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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the relationship between Eteocles and Polyneices in the play, even though they fight each other?

2. Whose decree proclaims that the body of the fallen man is not to be buried by anyone under punishment of death?

3. Choragos speaks for the Chorus as ___________, pleading for more active support from others in the city during the play.

4. What is the relationship between Polyneices and Antigone in this play?

5. Antigone points out to Creon that she is aware that __________ is inevitable for her, both now and in the future.

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the water image in this stansimon depicted, which is parallel to the ode's ideas about God's wrath?

2. What does the sentry admit to Choragos when he is being questioned about the burial?

3. What does this ode have to say about the transference of God's wrath between generations?

4. What did the guards do after Creon threatened the sentry initially after questioning him?

5. What is the one force from which man is not immune, according to the Chorus in this part of the play?

6. What is the tone that the Chorus now takes on, which is different from the earlier tone it shared?

7. Who informs the audience of the battle that precipitated the previous scene of the play?

8. In relation to man and to his frailty, the Chorus brings up the evil in having what?

9. What happened the day before the opening of the play, according to the speakers in this scene?

10. What did Antigone do after the winds picked up and darkness fell, after she cried over the body of her brother?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

During the course of the play, there seem to be a number of characters who move back and forth between major characters, causing messages to be shared in directly.

Part 1: Why are the minor characters given the great tasks of sharing information with major players in the story?

Part 2: Why do you think that major characters don't speak to each other more directly during this play?

Part 3: How might the play be different if the action only focused on the major characters?

Essay Topic 2

The idea of family values and loyalty is one that is tested time and time again in this story - from Antigone and her beliefs to Haemon and his relationship with his father.

Part 1: Why do you think Antigone values her family even more than the law in this play?

Part 2: Why do you think Haemon is so willing to argue with his father about the law that Antigone breaks?

Part 3: What does this play seem to be saying about the value of family in one's life?

Essay Topic 3

The Chorus is something most readers are not used to seeing in a play as they might see or read in the modern times.

Part 1: Why do you think the Chorus played such an important role in Greek tragedies?

Part 2: Why is the Chorus a necessary part of the play?

Part 3: How might the play have changed if the Chorus had not been included in this play?

(see the answer keys)

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