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Quizzes > Literature & Language > Books & Literature

Test Your Knowledge with the Ultimate Antigone Quiz!

Ready for an Antigone trivia challenge? Try our antigone practice test now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art scene with Greek mask and scroll on sky blue background promoting free Antigone quiz on characters themes and plot

This Antigone test helps you review characters, conflicts, and key moments from Sophocles' play. Use it to spot gaps before class or an exam, or enjoy a quick refresher. For a short start, try the warm‑up quiz , or jump into the full test now.

Who is the playwright of Antigone?
Aeschylus
Sophocles
Euripides
Aristophanes
Antigone was written by the classical Athenian playwright Sophocles around 441 BC. It is one of his three Theban plays and is celebrated for its exploration of moral and political themes. Sophocles' work had a profound influence on the development of Greek tragedy and dramatic structure.
In which ancient city is Antigone set?
Sparta
Corinth
Thebes
Athens
Antigone takes place in Thebes, the same city that features in Sophocles' Oedipus cycle. Thebes is depicted as a city in turmoil after a civil war between two royal brothers. The setting underscores the themes of political authority and family loyalty.
Who issues the decree that Polynices shall not be buried?
Creon
Tiresias
Antigone
Eteocles
Creon, the new ruler of Thebes, decrees that Polynices is a traitor and forbids his burial. This royal edict sets the central conflict in motion as Antigone defies him. Creon's decree illustrates the theme of human law versus divine law.
Antigone is the daughter of which figure?
Jocasta
Laius
Agamemnon
Oedipus
Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus, former king of Thebes, and Jocasta. Her parentage places her at the center of the complex Theban royal lineage. This familial connection adds weight to her moral and religious motivations.
Who is Antigone's sister?
Electra
Jocasta
Ismene
Anticleia
Ismene is Antigone's sister and serves as her foil in the play. While Antigone is defiant, Ismene initially refuses to break Creon's law. Their relationship highlights themes of duty, loyalty, and courage.
To whom is Antigone betrothed?
Haemon
Theseus
Menelaus
Polynices
Antigone is promised in marriage to Haemon, Creon's son. Their engagement creates personal stakes when Antigone defies Creon's decree. Haemon's loyalty is torn between his father and his bride-to-be.
What central conflict does Antigone represent?
Fate vs. free will
Love vs. honor
Order vs. chaos
Divine law vs. human law
The primary conflict is between divine law - Antigone's duty to bury her brother - and Creon's human law forbidding it. This struggle illustrates the tension between personal conscience and state authority. The play questions the limits of power and justice.
Which prophet warns Creon of the gods' displeasure?
Melampus
Aegeus
Tiresias
Calchas
Tiresias, the blind seer, warns Creon that the gods are angry at his refusal to bury Polynices. His prophecy foreshadows the tragic outcomes of Creon's stubbornness. Creon's initial refusal to listen is a key turning point.
What ultimately happens to Antigone?
She becomes queen
She commits suicide
She marries Haemon
She is exiled
After being entombed alive by Creon's order, Antigone takes her own life. Her suicide fulfills the tragic arc and highlights the consequences of absolute authority. It also sets off a chain of further deaths in the royal household.
What happens to Haemon after Antigone's death?
He marries Ismene
He becomes king
He leaves Thebes
He kills himself
Haemon, devastated by Antigone's death, commits suicide beside her body. This second tragic death underscores Creon's tragic responsibility. It also brings home the play's warnings about inflexibility and pride.
How is Eurydice related to Creon?
She is his wife
She is his daughter
She is his sister
She is his mother
Eurydice is Creon's wife and queen of Thebes. Her grief over Haemon's death leads her to commit suicide offstage. Her demise completes the tragic fallout of Creon's hubris.
What decree does Creon make regarding Polynices?
He must be honored with a public funeral
He must not be buried under penalty of death
He is pardoned and allowed to return
He is to be exiled
Creon declares that Polynices, whom he deems a traitor, must remain unburied and exposed to scavengers. Anyone who attempts burial will face execution. This law pits state authority directly against religious duty.
Who first refuses to help Antigone bury her brother?
Ismene
Tiresias
Eurydice
Haemon
Ismene, afraid of Creon's law, initially declines to assist Antigone with Polynices' burial. She cites loyalty to state law and fear of punishment. Her hesitation highlights the moral contrast between the sisters.
Which concept does Antigone prioritize over civic duty?
Political power
Revenge
Divine law
Monetary gain
Antigone places the unwritten laws of the gods above the laws of man. She believes divine decree demands her brother's burial. This conviction drives her tragic defiance of Creon.
How does Creon punish Antigone for her actions?
He exiles her
He beheads her
He publicly flogs her
He buries her alive in a cave
Creon sentences Antigone to be immured alive in a stone vault - effectively burying her in life. This punishment emphasizes his ruthless commitment to law over mercy. It also sets the stage for the play's tragic sequence.
Which character tries to change Creon's mind about Antigone's punishment?
Eurydice
Ismene
Polynices
Haemon
Haemon, Creon's son and Antigone's fiance, pleads passionately with his father to show mercy. He warns that the people sympathize with Antigone's piety. His intervention intensifies the dramatic tension.
What poetic meter is primarily used in the dialogue of Antigone?
Trochaic tetrameter
Iambic trimeter
Spondaic dimeter
Dactylic hexameter
Greek tragic dialogue is typically composed in iambic trimeter, a meter closest to natural speech. Sophocles uses this form to convey conversational flow and dramatic intensity. Choral parts use varied lyric meters.
What role does the Chorus play in Antigone?
They incite Antigone
They comment on the action and reflect public opinion
They command the army
They serve as guards
The Chorus in Antigone provides background, reflects Theban citizens' views, and interprets events for the audience. They bridge the gap between actors and viewers. Their odes reinforce the themes of fate and divine justice.
The conflict between Antigone and Creon best exemplifies which type of conflict?
Individual vs. society
Man vs. nature
Man vs. technology
Man vs. self
Antigone's clash with Creon represents the individual's moral obligations versus the demands of the state. This type of conflict drives the narrative tension. It also raises questions about justice and authority.
Which line is spoken by Antigone in the play?
"I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy."
"Who is the man that would do this?"
"Justice is served by my hand."
"The voice of the dead speaks loudest."
