- proclamationnounChapter 1 →
An official public announcement of a rule or decree, made by someone in authority. Here it refers to Creon's formal order about the burial of Polynices.
“And now what is the proclamation that they say the commander has just made to the two of us?”
- commandernounChapter 1 →
The person holding supreme military and political authority; in this play, the newly installed ruler Creon who issues binding orders over the city.
“And now what is the proclamation that they say the commander has just made to the two of us?”
- subject tophraseChapter 1 →
Under the control or authority of someone more powerful, with no choice but to obey their commands.
“since we are subject to stronger power, we must hear these orders, or any that may be worse”
- glorynounChapter 1 →
Great honor and distinction earned through a courageous or noble act, especially one that others will remember and praise.
“I will bury him myself. And even if I die in the act, that death will be a glory.”
- blastsnounChapter 2 →
Powerful, violent rushes of air or force; used here figuratively to describe the fierce, destructive energy of an enemy's hatred.
“He that was breathing forth the blasts of hate, so strong against us, like an eagle screaming, flew over our land”
- ParodosnounChapter 2 →
The first song sung by the Chorus as they march into the performance area at the opening of a Greek play, setting the scene and mood.
- edictnounChapter 3 →
An official order or law issued by a ruler that everyone under that ruler's authority must obey.
- Ship of StatephraseChapter 3 →
A metaphor treating the city or nation as a ship that must be steered carefully; loyalty to it means putting the community's survival above personal bonds.
“friends made at the risk of wrecking our Ship of State are not real friends at all”
- tempernounChapter 3 →
The true character, disposition, and inner qualities of a person—not their mood, but the deeper nature that only reveals itself under pressure.
“There is no art that teaches us to know the temper of a man, his mind, his heart, until he has been proved”
- provedverbChapter 3 →
Tested and shown to be what one truly is; here it means a person's real character is only revealed after they have faced the demands of holding power.
“until he has been proved by exercise of power”
- libationsnounChapter 4 →
Liquid offerings—wine, water, or oil—poured onto the ground or a grave as a religious ritual to honor the dead or the gods.
- unwrittenadjectiveChapter 4 →
Not set down in any human law or decree; referring to divine moral laws believed to come from the gods and to exist in every person's conscience.
“you, a mortal man, could over-run the gods' unwritten and unfailing laws”
- unfailingadjectiveChapter 4 →
Never breaking down, weakening, or ceasing to apply; absolutely reliable and permanent, unlike human rules that can be changed or ignored.
“you, a mortal man, could over-run the gods' unwritten and unfailing laws”
- mortaladjectiveChapter 4 →
Subject to death; belonging to the human world rather than the divine. Used here to contrast human rulers with the eternal authority of the gods.
“you, a mortal man, could over-run the gods' unwritten and unfailing laws”
- dwellernounChapter 4 →
One who lives or resides permanently in a place; here it describes Justice as a being who inhabits the realm of the gods below, i.e., the underworld.
“nor did Justice, dweller with the gods below, define such laws for men”
- precedencenounChapter 5 →
Greater importance or priority over something else; to take precedence means to matter more and therefore come first.
- yieldsverbChapter 6 →
Gives way; admits one is wrong and changes course rather than stubbornly holding to a bad decision.
“a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil”
- repairsverbChapter 6 →
Corrects or makes amends for a wrong that has already been done, restoring what was damaged by a bad decision.
“a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil”
- blood-lustnounChapter 6 →
A frenzied, unnatural craving for violence and killing; used here to describe the birds' wild, ominous behavior that the prophet reads as a divine sign.
“they were screaming in some strange tongue, mad with blood-lust”
- omennounChapter 6 →
A sign or event believed to foretell future good or evil; prophets in ancient Greece interpreted natural phenomena as messages from the gods.
- awenounChapter 7 →
A deep, reverent fear and respect, especially toward the gods; not mere admiration but a recognition of their overwhelming power over human life.
“the crown and chiefest part is wisdom, and to hold the gods in awe”
- chiefestadjectiveChapter 7 →
An archaic superlative meaning the greatest or most important of all; an older form of 'chief' used to emphasize supreme importance.
“Of happiness the crown and chiefest part is wisdom, and to hold the gods in awe”
- strickenadjectiveChapter 7 →
Struck down and severely afflicted by suffering or disaster; here it describes a heart laid low by the consequences of arrogant pride.
“seeing the stricken heart of pride brought down, we learn when we are old”
- kindredadjectiveChapter 7 →
Relating to family or blood relations; 'Zeus of kindred ties' refers to Zeus in his role as protector of family bonds and obligations.
“Let her pray to Zeus of kindred ties”
- tolerateverbChapter 7 →
To allow or put up with something one disapproves of without taking action to stop it; here Creon means he cannot permit defiance of his authority.
“if I am to tolerate this sort of thing in my own family, I shall have to tolerate it in the world outside”
AntigonePlay by Sophocles