Summary Antigone anticipates her approaching death by singing her own funeral dirge, and the chorus wonders if Oedipus’ sins condemned his daughter to her fate. Analysis For a woman who has been hailed as a heroine by the city, Antigone suffers a surprising amount of criticism from the chorus. The […]
Read more Summary and Analysis: Antigone Lines 895-969Summary and Analysis: Antigone Lines 879-894
Summary The chorus of elders chants an ode to the power of love, represented by the mighty goddess Aphrodite. Analysis In this ode, Sophocles introduces the theme of romantic love — a concept new to the Oedipus Trilogy. Reflecting on the conversation between Creon and Haemon, the chorus comes to […]
Read more Summary and Analysis: Antigone Lines 879-894Summary and Analysis: Antigone Lines 701-878
Summary Creon’s son, Haemon, reasons with his father to change his mind and free Antigone in order to avoid offending those citizens who side with her. Creon rejects his son’s advice fiercely and threatens to kill Antigone right in front of him. Haemon leaves, declaring that Creon will never see […]
Read more Summary and Analysis: Antigone Lines 701-878Summary and Analysis: Antigone Lines 656-700
Summary The elders sing an ode affirming the power of the gods over people, from generation to generation, as in the family of Oedipus. Analysis The elders mark the moment of Antigone’s condemnation with a somber look back to the doom that has followed her family for generations. Like Antigone […]
Read more Summary and Analysis: Antigone Lines 656-700Summary and Analysis: Antigone Lines 417-655
Summary A sentry brings Antigone to Creon, retelling how he and his men wiped the corpse clean of the dust from the first burial rite and then how they caught Antigone trying to bury Polynices again. Antigone proudly proclaims her guilt to Creon, but also declares that the king had […]
Read more Summary and Analysis: Antigone Lines 417-655Summary and Analysis: Antigone Lines 377-416
Summary The elders chant an ode in praise of man, who is powerful over all things except death. Analysis This ode stands as one of the greatest poems written by Sophocles. The breadth of the imagery — celebrating man’s power over animals, birds, and even the earth’s fertility — gives […]
Read more Summary and Analysis: Antigone Lines 377-416Summary and Analysis: Antigone Lines 179-376
Summary Creon enters, assuring the elders of Thebes that the city is now safe and pledging to keep it so under his leadership. He formally announces his intention to bury Eteocles with honor and leave Polynices unburied. When Creon hears that someone has performed a simple ritual burial for Polynices, […]
Read more Summary and Analysis: Antigone Lines 179-376Summary and Analysis: Antigone Lines 117-178
Summary The chorus of elders enters, chanting a song celebrating the recent Theban victory. Analysis The Chorus recreates in imagery the bloody battle to take Thebes. Polynices, the invader at the head of the legendary seven against Thebes, emerges as an eagle — bold, terrifying, and bloodthirsty. Against such a […]
Read more Summary and Analysis: Antigone Lines 117-178Summary and Analysis: Antigone Lines 1-116
Summary Antigone tells Ismene of her plans to bury their brother Polynices in defiance of Creon’s orders. When Ismene refuses to join her sister, pleading their weakness as women and subjects of Creon, Antigone leaves her angrily, determined to bury her brother, even if it means her own death. Analysis […]
Read more Summary and Analysis: Antigone Lines 1-116Summary and Analysis: Oedipus at Colonus Lines 1789-2001
Summary A messenger arrives, announcing to the elders that Oedipus is dead. After describing the rituals that Oedipus, his daughter, and Theseus performed in preparation, the messenger explains that only Theseus can witness the passing of the tragic hero. After her father’s death, Antigone begs Theseus to take her to […]
Read more Summary and Analysis: Oedipus at Colonus Lines 1789-2001