Antigone Act Three Analysis Paragraph

Today, we will take a moment to write about the development of one of the concepts you studied as you read this act. This will take the form of a well-developed three-chunk analysis paragraph with an intro and conclusion sentence.

• TS: Identify the theme, motif, or conflict you traced as you read Act Three. Identify it and make a claim about how it was significant in the development of the events of the act.
• Concrete Details: Identify three different examples where this concept was raised most significantly or clearly. (blended sentence)
• Commentary: Explain how the context and wording of each concrete detail adds significant meaning and develops the idea you have chosen to discuss.
• Conclusion: summarize how this idea was developed in the act, and make a prediction about how it might be significant as the play progresses.

Example:

Your intro sentence needs to raise the topic of the paragraph and present a claim that will be supported by the evidence and analysis to follow:

Ex: The events of scene two provide additional insight into the themes of divided loyalty raised in Antigone.

Each concrete detail sentence needs to provide specific, quoted text from the passage (Act Three) incorporated smoothly into a blended sentence that establishes the context of the quote.

Ex: Creon rejects Antigone’s argument, claiming that it is criminal for the city to “honor the traitor just as much as [Eteocles].”

Analysis must both discuss the significance and meaning of the quote and address how it develops the theme you identified.

Ex: This response demonstrates that Creon's priorities of loyalty to the state and the rule of law are diametrically opposed 
to Antigone's beliefs. This conflict in priorities develops Creon's hamartia, a blind commitment to the state and a refusal to acknowledge competing priorities that will eventually lead to his destruction.

Then you do two more chunks...

Concluding sentence summarizes and raises a possible transition to the next topic of discussion.
Ex. Throughout this scene, Antigone and Creon provide passionate, and apparently reasonable, arguments supporting their conflicting decisions; as the play continues, these values will be tested by new points of view and plot events until Sophocles clarifies which values should ultimately be upheld.