english 221 dr. carsley - wikispacescarsley+-+lecture+on... · dr. carsley unbearable ... oedipus...
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English 221 Dr. Carsley
Unbearable knowledge Evil that has no rational explanation Double determination (fate and free will
at the same time): “The gods arranged my destiny, but the hand that plucked my eyes were mine alone!”
Originated about 3000 years ago and had to do with the worship of the god Dionysus (god of wine and male fertility).
Fifty Greek men (the chorus) would perform hymns to the god in rhythmic poetry.
End with a ritual sacrifice of a goat (tragos), while (komos) was the word for festival.
After the performance and sacrifice, there would be an invitation for a “union of the sexes” (gamos) and that’s why our word comedy meant marriage or union, and why most comedies end with a couple and a kiss.
Around 600 BC Greek drama changed from the tribal festival to a more civilized contest.
Gather around the orchestra (circular “dancing place”) and sit on the seats in the theatron (“seeing place”).
In 535 BC a writer named Thespis won the contest by separating one person from the chorus and having him engage in dialogue with the chorus.
Invention of drama – live action conveyed by dialogue -- birth of the first “thespian”
Three great tragic playwrights lived between 500-400 BC ◦ Aeschylus – The Libation Bearers ◦ Sophocles – Oedipus The King / Antigone ◦ Euripides – Electra / Medea
One great comic playwright ◦ Aristophanes – The Frogs
First literary critic, Aristotle - Poetics
Goal of drama = “mimesis” or imitation of human activity
Tragedy = “imitation of an action that is serious. . . . arousing fear and pity to accomplish a catharsis of such emotions.”
Catharsis = “a purging” of emotions or perhaps a transformation of emotions
Like the sacrificial goal, tragic hero is just a stand in (scapegoat) for our catharsis.
Aristotle invented the way we talk about theater. He used the following terms: ◦ Plot (has a beginning, middle and an end) Reversal (of fortunes for the hero) Climax (moment of greatest tension) Recognition (also called discovery)
◦ Character Protagonist– first speaker + agon = debate Antagonist – one who speaks against
Poet? Spectators? Society? Personality of a dramatic character?
(older male citizens of the city of Thebes)
“To miss the mark” – to make an error, initially by hitting the wrong target with an arrow
Sometimes mis- translated as “tragic flaw” Does it have a moral valence? Unclear Does the tragic hero initiates his own downfall
because he is somehow a sinner OR because he is so excellent that he can take on the consequences.
Johnston “His error is inextricably tied up with his human greatness.”
Ian Johnston http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/introser/oedipus.htm
The Sphinx's riddle The riddle of who killed Laius The riddle of his own birth What characteristics to riddle-solvers
have? Are these helpful?
Oedipus == “swollen foot” == cast out at birth because prophesy to kill father
Sophocles also puns on the Greek form of Oedipus' name, Oidipous. ◦ The verb oida means "I know" or "I see,"
while dipous means "two-footed.” ◦ The themes of knowledge and feet are
brought together in his name – two-footed means “man” and is referencing his solving of the riddle of the Sphinx and, of course, the general human condition.
Examples: ◦ Lines 248-261, 266-286: Oedipus' exhortation to
the citizens of Thebes, and oath. ◦ Lines 616-617: Oedipus' reproach of Creon. ◦ Lines 778-800: Jocasta intervenes to calm Oedipus'
consternation over Tiresias' prophecy. (What's her conclusion about Tiresias' prophecy?
What purpose does dramatic irony serve? ◦ Spurs audience thoughts and feelings ◦ These feelings are articulated by the chorus
(sometimes)
You must achieve time and kleos by embracing your destiny (Iliad)
Time and kleos aren’t all that they are cracked up to be. . . Perhaps your destiny might be achieved in another way (Odyssey)
Time and kleos are fleeting; ultimate destiny of humanity is grief in an irrational world (Oedipus)
What scene in the play don’t we see? Why does Oedipus keep trying to find
out his parentage, even when he suspects the worst?
What is the role of the children at the end