Antigone (Anouilh): Journal 2

Literary Devices

Imagery:
"Like one single pair of eyes, a thousand eyes will stare at us" (12). Ismene uses this imagery to try and evoke fear from Antigone. She is trying to persuade Antigone to change her mind and not try to bury their brother. Having a thousand eyes stare at you is intimidating and she is trying to frighten Antigone away from this idea of breaking the kings law.

Foreshadowing:
Page 15, when Antigone is telling the Nurse to treat her dog like she would treat it, "But if there was a reason why I couldn't go on talking to her-"(15). This shows that Antigone knows that something will happen to her and it foreshadows to the reader that something will happen in her plan to bury her brother and she will most likely die.

Simile:
"A little young for what, my kitten" (14). This simile that the Nurse uses for Antigone shows her motherly tendencies towards her. A kitten is something precious and sweet and this is how the Nurse feels about Antigone. Also she uses "my", showing that she feels that Antigone is her responsiblity which could set up something for her later in the story when Antigone dies.

Repetition:
"Stronger than a fever, stronger than any nightmare, stronger than the shadow of the cupboard that used to snarl at me and turn into a dragon on the bed room wall. Stronger than the thousand insects gnawing and nibling in the silence of the night.Stronger than the frightened me even when I couldn't them. Nanny, stronger than death" (14). The repetition of the word "stronger" conveys the stregth that Antigone feels that she needs. Her tone is somewhat panicky, she uses the word stronger as an attempt to strengthen herself for her coming task.