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Antigone theme essay

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Diane
Diane

This document provides an in-class essay test prompt for students to write about themes in the play Antigone. Students are instructed to choose one of five themes and write a multi-paragraph essay supporting that theme. The themes are: 1) human suffering is inevitable due to basic conflicts in loyalties, 2) excess leads to misfortune, 3) pride and stubbornness cause suffering and tragedy, 4) divine laws take precedence over man-made laws, and 5) suffering brings wisdom though one is responsible for their own suffering. Students are given an outline to structure their essay around the chosen theme.

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English 12 Antigone Antigone Theme In-class Essay Test Directions: Using the outline attached, your notes, and a copy of the play, prepare an argument in support of one of the following themes for Antigone. After the outline is completed, you will have one class period to compose your theme essay. Essays must be written in third person, formal voice. Theme 1: Because humans are faced with a basic conflict in loyalties, suffering is inevitable. a. Establish who in the play has a conflict in loyalties. b. Explain those loyalties. c. Establish that the character from step a suffers in the play. d. Demonstrate the link between the conflict and the suffering the character endures. Theme 2: Any excess, even an excessive devotion to state or religion, is a fault and leads to misfortune. a. Describe the characters in the play who act to excess (at least two). b. Explain the excess. c. Establish that the characters from step a suffer a misfortune. d. Demonstrate the link between the characters excess and his or her misfortune. Theme 3: Pride and stubbornness give rise to tyranny and are character flaws that cause suffering and, inevitably, tragedy. a. Describe the character in the play who acts from pride and stubbornness. b. Explain how the pride and stubbornness lead to tyranny. c. Demonstrate the link between the tyranny and tragedy by explaining who suffers as a result of the tyranny and how he or she suffers. Theme 4: In a conflict between the Gods law and man-made laws, the divine laws take precedence. a. Explain the divine law central to the conflict in the play. b. Explain the man-made law central to the conflict in the play. c. Describe how the two laws conflict. d. Prove that the gods establish their authority over man-made laws. Theme 5: There is a personal responsibility for suffering, but from suffering comes wisdom. a. Describe the suffering which occurs as a result of conflict in the play. b. Identify the character(s) who has responsibility for that suffering. c. Prove that the character(s) takes responsibility for causing the suffering. d. Demonstrate that the character(s) has gained wisdom as a result of the suffering.

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Antigone theme essay

  • 1. English 12 Antigone Antigone Theme In-class Essay Test Directions: Using the outline attached, your notes, and a copy of the play, prepare an argument in support of one of the following themes for Antigone. After the outline is completed, you will have one class period to compose your theme essay. Essays must be written in third person, formal voice. Theme 1: Because humans are faced with a basic conflict in loyalties, suffering is inevitable. a. Establish who in the play has a conflict in loyalties. b. Explain those loyalties. c. Establish that the character from step a suffers in the play. d. Demonstrate the link between the conflict and the suffering the character endures. Theme 2: Any excess, even an excessive devotion to state or religion, is a fault and leads to misfortune. a. Describe the characters in the play who act to excess (at least two). b. Explain the excess. c. Establish that the characters from step a suffer a misfortune. d. Demonstrate the link between the characters excess and his or her misfortune. Theme 3: Pride and stubbornness give rise to tyranny and are character flaws that cause suffering and, inevitably, tragedy. a. Describe the character in the play who acts from pride and stubbornness. b. Explain how the pride and stubbornness lead to tyranny. c. Demonstrate the link between the tyranny and tragedy by explaining who suffers as a result of the tyranny and how he or she suffers. Theme 4: In a conflict between the Gods law and man-made laws, the divine laws take precedence. a. Explain the divine law central to the conflict in the play. b. Explain the man-made law central to the conflict in the play. c. Describe how the two laws conflict. d. Prove that the gods establish their authority over man-made laws. Theme 5: There is a personal responsibility for suffering, but from suffering comes wisdom. a. Describe the suffering which occurs as a result of conflict in the play. b. Identify the character(s) who has responsibility for that suffering. c. Prove that the character(s) takes responsibility for causing the suffering. d. Demonstrate that the character(s) has gained wisdom as a result of the suffering.