Antigone
by Sophocles
Antigone by Sophocles is assigned in US schools at grades 9–12. Every citation below links to the primary source.
This page shows where Antigone is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.
Where to find this book
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About this book
In Sophocles' ancient Greek tragedy, Antigone defies King Creon's decree and buries her brother Polynices, insisting that divine and family law outranks the edict of the state. Her act sets off a chain of consequences that destroys Creon's household and dramatizes the clash between individual conscience and civic authority. Long assigned across grades 9-12 and in world-literature units, the play remains a touchstone for teaching civil disobedience and tragic structure.
Why widely assigned
This Drama title, typically at grades 9–12. Written in the -450s; pairs with curriculum units on justice and loyalty.
Content notes
suicide · death
Where this book is assigned
No curriculum assignments on file yet.
Similar grade-level books
The OutsidersS.E. Hinton · 750L
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The Great GatsbyF. Scott Fitzgerald · 1070L
1984George Orwell · 1090L
See all books like Antigone→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Common questions
- What grade level is Antigone?
- Antigone is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 9–12. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- How long does it take to read Antigone?
- It takes about 2h 20m to read Antigone (128 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 140 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
- Is Antigone banned in schools?
- Antigone does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
- What themes does Antigone explore?
- Central themes in Antigone include justice, loyalty, individual vs state, fate, family. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.
Why this book is on this list
Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.
- Lexile measure
- Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
- Grade band
- Grades 9–12 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Not yet documented in any tracked curriculum.
- State-level evidence
- Not yet documented in a state-level framework on this site.
- Removal / banning records
- No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- No seasonal or program-specific tags on this book.