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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. In Part 2, Antigone tells the Nurse that she is too _____________ for what she must do.
2. Who is Oedipus?
3. Polynices is Ismene's ______________.
4. What is the Nurse doing when she is introduced?
5. In Part 3, when Haemon is about to respond to all of Antigone's comments, what does she force him to do?
Short Essay Questions
1. Outline the descriptions of the following characters: Antigone, Ismene, Creon, Haemon.
2. How do Haemon and Antigone view Creon's life?
3. What does Creon do that gives him a more human quality than he has previously shown?
4. What is ironic about Ismene's plea to Antigone to give up her plan to bury Polynices?
5. Tragedy is often seen as a spectacle, something to gawk at and comment upon. In Part 4, how does tragedy as a spectacle become pertinent to the storyline?
6. Discuss Creon and Antigone's divergent thoughts on the importance of the rite of burial in Part 5.
7. Many of Antigone's actions can be defined as either selfish or unselfish. Some may blur the lines. In Part 3, do you think Antigone's treatment of Haemon is selfish or unselfish, or can an argument be made for a bit of both?
8. What is the purpose of the Chorus in Part 1?
9. What is represented by Antigone and Haemon's burial?
10. As is typical of a tragedy, the lovers die together; their marital bed now serving as their death bed. Do you think Creon is really surprised by Haemon's suicide?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Typical of the Greek tragedies such as the one upon which this play is based, fate is a pervasive theme in "Antigone." Describe circumstances in the play where a character seems to surrender to fate. Do you believe this character feels he/she has any control over his/her ultimate destiny? Why or why not? Does the character seem to feel inexorably drawn toward his/her fate, or does he/she seem to fight and exert his/her will? Why?
Essay Topic 2
At the end of the play, only Creon remains. He has lost everything but the crown he fought so hard to retain. He mentions that all of his dead loved ones are sleeping, and it must be good to sleep. What do you think Creon means by this statement? Is he expressing remorse, grief, guilt, or some combination? Do you think he sees what is really important now that he has lost it? Is there a lesson to be learned in his final scene? If so, what is it? If not, what purpose do you think his final scene serves?
Essay Topic 3
The author chose to employ irony in the relationship between Haemon and Antigone. Antigone repeatedly expresses doubts that Haemon truly loves her, despite his insistence that he does. The ironic part of their relationship is in their deaths. Haemon gives his life for Antigone, in a manner, declaring his love for her by dying for her. However, Antigone is already dead and cannot gain any peace from his sacrifice. What purpose, if any, does his futile death serve for the reader? Why?
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This section contains 968 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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