Antigone declares her intentions with the line: "I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy." This statement captures her pious conviction. It also frames her defiance as a righteous act.
What is Creon's tragic flaw?
Cowardice
Wisdom
Hubris (excessive pride)
Generosity
Creon's tragic flaw is hubris - his excessive pride and stubbornness. He refuses to heed advice and insists on enforcing his law. This pride leads to his catastrophic personal losses.
Who brings news of Eurydice's death?
Haemon
A Messenger
Tiresias
The Chorus Leader
A Messenger reports Eurydice's suicide offstage after learning of Haemon's death. Messenger speeches are a staple of Greek tragedy to convey important offstage events. This account completes the tragic sequence of deaths.
Which of these best describes the significance of the burial dirt sprinkled on Polynices' body?
A ritual to curse his lineage
A means to poison the corpse
A token of royal authority
A symbol of respect for divine law and the dead
The sprinkling of earth is a sacred funerary rite honoring the dead and appeasing the gods. Antigone performs this ritual in defiance of Creon's edict. It underscores the play's theme of piety and religious duty.
How does the Chorus react initially to Antigone's conviction?
With fear and moral uncertainty
By demanding Antigone's release
By immediately supporting Creon
With applause and celebration
The Chorus expresses unease and doubts about Creon's rigid stance. They worry that divine wrath may follow such harsh punishment. Their reaction reflects the play's tension between state power and morality.
In Greek tragedy, what is the function of the parodos?
A solo prayer by the protagonist
The final lamentation
The Chorus's entrance song setting the tone for the play
A ritual dance by priests
The parodos is the choral ode sung as the Chorus enters the orchestra. It introduces background information and establishes the thematic mood. In Antigone it reflects on the war and its aftermath.
Which rhetorical strategy does Creon primarily use to demonstrate his authority?
Imperative commands and appeals to order
Emotional pleading
Storytelling anecdotes
Sarcasm and wit
Creon uses direct imperatives and repeatedly emphasizes the need for order and obedience. His speeches reflect his belief in absolute authority. This rhetorical style reveals his authoritarian nature and sets up his downfall.
What aspect of Antigone's character is most celebrated by feminist critics?
Her active resistance against patriarchal authority
Her obedience to her family
Her willingness to compromise
Her humorous disposition
Feminist critics highlight Antigone's challenge to male-dominated power structures. Her refusal to submit to Creon exemplifies female agency in a patriarchal society. This interpretation reads her defiance as proto-feminist.
How does the messenger describe Haemon's reaction to Antigone's death?
He challenged Tiresias to a duel
He accepted his fate and served as king
He ran to her tomb, found her body, and killed himself beside her
He exiled himself voluntarily
The Messenger recounts that Haemon, upon discovering Antigone's body, took his own life in despair. This vivid offstage report intensifies the tragedy. It also underscores the consequences of Creon's stubbornness.
What theme is explored through the deaths of Antigone, Haemon, and Eurydice?
The benefits of mortality
The destructive effects of absolute power and stubbornness
The futility of war
The importance of divine reward
The sequence of suicides illustrates how Creon's inflexible exercise of power leads to ruin. The play warns against the dangers of pride and authoritarianism. This theme resonates across tragedies as a cautionary tale.
Which term best describes the moral lesson conveyed by Antigone?
Anagnorisis - a sudden realization
Catharsis - the purging of pity
Hubris - excessive pride
Nemesis - the inevitable retribution for hubris
Nemesis refers to the downfall that follows hubris. In Antigone, Creon's excessive pride brings divine retribution upon himself. The tragedy demonstrates the classical link between pride and punishment.
In scholarly discussions, Antigone is often contrasted with which play by Sophocles?
Oedipus Rex
The Bacchae
Electra
Medea
Antigone is part of the Theban cycle and is frequently contrasted with Oedipus Rex, the earlier tragedy of her father. Critics compare themes of fate, family, and authority across the two plays. This comparison deepens understanding of Sophocles' approach to destiny and morality.
What is the effect of dramatic irony in Antigone's conversations with Creon?
It suggests comedic relief
It highlights Creon's ignorance of divine law and his tragic downfall
It diminishes Antigone's heroism
It makes the audience confused
Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows Creon will suffer divine punishment for his edicts. His confident assertions thus reveal his tragic blindness. This irony intensifies the emotional impact as events unfold.
Which structural element in Antigone underscores the inevitability of fate?
The absence of masks
The female characters only speaking once
The recurring choral odes reflecting on destiny
The use of modern language
The choral odes frequently meditate on human limitations and divine will. Their reflections reinforce the sense that fate is inexorable. This structural choice weaves inevitability throughout the drama. Choral function in tragedy
In Antigone, the stichomythia between Antigone and Ismene primarily demonstrates what?
Rapid alternation that emphasizes their conflicting principles
A slowed pace reflecting hesitation
A musical interlude
A ritual chorus
Stichomythia is the rapid one-line exchange used in Greek drama. Between Antigone and Ismene, it dramatizes their moral opposition and urgency. This technique heightens emotional intensity and clarity of conflict.
What is the primary function of the messenger speech in Greek tragedy as exemplified in Antigone?
To resolve the action without tension
To allow characters to rest
To introduce comedic elements
To convey offstage events and heighten dramatic tension
Messenger speeches report crucial events that happen offstage due to stage conventions. In Antigone, the messenger recounts Haemon's and Eurydice's suicides. This narration sustains dramatic momentum and emotional impact.
Which metrical pattern characterizes the choral odes in Antigone?
A combination of strophe, antistrophe, and epode
Free verse
Pure dactylic hexameter
Rhymed couplets
Choral odes in Greek tragedy often follow an elaborate lyric structure of strophe, antistrophe, and epode. This pattern creates formal symmetry and musicality. Sophocles uses it to underscore thematic reflections.
In the context of the Theban plays, what does Antigone's defiance represent according to post-structuralist critics?
A challenge to fixed structures of power and meaning
A celebration of passivity
A reinforcement of divine right
A model of tyranny
Post-structuralist critics view Antigone's defiance as undermining authoritative discourses and destabilizing binaries. Her act questions the legitimacy of Creon's power. This reading emphasizes the play's critique of language and law.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze Moral Conflicts -

