Antigone

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

Debate on the Importance of Following Law

Students conduct a debate on whether the law of the state must be followed for the benefit and protection of the public.

In Scene 3, Sophocles uses the characters of Antigone and Kreon to present two different arguments on the importance of God’s Law and Man’s Law. In this activity, you will also debate on this subject, with a focus on the importance of following the state’s law. The debate should center on the statement below, with students taking either a “for” or “against” stance.

Statement: The law of the state must be followed for the benefit and protection of the public.

• First, divide into your groups, and discuss the main points that you will focus on for debate.
• Next, select your order of speaking; every group should have someone to open, someone to close, and someone to share the arguments in the middle.
• Third, prepare your arguments; you may conduct your own research and include statistics and anecdotes in your speech.
• Finally, make sure to practice with your group before the debate.

Teaching Suggestion: This debate examines the theme God’s Law and Man’s Law with a focus on the implications of compliance or non-compliance with laws of the state. If students are allowed to select the side of the debate they will join (rather than being assigned to sides), it might be helpful to encourage them to select a side of the debate that they do not necessarily agree with, so they can explore a different perspective and enhance their critical thinking skills. Additionally, this debate is a good opportunity for students to practice their public speaking skills; depending on the level and appropriateness of the class, encourage students not to bring notes but instead have their speeches memorized. For detailed information on how to structure the debate, please review this guide to debates from the University of Newcastle in Australia.