đ Antigone Study Guide
đ Plot Summary
1. After a Civil War in Thebes, Antigoneâs two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, kill each other in battleâEteocles defending the city, Polynices attacking it.
2. Creon, the new king of Thebes (and Antigoneâs uncle), declares that Eteocles will be honored and Polynices will be left unburied as a traitor.
3. Antigone, defying Creonâs order and the law, buries her brother Polynices, believing that divine law (Gods') is more important than human law.
4. Creon sentences Antigone to death, despite warnings from his son Haemon (who is engaged to Antigone), and the prophet Tiresias.
5. Haemon pleads for Antigone, but Creon refuses. Eventually, Creon changes his mindâbut too late.
6. Antigone dies by suicide in the tomb.
7. Haemon, in grief and anger, kills himself.
8. Creonâs wife, Eurydice, also dies by suicide after hearing about her sonâs death.
9. Creon is left devastated and alone, realizing too late that his pride and stubbornness caused tragedy.
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 đ„ Major Characters
 Antigone â Brave, moral, and determined. She believes in doing whatâs right by the gods even if it means breaking human laws. She's the tragic heroine.
 Creon â The king of Thebes. He represents law and order but becomes a tragic hero when his pride leads to the deaths of his family.
 Ismene â Antigoneâs sister. She is cautious and initially refuses to help Antigone bury their brother.
 Haemon â Creonâs son and Antigoneâs fiancĂ©. Tries to reason with his father but ends up dying tragically.
 Tiresias â The blind prophet. Warns Creon that the gods are angry, but Creon only listens when itâs too late.
 Eurydice â Creonâs wife. Kills herself after Haemon dies.
 Chorus â Represents the elders of Thebes. Provides commentary and reflects on the events.
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 đ Themes
1. Civil Law vs. Divine Law
    Antigone follows the godsâ laws (burying the dead); Creon follows man-made laws.
    The play explores which law should have more authority.
2. Pride and Hubris
    Creonâs excessive pride leads to his downfallâa classic example of a tragic flaw (hamartia) in Greek tragedy.
3. Fate vs. Free Will
    Though people try to control their destinies, fate and consequences catch up with them, especially in the house of Oedipus.
4. Loyalty and Family
    Antigoneâs actions show her loyalty to her brother and family values over politics.
5. Gender Roles
    Antigone challenges traditional gender expectations by standing up against male authority.
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 ⚠Symbols and Motifs
 The Burial â Represents respect for the dead, religious duty, and the conflict between laws.
 The Tomb/Cave â Symbolizes death, isolation, and punishment, but also a womb-like return to nature and the gods.
 Light vs. Darkness â Truth, knowledge, and insight vs. ignorance and denial.
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 đ Important Terms
 Tragic Hero â A character with a fatal flaw (often pride) who makes an error in judgment and suffers downfall (Creon is often considered the tragic hero here).
 Catharsis â Emotional release the audience experiences by watching the tragic events unfold.
 Hubris â Excessive pride or arrogance, especially in defiance of the gods.
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 đ§ Quick Review Questions
1. Why does Antigone bury her brother?
    She believes honoring the gods and family is more important than obeying Creonâs law.
2. What is Creonâs tragic flaw?
    Pride (hubris) and refusal to listen to others.
3. What is the outcome for Creon?
    He loses everythingâhis son, wife, and nieceâand is left alone in sorrow.
4. What is the role of the Chorus?
    They comment on the action, reflect public opinion, and provide philosophical insights.
5. How does Sophocles show the conflict between individuals and the state?
    Through Antigoneâs moral resistance to Creonâs decree.