"I was born to join in love, not hate—that is my nature": Civil Disobedience in Antigone

Gain background knowledge on Antigone and its themes by engaging in a Four Corners discussion and exploring a Text Set about Greek theater, Greek tragedy, and the legend of Oedipus.

“An Introduction to Greek Theatre”
“An Introduction to Greek Tragedy”
“The Legend of Oedipus”

Standards

RI.9-10.2SL.9-10.1

Analyze how Sophocles uses characterization to introduce the major conflict of the play.

Antigone pp. 59–66 — lines 1–179

Standards

RL.9-10.3

Analyze Creon's use of rhetorical appeals.

Antigone pp. 67–75 — lines 179–376

Standards

RL.9-10.3RL.9-10.4RL.9-10.5

Analyze the first choral ode and make connections to the podcast episode "Death Interrupted."

Antigone pp. 76–78 — lines 376–424
“Death Interrupted”

Standards

RI.9-10.2RI.9-10.3RL.9-10.2RL.9-10.4

Analyze Antigone and Creon's arguments and the reasoning they use to support them.

Antigone pp. 78–90 — lines 425–655

Standards

RL.9-10.2RL.9-10.3RL.9-10.4

Analyze Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s reasoning for breaking unjust laws and make connections back to Antigone.

“Excerpt of 'Letter from a Birmingham Jail'”

Standards

RI.9-10.2RI.9-10.5RI.9-10.9RL.9-10.6

Write a persuasive letter.

Day 1 - Brainstorming

Plan a persuasive letter by researching credible sources and taking organized notes.

Evaluating Information: Applying the CRAAP Test (G9–12)
Research Note-Taking Handout (G10, U3, L7)
Research Note-Taking Handout (G10, U3, L7)

Standards

W.9-10.7W.9-10.8

Day 2 - Outlining

Outline a persuasive letter.

Self/Peer Feedback Form (G10, U3, L7)
Persuasive Letter Outline (G10, U3, L7)

Standards

W.9-10.1.aW.9-10.1.bW.9-10.4W.9-10.5

Day 3 - Drafting

Draft a persuasive letter using language and tone appropriate to the audience and purpose.

Day 4 - Revising/Language Lesson

Self/Peer Feedback Form (G10, U3, L7)
Persuasive Letter Outline (G10, U3, L7)

Standards

L.9-10.3W.9-10.1.bW.9-10.1.dW.9-10.4

Revise a persuasive letter using parallel structure.

Self/Peer Feedback Form (G10, U3, L7)
Anaphora and Antithesis Examples Handout (G10, U3, L7)
Anaphora and Antithesis Revision Practice Handout (G10, U3, L7)

Standards

L.9-10.1.aW.9-10.1W.9-10.4W.9-10.5

Analyze the theme of fate in a choral ode.

Antigone pp. 91–92 — lines 656–704
“Free Will”

Standards

RI.9-10.2RI.9-10.6RL.9-10.2RL.9-10.4

Evaluate Creon's leadership by synthesizing an informational text with Antigone.

Antigone pp. 93–101 — lines 705–899
“How to Lead in a Crisis”

Standards

RI.9-10.2RL.9-10.3RL.9-10.4RL.9-10.6

Analyze how Emma Watson persuades her audience using rhetorical appeals and devices.

“Emma Watson at the HeForShe Campaign 2014”

Standards

RI.9-10.6

Analyze Antigone as a tragic hero.

Antigone pp. 102–107 — lines 900–1034

Standards

RL.9-10.3RL.9-10.4SL.9-10.1

Analyze Creon as a tragic hero.

Antigone — pp. 110–117, lines 1090–1238; pp. 119–128, lines 1272–1470

Standards

RL.9-10.3RL.9-10.4SL.9-10.1

Assessment

Socratic Seminar

Engage in a Socratic Seminar about Antigone by supporting arguments with strong textual evidence.

Antigone

Standards

SL.9-10.1.aSL.9-10.1.bSL.9-10.1.cSL.9-10.1.dSL.9-10.4

Analyze the director's purpose in creating Antigone in Ferguson and make connections between the events of the play and Michael Brown's death in 2014.