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What does Antigone know that Ismene does not? - AnswersIsmene had yet to be informed of
Creon's new decree that anyone who buried their brother's body would be stoned.
How does Antigone characterize what she knows? What telling words does she use? -
AnswersShe explains the new decree in terms of how unjust it is, how Creon is going against
them by condemning their brother. How only one has been honored and how shameful it is to
abandon the other. She tries to guilt Ismene into helping her. She then appeals to their blood,
saying how she must prove she is worthy of their royal blood.
What detailed information does Antigone provide for Ismene? - AnswersShe tells Ismene of the
state of their brothers, how one has been honored with all honorable observances whilst the
other is to be abandoned the the elements, to be ripped apart by animals and disgraced.
Although Ismene feels helpless to act, Antigone does not. In fact, Antigone wants Ismene to
help her with a particular task. What is it? - AnswersAntigone wants her to help lift the body so
she can bury it.
What is Ismene's reaction to Antigone's request? - AnswersIsmene is shocked that Antigone is
willing to go against Creon.
What edict has Creon issued in light of the battle's outcome? - AnswersThat anyone who tried to
bury their brother will be stoned to death
What is Ismene's argument for not defying Creon's law? - AnswersShe brings up the horrible
fates of their family members. How their father had fallen prey to his prophesy, their mother
hanging herself, and now their brothers lying dead on the battlefield. They are the only two left
and she says that must remain alive. They are woman, she says, and cannot do anything in the
face of a man's word.
What is Antigone's counter argument? - AnswersShe shames Ismene for failing to uphold her
duty as a sister. She could not live with herself if she didn't do this, thus she would rather die.
She tells Ismene she is defying the laws of heaven by refusing to acknowledge the dead.
What advice does Ismene offer Antigone who is determined to bury her brother's body? -
AnswersShe tells her there is no sense starting on a hopeless task.
How does Antigone react to it? - AnswersShe tells Ismene that she hates her for such words,
that their brother would too. She tells Ismene to just leave her to her madness, she will be the
honorable one.
Creon's long speech is intended to elicit the support of the of the Chorus for his law and explain
his political philosophy that clarifies the necessity of the harsh law and its' consequences. What
, are the King's methods of persuasion? - AnswersHe complements them for their past loyalties
to the rulers that had come before him. He then paints himself as someone who is just but has
been forced into making a hard call. He reminds them of how Polynices was a threat to them
and would have done terrible things should he not have been killed.
What is the Chorus' response? It is both crafty and politically smart. - AnswersThey tell him they
will uphold Creon's will as it is law. He has given his judgement, and they will uphold that. "You
have given your judgement for the friend and for the enemy. As those that are dead, so far us
who remain, your will is law." They are not saying that they agree with Creon, just that they
acknowledge that he has the power to uphold his new decree. They are smart enough not to
antagonize the king.
The Sentry arrives with news but spends much time clarifying his own internal debate. -
Answers"My lord: if I am out of breath, it is not from haste.
I have not been running. On the contrary, many a time
I stopped to think and loitered on the way,
Saying to myself 'Why hurry to your doom,
Poor fool?' and then I said 'Hurry, you fool.
If Creon hears this from another man,
Your head's as good as off.' So here I am,
As quick as my unwilling haste could bring me;
In no great hurry, in fact. So now I am here...
But I'll tell my story... though it may be nothing after all.
And whatever I have to suffer, it can't be more
Than what God wills, so I cling to that for my comfort."
What is his news and why does he exasperate Creon? - AnswersHe has come to tell Creon that
the body has been buried. He exasperates Creon because he does not simply tell him, but rather
talks himself in circles and offers irrelevant information before denying his involvement in
something he has still yet to state.
On page 133, the Sentry describes what has happened? What is it? - AnswersHe tells Creon of
how the body has had a holy burial and there are absolutely no signs of any pick, shovel, wheel,
or person in general. There are no clues. The body had not been buried properly but was rather
was concealed by a layer of dirt.