Antigone Summary
Sophocles

Everything you need to understand or teach Antigone by Sophocles.

Antigone Summary & Study Guide
80 Student Essays
1 Encyclopedia Article
1 Book Notes
1 Nota de Libro
...and more

30 Antigone Lessons
20 Activities
180 Multiple Choice Questions
60 Short Essay Questions
20 Essay Questions
Pre-Made Tests and Quizzes
...and more

Antigone Summary

The play begins with a conversation between Antigone and her sister Ismene, daughters of the former ruler of the Greek city of Thebes and nieces to its current ruler. Antigone considers the suffering she has endured as the result of the centuries-old curse on her family, and then tells Ismene of its latest manifestation. Their brother Polyneices, killed in battle while fighting for an army attacking the family’s home city...

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Study Pack

The Antigone Study Pack contains:

Antigone Study Guide

Plot Summary

Chapter Summaries

Characters

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Themes

Style

Quotes

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Encyclopedia Articles (1)

Antigone

3,961 words, approx. 14 pages

Antigone by Sophocles Sophocles (496-406 B.C.) came from a wealthy family in Athens and took an active role in that city-state's political life. He wrote 123 plays, but only seven of them have surv... Read more

Sophocles Biographies (3)

Sophocles

1,749 words, approx. 6 pages

The Greek tragedian Sophocles (496-406 BC) ranks foremost among Greek classical dramatists and has been called the poet of Greek humanism par excellence.The son of Sophilus, a well-to-do industrialist... Read more

Sophocles

4,917 words, approx. 17 pages

During the fifth century B.C., the Golden Age of Athens, new forms of art and literature were being developed with extraordinary speed and energy. One of the most important of these forms was Tragedy,... Read more

Sophocles

5,047 words, approx. 17 pages

Biography EssayDuring the fifth century B.C., the Golden Age of Athens, new forms of art and literature were being developed with extraordinary speed and energy. One of the most important of these for... Read more

Essays & Analysis (80)

Morals Of The Heart

637 words, approx. 3 pages

"The limitation of riots, moral questions aside, is that they cannot win and their participants know it. Hence, rioting is not revolutionary but reactionary because it invites defeat. It involves an... Read more

Antigone: Antigone Vs. Ismene

529 words, approx. 2 pages

In the play Antigone, written by the Greek playwright Sophocles, the conflict of Polyneices' burial reveals the contrast between Antigone's strengths and Ismene's weaknesses, and also distinguishes... Read more

Kreon, George W. Bush, and Saddam Hussein

1,412 words, approx. 5 pages

When reading "Antigone" by Sophocles, one cannot help but to be drawn to the character of Kreon, the king of Thebes. It is nearly impossible to imagine such a tyrant in today's world. Kreon rules ... Read more

Tragic Hero in Antigone

1,067 words, approx. 4 pages

Aristotle, a Greek philosopher of the fifth century, believed that tragedies most importantly contain a tragic hero, a noble character whose misfortune is brought upon him by an error of judgment and ... Read more

Sophocles' Antigone

1,483 words, approx. 5 pages

Sophocles was born in Colonus, a village near Athens, Greece, in the year 495 B.C. Because of his father's wealth and reputation, Sophocles was given the right to any literary works of that time. B... Read more

Antigone as a Tragic Heroine

425 words, approx. 2 pages

Many ancient myths often tell of courageous heroes or heroines that brave a feat no one else would dare. Yet, in most of these tales, this character suffers as a result of a flaw of character. In li... Read more

Feminism in Antigone

2,024 words, approx. 7 pages

Callahan, Sidney. "Mary and the Challenges of the Feminist Movement." America 18 Dec. 1993: 6. Rpt. In Infotrac. Many modern feminists argue that devotion to the Virgin Mary, Marian devotion, is no... Read more

Searching for the Elusive Tragic Hero

1,104 words, approx. 4 pages

Who is the true tragic hero in Sophocles' Antigone?  This question has been the subject of a great debate for numerous years.  Equal arguments exist that portray Antigone as the tragic heroi... Read more

Creon's Speech

748 words, approx. 3 pages

A man who possesses confidence dignity and the ability to grasp audiences with the utilization of powerful literary devices best carries out persuasion. Creon's successful persuasion and convincing ab... Read more

