Antigone - Motifs, Symbols, Themes

Front 1

Why is Antigone cursed?

Back 1

Her father cursed their family by marrying his mother and killing his father. Antigone is the most cursed because she is the most similar to her father, Oedipus.

Front 2

Who is Antigone's sister?

Back 2

Antigone's sister is Ismene. She is beautiful, and older than Antigone. Antigone denies her help in burying Polynices.

Front 3

Who is Eurydice? What does she do?

Back 3

Eurydice is Creon's wife. She knits. And kills herself at the end of the play.

Front 4

Who are Polynices and Eteocoles?

Back 4

They are Antigone's older twin brothers. They die in combat with one another when fighting over who get to rule the kingdom.

Hint 4

Eat-tacos-less and Polys-nices.

Front 5

Which brother is buried with honour? Which one is not?

Back 5

Eteocoles is buried with honour, while Polynice's is left to rot.

Front 6

Who is Creon? What is his job? Who is left with him at the end of the play?

Back 6

Creon is Antigone's uncle, and he is king. The Page is the only one left with him at the end of the play.

Front 7

Who does Antigone rely on for comfort?

Back 7

The Nurse. She dotes on both the girls, but cares for Antigone.

Hint 7

She promises to take care of Puff, Antigone's dog. "Shiny, red apple".

Front 8

Who wrote the 1940's adaptation of Antigone? Why is the time period important?

Back 8

Jean Anouilh wrote the play. He wanted people to see that they had to follow their own mind - even if it lead them to death - instead of blindly following Hitler.

Hint 8

World War II era. French guy.

Front 9

What purpose does the Chorus serve? What does he represent at times?

Back 9

The chorus comments on events and characters. He fills the audience in about characters, past events, and at times, seems to act like Creon's conscience.

Hint 9

The chorus used to be played by up to twenty men who sang. Not a hint, just a funny mental image.

Front 10

When does the Chorus appear in the play? Is it random?

Back 10

No, it is not random. The Chorus appears at turning points in the play.

Front 11

What is a motif?

Back 11

A recurring theme, symbol, pattern or character in a story.

Hint 11

Motif and theme can be used interchangeably at times.

Front 12

What is a symbol?

Back 12

A physical object or action that represents an abstract idea or concept.

Front 13

What are the four symbols in Antigone?

Back 13

The toy shovel, Eurydice's knitting, Antigone and Creon's physical confrontation, the tomb/cave that Antigone dies in

Hint 13

Dig, knit, FIGHT, death

Front 14

Explain the Toy Shovel symbol.

Back 14

Polynice's shovel from childhood. Represents lost innocence.

Front 15

Explain Eurydice's knitting.

Back 15

Allusion - a reference to the Fates. She knits, until it is time for her to die.

Hint 15

All Your Fates are Intertwined

Front 16

Explain Antigone and Creon's fight.

Back 16

Antigone's defiance signifies the defiance of France against Hitler. Antigone denies Creon's power. He twists her arm, she struggles, her arm numbs, she no longer cares what Creon does to her.

Hint 16

NEIN! I defy you.

Front 17

Explain the cave/tomb.

Back 17

The place where the "two lovers" (Antigone and Haemon) can finally be together. Allusion - Romeo and Juliet.

Hint 17

Oh Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?

Front 18

What is a theme?

Back 18

The message that the author wants you to understand and make connections to. A universal truth seen in the work.

Hint 18

"It was truly an abomination that one finds the most comfortable spot in bed five minutes before one has to leave it." - universal truth

Front 19

What are the three themes in Antigone?

Back 19

Death, Happiness, Destiny (or lack thereof)

Front 20

Explain Death.

Back 20

Polynice's death and burial frames the work. Death is something everyone experiences, alone. Funerals are for the living - Antigone feels she needs to bury her brother.

Front 21

Explain Happiness.

Back 21

All of the characters have their own concept of happiness. True happiness is unattainable (always want something better). We want it, achieve it, want more.

Front 22

Explain Destiny (or NOT)

Back 22

Chorus tells the audience that all characters have a destiny. The characters (esp. Creon) debate about changing destiny. Chorus gives Creon opportunities to change his decision (do the "right thing"). He chooses not to. Is this his DESTINY?

Front 23

What are the six motifs in the play?

Back 23

The Chorus, The "Gray" World, Beauty, Happiness, Destiny, Sibling Rivalry

Hint 23

Lots of repeats.

Front 24

Explain "The Gray World" motif.

Back 24

In lit white = good. black = bad. Gray is both good and bad. Antigone lives in a world where it is hard to tell good from evil. In JA's time period, WWII, many people found their world "gray". JA wants people to realise that the gov't isn't always right.

Front 25

Explain the Beauty motif.

Back 25

What does it mean to be beautiful? Ismene is aesthetically beautiful. Antigone has a "other worldly" beauty, only some people can see it (small kids).

Front 26

What is tragic beauty?

Back 26

the hero comes from total abandonment. They no longer care about the consequences, in that moment the hero is truthful. They hero can be their "true self".

Front 27

Explain the motif of happiness.

Back 27

Antigone is told to be "happy" by Creon, Nurse, Ismene and Haemon. She rejects their version of happiness, hers is connected to her destiny.

Front 28

Explain the motif of Destiny.

Back 28

Antigone is paying the price for her parents sins. Now that she has paid, all of Oedipus' children will have been punished.

Front 29

Why is Antigone's destiny so bleak? Why her?

Back 29

She is the most like her father. She must pay for the incest of her father and mother.

Front 30

Who else has a destiny in the play? What is it?

Back 30

Haemon - destined to die before marrying Antigone.

Creon - destined to be alone.

Guards - destined to just do their jobs.

Front 31

What is "FOIL" in English?

Back 31

Used in ancient times to show jewellery. Used to show characters that compare/contrast each other.

Front 32

With the motif of sibling rivalry, what are the FOILS seen in the play?

Back 32

Antigone vs. Ismene

Creon. vs. Oedipus

Polynices vs. Eteocoles

Hint 32

_______ versus ______

Front 33

What kind of FOIL are Antigone and Ismene? Explain.

Back 33

They are opposite foils. Each wants to be like the other. Ismene wants to be brave and act, Antigone wants to be beautiful, be a "real" girl.

Front 34

What kind of FOIL are Eteocoles and Polynices? Explain.

Back 34

Similar foils. Both were "bad". Creon just "picks one". (showing both were similar - both equally terrible)

Front 35

What kind of FOIL are Oedipus and Creon? Explain.

Back 35

Contrasting FOILS. Creon fears people revolting, and became king because no one else could do it. Oedipus' destiny was to be king, and he would hurt his people if it meant maintaining control.

Front 36

Which brother does Antigone try to bury?

Back 36

Polynices

Front 37

Who offers to help Antigone, but then becomes too afraid?

Back 37

Ismene

Front 38

What does Creon try to convince Antigone to do?

Back 38

To just "drop" the burying your brother thing. Get married to Haemon and have a family. (it does not work)

Front 39

What does Haemon and the Chorus try and convince Creon to do?

Back 39

Find another punishment for Antigone that will not kill her.

Front 40

What is Antigone's punishment for burying her brother?

Back 40

Being entombed alive in a cave. (sealed in)

Front 41

What happens when Antigone is sealed in the cave?

Back 41

She hangs herself by the cord of her robe. Haemon later stabs himself over her.

Front 42

At the end of the play, what does Eurydice do?

Back 42

She calmly sets down her knitting, and slits her own throat over her bed.

Front 43

Who is Oedipus?

Back 43

He is Antigone's father/half sibling.