    Evaluate the tension between divine law and Creon's human authority in this antigone test by responding to questions that highlight Antigone's ethical dilemmas.

  2. Identify Character Motivations -

    Examine the driving forces behind Antigone, Creon, and Ismene by answering sophocles antigone questions that reveal their moral and psychological impulses.

  3. Recall Key Plot Events -

    Demonstrate your grasp of major turning points in this antigone quiz by pinpointing narrative milestones and their dramatic consequences.

  4. Interpret Central Themes -

    Apply your understanding of themes like fate versus free will, loyalty, and power to answer questions that probe the deeper meaning of Sophocles' text.

  5. Evaluate Creon's Leadership -

    Assess the effectiveness and flaws of Creon's rule in Thebes through targeted antigone trivia that tests your insight into his decisions and fallout.

  6. Apply Critical Reasoning -

    Synthesize evidence from the play to support your answers in this antigone practice test, sharpening analytical skills for deeper literary discussions.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Moral Conflict: Divine Law vs. State Law -

    Antigone's refusal to obey Creon's edict highlights the clash between divine law and human authority - a core topic for any antigone test review. According to Oxford's Department of Classics, memorizing the phrase "D Over S" (Divine over State) can help you recall her moral priority in sophocles antigone questions. Mastering this will give you confidence in antigone quiz debates.

  2. Character Dynamics: Antigone and Creon -

    Understanding the contrasting motivations of Antigone and Creon is essential for antigone practice test success. Research from Stanford University shows Creon's rigid sense of order contrasts with Antigone's familial loyalty, which you can remember with the mnemonic "Order vs. Blood." This insight prepares you to tackle any antigone trivia on character analysis.

  3. The Role of the Chorus -

    The Chorus in Antigone serves as society's moral compass and emotional barometer, a theme emphasized by Cambridge University Press. When studying for the antigone test, note how their odes reflect public opinion and foreshadow tragedy. Visualize them as the "Greek feedback loop" to anchor this concept in your memory.

  4. Fate, Free Will, and Tragic Irony -

    Exploring how fate and free will intertwine deepens your grasp of sophocles antigone questions on tragic irony. According to UCLA's Classics Department, Antigone's tragic end symbolizes the limits of human choice against destiny - a key point in any antigone quiz. Keep in mind the phrase "Choice Meets Fate" to quickly recall this interplay.

  5. Structure of Greek Tragedy -

    Familiarity with Antigone's prologue, parodos, episodes, stasima, and exodus is crucial for your antigone trivia arsenal. The University of Chicago recommends the acronym "PPESS" (Please Pass Every Stan's Sentence) to remember these five parts. Mastering this structure boosts both your understanding and your confidence on the antigone practice test.

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