like?  How are Haemon's actions in conflict with this view?
• What omens does Tiresias report?  How does Creon respond to the prophecy?
• Why does Creon bury Polyneices before he goes to the cave?