Friday, September 25, 2009

10th Grade Homework-- Answers to the final Antigone Questions

In the comments section of this post, I have put the answers to questions 22-28 of the last Antigone worksheet I gave you. It's your job to copy these answers into your notes.

1 comment:

Miss Jones said...

22. What does Haemon tell his father about the opinion of the common people concerning Antigone?
The common people feel pity for Antigone and they think that what she did was right. They consider her a hero—they say she doesn’t deserve death-- instead, she deserves a “glowing crown of gold.” They say that her action was “glorious.” (95.775-782)
23. What advice does Haemon give his father about being stubborn and thinking that he alone is right?
Haemon tells his father not to be so stubborn and not to think that he alone is right in every situation. He tells him that whenever a man thinks that he alone is smart, or that he alone is a good speaker, or that he alone is the best at anything— he is actually not any of these things, but instead, he is EMPTY. He tells him that wise men learn how to be less rigid and learn how to admit when they are wrong. (95,96. 784-795)
24. What examples does Haemon give to explain what can happen if one is too stubborn or firm?
Haemon first gives the example of trees in a winter storm. He says that the trees that are flexible and sway in the wind are the ones that survive, but the ones that are too rigid get ripped out completely by the wind—even to the point where their roots are exposed. The second metaphor he uses is the metaphor of a man sailing. He says that if you do not let your sails be a little loose, but instead pull them too tight, then the wind will knock over your ship and completely capsize you. He uses these examples to illustrate how stubbornness can be destructive. (96.795-803) Specifically, he is warning how Creon’s stubbornness will destroy the FAMILY TREE, roots and all, and also how Creon’s stubbornness will destroy the SHIP OF STATE.
25. How does Creon respond to Haemon’s advice and why is he so angry?
Creon is totally enraged, and he is angry because Haemon is younger than him. He thinks that he should be treated with more respect since he is much older. He assumes that age means wisdom and youth means foolishness. (96.813-814)
26. On pages 97-98, Creon and Haemon argue about the law and the rights of the king. What is Creon’s perspective? What is Haemon’s perspective?
Creon believes that the king must have absolute power. He says that nobody should be able to tell him how to rule, since he is the king. He also says that he must rule the land for HIMSELF, not for others. Haemon believes that Creon, as the king, should rule in a way that represents his people and in a way that honors the land. He believes that the king belongs to the city, while Creon believes that the city is the king’s.

27. What is the warning that Haemon gives Creon about Antigone’s death?
Haemon warns his father that Antigone’s death will bring about the death of another. (99.842)
28. What does Creon say to Haemon to insult him on line 848? What does this reveal about his opinion of women?
Creon calls Haemon a “woman’s slave.” This reveals Creon’s extremely low opinion of women, since in his mind, there is nothing lower than being under the control of a woman. (99.848)

29. How does Creon plan to execute Antigone?
Creon intends to take Antigone out into the wilderness and imprison her in a cave or tomb. He wants to leave her a small amount of food and then essentially leave her there to die of starvation—he’s burying her alive and killing her slowly. (100.870-873)