Creon is the Tragic Hero of Antigone

291 words, approx. 1 pages

Creon in most aspects appears to be the main character of the Greek play, Antigone. He fits the description of a tragic hero. The curse begins with the fact that he is a relative of Oedipus. Creon... Read more

A Tragic Hero

567 words, approx. 2 pages

A Tragic Hero Creon and Antigone, main characters in the Greek tragedy Antigone by Sophocles share some of the same characteristics that make up a tragic hero, but to varying degrees. Antigone, daug... Read more

Tragic Characters: Creon and Brutus

573 words, approx. 2 pages

Tragic Characters: Creon and Brutus The two plays, "Antigone" and "Julius Caesar" both contained two very similar characters. In Antigone the nobleman, Creon, claimed the thrown after his nephews, he... Read more

Antigone

486 words, approx. 2 pages

The final chapter of the tragic trilogy of Oedipus is told through the story of "Antigone." Sophocles starts off with the death of Antigone's brothers, Eteocles and Polynecies, which was started by a ... Read more

Unbreakable Antigone

900 words, approx. 4 pages

In the play Antigone, the character Antigone, chooses to obey the laws of the God's rather than the laws of man. Antigone risks everything, including her life, but her convictions are unwavering. ... Read more

Antigone: Morally in the Right

781 words, approx. 3 pages

The Greek tragedy Antigone, by Sophocles, arises questions among critics on which of his characters was truly in the right. King Creon and Antigone both retain different views on the burial of her br... Read more

Analysis of "The Chorus of Antigone"

507 words, approx. 2 pages

The famous play of Antigone written by Sophocles is tragic tale with a tragic ending. The play takes plays long time ago in the ancient city of Thebes, where there lived a kink by the name of K... Read more

Antigone: A Strong Woman

523 words, approx. 2 pages

Follow your heart and do what you think is right, or obey the rules and regulations of your country; what would you do? This is the question Antigone was forced to ask herself when her father in-la... Read more

Character Analysis: Antigone Vs. Ismene

232 words, approx. 1 pages

In the Greek tragedy Antigone, the playwright Sophocles developed his characters and their ideals well; Antigone and Ismene were two of these characters and were very diverse in nature. Antigone was ... Read more

Who Should Rule the United States?

615 words, approx. 3 pages

Both teams are a formidable combination and would have much to offer in terms of being leaders of a nation. All with the exception of Socrates are descended from royalty and have the blood of gods an... Read more

Creon the Tragic Hero

929 words, approx. 4 pages

Aristotle once wrote in his great book Poetics about the traits of a typical tragic hero. These traits set them apart from the rest of the cast. Those traits are as follows: he is from a distingui... Read more

Antigone: a Heroic Figure

540 words, approx. 2 pages

No one wants to witness their siblings deceased. One buried with military honors, and the other left unburied to rot. In the Sophoclean tragedy Antigone, the reader observes an admirable woman risk... Read more

Antigone: Fate Vs. Free Will

535 words, approx. 2 pages

Contrary to Greek Mythology, which believes that all mankind's lives are determined by fate, the characters in Antigone illustrate how mankind's freewill is the main determinate of people's lives. Th... Read more

Antigone: To Break or Not to Break?

521 words, approx. 2 pages

In the play Antigone several dilemmas arise that question when it's all right to break the rules. In the play there are certain values that some people place above man made laws. The highest held v... Read more

Antigone Versus Civil Law

302 words, approx. 2 pages

Sophocles' play "Antigone" examines the age-old conflict between divine law and civil law, including the life-and-death consequences of obeying one system over the other. The title character of Ant... Read more

To Break the Rules

968 words, approx. 4 pages

The Story, Antigone, which was written by a man named Sophocles, is a classic Greek tragedy about a woman, named Antigone, who gets sentenced to death for attempting to bury her dead brother. The ki... Read more

The Battle: Antigone Vs. Creon

555 words, approx. 2 pages

In the play, Antigone, King Creon and Antigone vie for power. They have many conflicts. Creon is a stubborn king, and he has vowed to kill anyone who attempts to bury Polyneices, Antig... Read more

Battle of Wills

1,179 words, approx. 4 pages

We all reach a point in our lives where we have a choice to make. Choosing a choice is like choosing between two paths on a journey; it will change our lives forever. To the left ... Read more

