Genre
Tragedy
Language
Greek
Setting and Context
Greek Bronze Age after the death of Oedipus and at the beginning of the 2nd year of rule for Eteocles, his son.
Narrator and Point of View
POV is that of Eteocles and Antigone
Tone and Mood
Dramatic, Tragic
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist is Antigone. Antagonists are Eteocles and Polycines and his 6 soldiers.
Major Conflict
Polynices has brought an army to face his brother, Eteocles who has denied him his right to rule in the alternate year.
Climax
Eteocles and Polynices both die, having slain one another in battle, and Antigone declares she will bury her brother despite the edict that states his body cannot be buried.
Foreshadowing
Eteocles' opening speech foreshadows the fight that is to come.
Understatement
It is understated as to whether Antigone will be able to bury Polynices.
Allusions
The play is an allusion to the continuance of the curse of Oedipus upon the his kingdom.
Imagery
The deaths of Eteocles and Polynices.
Antigone defending her brother's body from the wolves.
Paradox
Eteocles is meant to give reign to his brother Polynices, paradoxically he chooses to remain in power and is the reason the war begins.
Parallelism
The introduction of the 7 warriors at the 7 gates parallel one another with the Messenger bringing news as to who each one is to Eteocles.
Personification
Antigone becomes the personification of grief.
Use of Dramatic Devices
Chorus of Theban women.
