Antigone

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the play over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. In Scene 3, Antigone and Kreon argue their points about the burial, alluding to a much larger thematic discussion on God and Man’s Law.

• Do these characters agree or disagree on which category of law is more important to follow? (topic sentence)
• Based on your above answer, provide examples for each character.
• Based on the ending of the play, which law does Sophocles appear to regard as superior?

2. The Chorus, a constant presence in the play, repeatedly returns to the theme of Fate and its Inescapability.

• What is the Chorus’s general position regarding fate? (topic sentence)
• Identify three examples in which the Chorus references the fate and destiny of a character.
• Is there another character that frequently mentions fate, other than the Chorus?

3. Throughout the play, several characters allude to the difference between Youth and Age, particularly as it relates to power and justification for decisions.

• Select one character and share their stance on the importance of age as a justification for power. (topic sentence)
• Substantiate your argument with an example.
• Would this character argue that with age comes wisdom? Why or why not?

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. In addressing the Chorus, Kreon gestures to Antigone and Ismene and states: “Gentlemen, I beg you to observe these girls: One has just now lost her mind; the other, it seem, has never had a mind at all.” Analyze this quote. To which girl does each part of the statement apply? Now consider the use of irony in Kreon’s statement. What does the statement imply about these girls’ relationships with God and Man’s Law throughout the story? Support your answer with quotes from the text.

2. Analyze the play through the lens of gender roles. How does gender play a part in the characters’ decisions? Select one character to analyze and substantiate your argument with examples.

3. Identify two examples of foreshadowing in Antigone and explain how they link to the theme of Fate and its Inescapabilty. Use quotes from the text to strengthen your response.