Comparison on Text Book and Movie

351 words, approx. 2 pages

The film portrays Antigone differently from how the author wrote about her in the text. The director of the film made Antigone exaggerate a lot more. Antigone yelled more to express her feelings to th... Read more

Creon, the Tragic Hero

726 words, approx. 3 pages

The Greek tragedy Antigone, by Sophocles, is a play in which a tragic hero's tragic flaws are the direct reasons why three lives are ended and his own becomes worthless. This tragic hero, Creon, the ... Read more

The Themes of Antigone

469 words, approx. 2 pages

Sophocles brilliantly expresses numerous themes throughout his story Antigone. The themes are all typical themes in Greek drama and literature. The three most prominent themes expressed by Sophocl... Read more

Affects of Gender in "Antigone"

602 words, approx. 3 pages

In Sophocles's play "Antigone,"Antigone, is not affected by her gender at all. Antigone continues doing what she believes is right and does not let negative comments affect her. She perseveres w... Read more

The Tragic Flaw of King Creon

1,007 words, approx. 4 pages

Pride. It can change a person's life. It can make them do sinful things. Sophocles demonstrates pride as the source of tragedy in his ancient Greek play Antigone. In Greek dramas, tragic heroes ... Read more

Antigone's Actions

911 words, approx. 4 pages

Antigone has defied the king's edict. However, the edict says that her brother, Polynices, cannot be given a proper burial. The reason given for this is that Polynices is a traitor. Antigone's unc... Read more

Antigone Analysis Paper

1,022 words, approx. 4 pages

Sophocles develops a dramatic work in which a protagonist is occupied in a morally important struggle, which results in ruin because of some extreme quality. One of his greatest works, Antigone, is an... Read more

Sophocles' Characterization: Boundless Minimalism

1,048 words, approx. 4 pages

Sophocles' play Antigone is a classic story of an individual standing up for what she believes in. The simplicity of Sophocles' characterization, which allows Antigone to transcend all time a... Read more

Antigone

743 words, approx. 3 pages

Imagine that all of your family is dead. One of them has supposedly committed a terrible crime, and their body was not buried, but left exposed to the pigeons and dogs to rot. A strict law has been ... Read more

Antigone's Response

619 words, approx. 3 pages

Her father committed suicide. Her mother committed suicide. Her two brothers killed each other in a battle for the kingdom. Her uncle, Creon, took the throne and decided to give one of his dead nep... Read more

Antigone: Elements of a Tragedy

717 words, approx. 3 pages

The play Antigone displays many qualities that make it a great tragedy. A tragedy is a play in which the main character engages in a morally significant struggle ending in ruin or disappointment. In... Read more

The Tragic Flaw of Antigone and Creon

1,122 words, approx. 4 pages

In all stories, there is a hero. On a hero's journey to gain respect and a place in people's hearts forever, the hero contains but one enemy, many nonbelievers to contend with, and one tragic flaw. I... Read more

Sophocles "Antigone"

444 words, approx. 2 pages

In Sophocles "Antigone", Two women, Antigone and Ismene, daughters of Oedipus, converse about their brothers, Polyneices and Eteocles, horrible deaths. When their father ceased being king of Thebes, ... Read more

Antigone and the Sentry

259 words, approx. 1 pages

Antigone's delivery to Creon was beneficial to the sentry and hurtful in a way. Antigone was the "man who put dirt on Polynecies body, and everyone reading the story is awate of it. Creon however ha... Read more

Comparing Heroes: Agamemnon and Antigone

1,527 words, approx. 6 pages

What do people with power want? Money? Respect? Fame? Complete obedience? The answer is... NO, they want more power, or hubris as Greek philosophy would refer to it. Hubris is a case of excessive prid... Read more

Sophocles on Women

1,005 words, approx. 4 pages

During the time of Sophocles, women were commonly treated disrespectfully around the world. This custom of unequal rights could be seen in many elements of Greek culture, including plays, writings, an... Read more

Creon and Antigone

841 words, approx. 3 pages

"Antigone" was written by Sophocles set in the Greek Empire in the city of Thebes. The play is about a dysfunctional royal line, and how a man, Creon, takes the throne and rules the city. He makes man... Read more

A Production of Sophocles' Antigone

1,575 words, approx. 6 pages

To direct a production of Antigone, one has to consider the fundamentals of the playtext and the history of the plays productions. The context that the play was written in, the playwright himself and... Read more

