ELA 9-10 Antigone Prologue

ELA 9-10 Antigone Prologue. This lesson is to show through the reading of Antigone by Sophocoles to fully understand what the author was saying under the main plot. The point of the lesson is for students to be able to identify purpose, text structure, language features, and knowledge domains.

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Standards & Objectives

Essential and guiding questions: 

Prior Knowledge

  • Based on our exploration of the Oedipal myth, what do you know about the characters in this play: Antigone, Ismene, and Creon?

Comprehension

  • What is this Prologue about? What have we learned about the current state of Thebes? How do you know?
  • Explain Antigone’s emotional state in this opening scene and why she feels that way. Use specific evidence to support your explanation.

Significance

  • Choose a moment that you think is significant to Antigone’s argument for the action she would like to take and explain why that moment is significant.
  • Choose a moment that you think is significant to Ismene’s argument and explain why that moment is significant. 

Activity/Task Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Understanding
Differentiation suggestions: 
  • For struggling readers, the teacher must accomplish two tasks: (1) fully prepare the student with social and historical background knowledge of Greek theater and the Oedipus myth, and (2) slow the pace of instruction to fit the needs of the students. If students are not prepared for the context of the play, they will struggle to understand its complex themes. The first 424 lines of the play should hook students, so it’s important to invest time in the analysis of those scenes. Antigone is not a long play, so close reading activities are reasonable without exhausting the students’ interest.
Originator: 
Tennessee Department of Education