Question

Read the excerpts from " The Royal House of Thebes " and " The Story of a Warrior Queen ." Antigone and Ismene heard with horror what Creon had decided. To Ismene, shocking as it was, overwhelming her with anguish for the pitiful dead body and the lonely, homeless soul, it seemed, nevertheless, that nothing could be done except to acquiesce [to accept without protest]. She and Antigone were utterly alone. All Thebes was exulting that the man who had brought war upon them should be thus terribly punished. "We are women," she told her sister. "We must obey. We have no strength to defy the State." "Choose your own part," Antigone said. "I go to bury the brother I love." –"The Royal House of Thebes" "Is it not better to be poor and free than to have great wealth and be slaves?" she [Boadicea] asked. "And the Romans take not only our freedom but our wealth. They want to make us both slaves and beggars. Let us rise. O brothers and sisters, let us rise, and drive these robbers out of our land! Let us kill them every one! Let us teach them that they are no better than hares and foxes, and no match for greyhounds! We will fight, and if we cannot conquer, then let us die—yes, every one of us—die rather than submit." –"The Story of a Warrior Queen" How do the archetypes in these passages support the universal theme that one's values are worth risking one's life for? Both Antigone and Boadicea are warriors who decide to go to war for what they believe is right. Both Antigone and Boadicea are heroes who go to battle against their enemies. Both Antigone and Boadicea are heroines who choose their values over their lives, knowing they may die in the process. Both Antigone and Boadicea are villains who transgress the law in order to fight for their values.

Answer 1

The correct answer is Both Antigone and Boadicea are heroines who choose their values over their lives, knowing they may die in the process.

Antigone was shocked due to Creon's decision, he decreed that none of those who had attacked Thebes will be buried. Since Antigone's brother Polyneices was killed during the war in Thebes burying him will mean disobedience towards Creon and result in Antigone's dead.

As for Boadicea, she wants to fight against the Romans, who are taking freedom and wealth away from her people. She is well aware her and her people are a minority however she still wants to stand against them despite the fact of knowing that they might get killed in the process.

Both characters are willing to fight for they beliefs, theirs values and their loved ones not caring whether they die. Because dying will mean that they at least tried.

Answer 2

The correct answer is: (C) Both Antigone and Boadicea are heroines who choose their values over their lives, knowing they may die in the process.