Antigone Vs. Jocasta

1,138 words, approx. 4 pages

Women of any society always have had a different role to play than that of men. Psychologically, a woman is to find a mate in order to bring healthy offspring into the world. Conservative thinking t... Read more

Antigone Then and Now

1,862 words, approx. 7 pages

The Original Myth-Thomas Bulfinch In the translation of "Antigone" by Thomas Bulfinch, after the death of Oedipus, his sons Eteocles and Polynices are assigned to share the kingdom, rotating after e... Read more

Antigone : Social Law Vs. One's Morals

646 words, approx. 3 pages

Ever participated in a conflict with a higher power about moralities? Morals towards everyone are differently viewed upon and only because there are one's morals and meaning that to another it does no... Read more

Obeying the Higher Law

582 words, approx. 2 pages

"Never by my consent will the worthless stand higher than the just. But whoever is loyal to this city will be honored by me in death as well as life. - Creon During an age of numerous wars, the ... Read more

Antigone: Creon asTragic Hero

468 words, approx. 2 pages

"Our happiness depends/ on wisdom all the way. / The gods must have their due. / Great words by men of pride/ bring greater blows upon them. / So wisdom comes to the old. (1. lines 1344-1353)." Creon'... Read more

Antigone is Guilty in the Play by Sophocles

626 words, approx. 3 pages

Antigone is Guilty The innocence of Antigone's actions in Sophocles' tragedy has been defended since the play was first written. There are people who believe that she buried her brother, Polyneices... Read more

Hubris: The Ultimate Flaw

1,356 words, approx. 5 pages

Pride is the downfall and the survival of human kind. With it, ambition leading to corruption and power thrives. However, without it, growth, progression and determination suffers. In the Greek play A... Read more

Antigone

969 words, approx. 4 pages

Power vs. Reality Antigone is a play by Sophocles about a king who uses his power unfairly and does not have a good grasp on reality. Creon, the king of Thebes, has so much stubborn pride and is so... Read more

Antigone: A True Definition of a Tragedy

965 words, approx. 4 pages

Tragedy is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts... Read more

Plot Summary of Anitgone by Sophocles

597 words, approx. 2 pages

Plot Summary Antigone is the last play in Sophocles' trilogy, following Oedipus Rex and Oedipus at Colonus. The play starts the morning after the war between Oedipus' two sons, Eteocles and Polyneice... Read more

Importance of Family and Promises in Antigone

308 words, approx. 2 pages

Importance of the family and promises in Antigone In the first lines of Antigone, you can sense the importance of family in the ancient times. Antigone is willing to sacrifice her life for giving his... Read more

Antigone - Sophocles

1,060 words, approx. 4 pages

SETTING This tragedy of Sophocles, Antigone is set under the roof of the House of Labdacus where the curse of the gods brought about the fall of its legend, Oedipus and his wife and mother, Jocasta ... Read more

Controversial Characters In Antigone

349 words, approx. 2 pages

The play, Antigone, written by Sophocles, is a dramatic play still performed today. It was written in 442 B.C.E. This play shows many situations of Grecian society, much like today's society. This pla... Read more

Antigone by Sophocles

638 words, approx. 3 pages

Antigone By Sophocles "Tragedy, then, is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several k... Read more

Moral Conflict in "Antigone

1,345 words, approx. 5 pages

The major moral conflict in Antigone by Sophocles is the conflict over which value is most fundamental. The play presents the moral conflict over whether the god's law or the city's law is more power... Read more

The Tragic Hero in "Antigone" by Sophocles

376 words, approx. 2 pages

Antigone - Tragic Hero In Sophoclease's well-respected play Antigone, it is easy to see the ways that the main character, Antigone, fits the criteria for a tragic hero. First, like the tragic heros... Read more

Antigone

375 words, approx. 2 pages

We anticipate the defending side will try and do many things in order to prove that Creon is not the bad guy. The other side is going to attempt to try and make Creon look like a nice guy, someone tha... Read more

Antigone

491 words, approx. 2 pages

Sophocles is well known for his tragedy "Antigone." It takes place in Thebes and contains many fundamental allusions. Thebes, Teiresias, Zeus, Aphrodite, and Danae are five specific Greek references ... Read more

Being a Fair Leader.

