Antigone Essay English II Pre AP 2017

Strong thesis statements Fate v. Free Will: In Sophocles’ play, Antigone, fate and free will both impact the tragic endings of the characters, however, free will plays the most pivotal role. Divine Law v. Civil Law: In Sophocles’ play, Antigone, the characters demonstrate how tragic endings result when civil law clashes with divine law. Presence and Limitations of Gender Bias: In Sophocles’ play, Antigone, both men and women express gender biases, which ultimately impacts the events in the play and limits the actions of the characters. Honestly, I have no idea what I’m doing here but I gave it my best shot.

Prompt Misconceptions: Fate v. Free Will: Fate ≠ Someone’s end or death Fate is the development of events out of someone’s control. Bad Example: When Antigone states, “The blasphemy of my birth has followed me,” she means that because of Oedipus’s curse, she will meet her death (Sophocles 4.44). Better Example: When Antigone states, “The blasphemy of my birth has followed me,” she acknowledges that her fate has been uncontrollably altered by the curse of her father (Sophocles 4.44). Through this quote, she claims that the fate of her father’s curse has caused her downfall.

Prompt Misconceptions: Fate v. Free Will: Free will ≠ simply stating a decision someone made Free will refers to the ramifications of one’s decisions made through free will. Bad Example: When Creon states, “It troubles me./Oh it is hard to give in! But it is worse/To risk everything for stubborn pride,” it shows he finally decides to change his mind (Sophocles 5.91-93). Better Example: When Creon states, “It troubles me./Oh it is hard to give in! But it is worse/To risk everything for stubborn pride,” it shows he finally decides to change his mind about Antigone and Polyneices (Sophocles 5.91-93). This impacts the storyline because this decision is ultimately made too late and causes him to lose everything.

Prompt Misconceptions: Presence and Limitations of Gender Bias This prompt ≠ simply stating that all men in this play are sexist. This prompt is asking you to explain the gender bias expressed by BOTH men AND women and how to affects the characters throughout the plot. Bad Example: When Ismene states, “We are only women;/ We cannot fight with men, Antigone!” it shows how women think of themselves as weak (Sophocles Pro. 46-47). Better Example: When Ismene states, “We are only women;/ We cannot fight with men, Antigone!” it shows how Ismene limits herself to the gender bias set forth by the males around her (Sophocles Pro. 46-47). She blaims the fact that she is a woman for her inability to stand up for what she believes is right.

Prompt Misconceptions: Civil Law v. Divine Law This prompt ≠ simply stating the divine laws and civil laws. This prompt is asking you to explain how the presence of BOTH IMPACT the play. Bad Example: When Creon states, “Polyneices I say is to have no burial,” (Sophocles 1.39-40), it shows an example of civil law. Better Example: When Creon states, “Polyneices I say is to have no burial: no man is to touch him or say the least prayer for him;” he creates an unjust civil law that ultimately leads to his demise (Sophocles 1.39-40). He makes this law out of what he believes to be is logic, but by doing so he creates conflict between himself and the other characters.

Common Mistakes/Errors Do not “translate” your quote. “This quote means (dumbed down phrasing of quote).” Your analysis should provide significance, not a translation. Your essay should make claims and analyze them, so you should not be posing questions in topic sentences. Don’t continue to tell me in topic sentences “free will and fate both impact things and characters see both in their lives.” Yes, but which of those are you discussing in that paragraph? Do not use quotes for plot summary. Example: Antigone makes many decisions due to divine law. In the play, Creon declares, “Polyneices, I say, is to have no/ burial: no man is to touch him or say the least prayer for him” (Sophocles 1.39-40). When Antigone decides to bury Polyneices anyways, she is acting in divine law because she believes that is right.