Antigone "City vs. Soul" Readers Theater Script | Classical Dramas | Sophocles

This Antigone: City vs. Soul Readers’ Theater Script challenges students to analyze Sophocles’ timeless tragedy of moral courage and state power in war-torn Thebes, 441 BCE. Through dynamic performances, students explore Antigone’s defiance of Creon’s edict to leave her brother Polyneices unburied, clashing with Creon’s rigid rule, Haemon’s heartfelt plea, and the Chorus’ warnings of divine justice.

The script captures iconic moments—Antigone’s vow, “I will bury my brother,” Creon’s proud “My law is Thebes’ strength,” Tiresias’ chilling “A child’s death will curse your house”—while adapting Sophocles’ language for high school fluency and engagement.

Characters like Ismene, Tiresias, and Citizens offer tiered roles (high, medium, low complexity) to support mixed-ability classrooms, ensuring all students shine.

Perfect For
End-of-Year Performance
Engaging Follow-Up to Reading Sophocles’ Original
Emergency Substitute Plans
Dramatic Performance Piece

(a single PDF with links to Google Docs/Slides, if print format is preferred you can download from your Google Drive to word/pdf/ppt/etc)

What’s Included

14-scene script (~2550 words, 9 pages, 16 characters, Google Doc)
Teacher guide with CCSS alignment, answer keys, rubric, lexical levels character breakdown, discussion themes (12 pages, Google Doc)
Student worksheet with vocabulary, questions, discussion (25 Google Slides)
20-question multiple-choice exit quiz (Self-Graded Google Forms)

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Skills Addressed
Reading fluency and comprehension
Literary analysis (themes, symbolism, dramatic structure)
Collaborative performance and discussion
Critical thinking and real-world application
Vocabulary development and textual evidence

Worksheet Components
Vocabulary: 10 terms (e.g., “duty,” “decree”) with script quotes.
Short-Answer: Basics like “What does Antigone admit?”
Discussion Questions: Themes like duty, pride, justice.
Challenge Questions: Analysis like “How does the duty motif develop tragedy?”
Application Questions: Scenarios like “How can Antigone’s courage guide standing up for a belief?”
Exit Quiz (Google Forms Self-Graded): Tests narrative recall and literary analysis (e.g., dramatic irony).

Teaching Tips
Assign roles using the casting breakdown to match student reading levels (e.g., Antigone for advanced, Attendant for struggling). Rehearse scenes in small groups, using the rubric to assess fluency and expression. Integrate SEL by discussing duty versus law or the cost of pride, connecting to student experiences. Administer the quiz post-performance to evaluate comprehension and analysis.

Script Summary
Scene 1: Creon decrees Polyneices’ disgrace, Eteocles’ honor; Chorus warns of gods’ laws.
Scene 2: Antigone vows to bury Polyneices; Ismene refuses to join.
Scene 3: Sentry reports Polyneices’ burial; Creon demands capture.
Scene 4: Antigone, caught burying Polyneices, defends her act.
Scene 5: Ismene claims guilt; Antigone rejects her, faces Creon alone.
Scene 6: Haemon pleads for Antigone; Creon refuses, citing authority.
Scene 7: Chorus reflects on Antigone’s duty, Creon’s pride, fate’s judgment.
Scene 8: Tiresias warns Creon of divine wrath; Creon rejects him.
Scene 9: Creon decides to free Antigone, bury Polyneices, fearing gods.
Scene 10: Creon finds Antigone dead; Haemon grieves her loss.
Scene 11: Haemon kills himself, cursing Creon’s pride.
Scene 12: Eurydice kills herself, cursing Creon for Haemon’s death.
Scene 13: Chorus teaches wisdom, honoring Antigone’s sacrifice.
Scene 14: Creon accepts exile, leaving Thebes to heal.

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