1,564 words, approx. 6 pages

Being a Fair Leader. To be a leader, to control and guide people in the right direction is what most of the people are aiming to do in life. Being the main person in the group certainly means that th... Read more

Antigone

491 words, approx. 2 pages

Doing something wrong may cause you death. When you think you're doing well others think the opposite and go against your words on opinion and thought. You do something wrong or make a bad judgmen... Read more

Creon in "Antigone"

629 words, approx. 3 pages

Creon- The Villain That He Is Is Creon the villain of Antigone? Some say that he is, but some also believe he is not. Creon is a villain because he killed Antigone, and influenced his son's death;... Read more

Antigone's Tragic Characteristics

520 words, approx. 2 pages

Antigone Antigone was written by Sophocles in Thebes, Athens. It mixes the elements of anarchy, hope, pride and love all into one narrative. There are a lot of tragedies in this piece of literary wo... Read more

Antigone and Creon

605 words, approx. 3 pages

Antigone and Creon In the story of Antigone, which was written by Sophocles, the main characters of the story were Antigone and her uncle Creon. Despite that they were relatives, there were some con... Read more

Ethics in Antigone

699 words, approx. 3 pages

From the times of kings and warlords to the days of presidents and peacekeepers, men and women have often found themselves in a position where their ethics are being questioned. Society has seen leade... Read more

Standing True through It All

1,560 words, approx. 6 pages

Prior to the opening of the play Antigone by Sophocles, Polynices has attacked the city of Thebes, in what is called the Seven Against Thebes. Polynices is the oldest son of Oedipus who should have ri... Read more

Creon: The Tragic Hero in "Antigone"

1,433 words, approx. 5 pages

Antigone's Tragic Hero Antigone comes from the collection of Greek tragedies called the Theban Plays. The play was written by Sophocles who wrote more that 125 plays in his lifetime. A common questi... Read more

Creon's Responsibility in "Antigone"

469 words, approx. 2 pages

People do not accept responsibility for their irresponsible act. Some people try to blame others for their acts. For example in the play Antigone by Sophocles, some characters try to justify their... Read more

Antigone Is a Patriot

546 words, approx. 2 pages

Fellow counsel members, hear me when I tell you that former citizen of Thebes, Antigone should be remembered not as a terrorist but as a patriot. Antigone has committed a victimless crime. No one w... Read more

Antigone: Pride & Downfall

845 words, approx. 3 pages

In the play "Antigone", pride caused the downfall of both Creon and Antigone. Creon's pride took the form of hubris; in Greek tragedies, hubris referred to arrogant pride. It often led a flawed charac... Read more

Moral Vs. Man-made Law

719 words, approx. 3 pages

Moral vs. Man-Made Law In Sophocles tragedy, Antigone, the theme of moral vs. man-made law seems to control the whole play. The play depicts a state that is contrasted between divine law and human... Read more

Role of Fate and Destiny in "Medea" and "Antigone"

1,751 words, approx. 6 pages

They say that literature is a reflection of life. One of the ways we study, and obtain knowledge about various time periods in the past, is by studying the literature written in these periods. It ... Read more

Is Creon a Tragic Figure?

709 words, approx. 3 pages

Creon is the tragic figure in Antigone who experiences a reversal of fortune as a result of fate or a flaw or weakness. Though Antigone altered lives due to her suicide, Creon altered lives because of... Read more

Gender Bias Critic of Antigone

2,432 words, approx. 9 pages

A Gender Bias Approach to Antigone Just as one stone removed can break a bridge, one flaw can bring a man to ruins. The flaw of one man cannot bring down an entire kingdom, but rather one outlook of ... Read more

Harm from Antigone's Disobedience

583 words, approx. 2 pages

The title character in the play Antigone is often portrayed as the hero of the play for carrying out familial obligations to her dead brother, Polyneices. In the play, Antigone's actions lead to a ser... Read more

Does the Outcome of the Antigone Suggest That Creon Was Wrong from the Start?

2,988 words, approx. 10 pages

Sophocles' Antigone is, at its simplest, a tragedy of conflict and misunderstandings. In the play, the laws of the gods are set up against the laws of man, and the two appear irreconcilable as the v... Read more

Free Book Notes (1)

Antigone

15,335 words, approx. 52 pages

Antigone Book Notes is a free study guide on Antigone by Sophocles. Browse the summary below:   Author Biography / Context of the Work   One-Page Plot Summary   Character Descript... Read more

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