Oediupus the KingSophocles

Name _______________________________________________________________

SchottOedipus Reading Guide

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Ancient Greece Background Ancient Greece Religion

Believed gods took an active interest in human affairs – successes were viewed as the sign of divine favor while problems and failures were interpreted as the result of divine anger.

Plague Killed 1/3 population Victims were “seized first with strong fevers, redness and burning of the eyes, and

expelled an unusually foul breath.” Next came “sneezing, hoarseness, a powerful cough, and every kind of bilious vomiting.”

Oracle of Apollo at Delphi Oracle believed to speak for Apollo and communicate the will of Zeus (Apollo was Zeus’

son)Prophets

“Seer” was taught to be capable of interpreting signs of what was to come. Exile

Means you are sent away for an amount of time. You cannot have any connection with your home or people in the town.

Standard punishment for unintentional murder

Drama!!!

Festival of Dionysus 6th century B.C. Religious festival in Athens each Spring to honor Dionysus (god of wine and fertility) A chorus of masked dancers performed on a circular stage, singing hymns to this god.

The First Actor Thespis of Icaria, a Greek poet, introduced the 1st actor on stage. The word “thespian”

means “actor.”

Elements of a Tragedy

Tragedy2

“Tragedy” reflects this purpose – comes from the Greek word for “goat” (the goat was regarded as a sacred animal to Dionysus.)

Aristotle – Oedipus Rex as the model of a perfectly made tragedy – “an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude”

Triggers 2 emotions: pity and terror

Hero/ Heroine- Conflict with the Divine (Gods and Goddess) Physical or Spiritual maiming (injury) Attempt to circumvent fate Position of power (noble) Tragic Flaw

Chorus No positional power (citizens) Peripheral to main interactions (on the sidelines) Effected by main interactions Summarizes and emphasizes events in the play Looks at point of view

Seer Old Wise Humane

Audience Knows the story Interacts via pity and fear

Tragedies are tragic because Plot mirrors life (realistic) The hero experiences a downfall (reversal of fortune) The audience brings fear/ pity There is an eventual role reversal/ acceptance of responsibility

Greek Plays Competitions for prizes by staging plays before thousands of spectators at the festival of

Dionysus Based plays on familiar legends and myths The three greatest writers of tragedy were Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.

Greek Theater

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Greek tragedies were performed at the Festival of Dionysus near the end of March. 6 days – 3 playwrights (chosen by a city official) would stage 3 tragedies and one satyr

(satire: using humor or exaggeration to make fun of society) At the end of all the productions, 10 judges would choose the winning playwright, who

was awarded an ivy wreath. All citizens would attend, admission was free of charge Seats for the audience were built into a hillside. Actors wore large masks that could be

seen from a distance. Actors also wore elevated shoes. Circle marks the orchestra (“dancing place”) where the chorus of a dozen or so men

chanted their lines and danced The building, called a skene (scene), provided changing rooms for the actors. 2-3 actors

might play all the roles in a performance. Scenes were often painted on the wall of the building to suggest the play’s setting.

SOPHOCLES

DRAMATIC TERMSCatharsis --

Dramatic Irony – When the audience knows something but the characters don’t

Key Terms:

Catharsis --

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(496-406 BC) – son of a wealthy arms manufacturer, was beloved and highly successful

Wrote 123 dramas, winning at least 24 1st places and never finishing lower than 2nd

Served Athens by being treasurer, military commander

Introduced a 3rd character to drama, increased the number of chorus members, and introduced painted scenery

Oedipus Rex (the king), Antigone, and Oedipus at Colonus

Lived a long, very happy life Young – skillful wrestler, dancer, and

musician. Later, had a successful career in public life (military leader, ambassador, public treasurer, etc.)

Helped establish the 1st Athenian public hospital

Handsome, charming, friendly, and well educated

Ironic that he had such a dark view of human life

Deeply aware of life’s pain and sorrow Plays feature towering heroes who remind

the audience of the vast potential of human beings

Of all his plays, the one who has touched the hearts of audience most deeply is Oedipus.

Chorus --

Deus ex Machina --

Fate --

Hamartia --

Hubris –

Oedipus Complex –

The Oracle at Delphi --

Tragic Hero --

Oedipus CharactersOedipus-

Jocasta-

Creon-

Laius (pronounced lay-uhs)-

Tiresias-

Polybus (pronounced pol-uh-buhs)-

Merope (pronounced mer-uh-pee)-

Antigone and Ismene-

OEDIPUS READING GUIDE QUESTIONS5

Background:

ACT I (pages 262-283)

1. How does Oedipus characterize himself?

2. What is his attitude toward the suppliants?

3. What conditions in Thebes does the Priest describe?

4. How do the suppliants view Oedipus?

5. What request does the Priest make of Oedipus?

6. What step has Oedipus already taken to deal with the problem?

7. According to Creon, what did Apollo say must be done in order to cure Thebes of its pollution?

8. According to Creon what were the circumstances of Laius's death?

9. What motive does Oedipus assign to the killer of Laius?

10. What is Oedipus resolved to do?

11. What is the reaction of the Chorus to the advice of Apollo to Thebes?

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12. What conditions in Thebes does the Chorus describe?

13. What is Tiresias’ reaction to Oedipus's request for help?

14. How does Oedipus view Tiresias’ behavior?

15. What does Tiresias reveal to Oedipus as a result of the king's angry accusation?

16. Note the emphasis on sight and blindness in the dialogue between Oedipus and Tiresias. What irony is implicit in this emphasis?

17. What suspicion does Oedipus begin to harbor about Creon?

18. What superiority does Oedipus claim over Tiresias?

19. Note the frequent equation of physical sight with knowledge throughout this scene and the rest of the play. What is the irony of this equation?

20. What does Tiresias predict will happen to Oedipus?

21. What is the Chorus's view of Tiresias’ accusations against Oedipus

ACT II (pages 285-300)

1. What motivates Creon's entrance at the beginning of this episode?

2. Why does Oedipus accuse Creon of conspiracy?

3. How does Creon defend himself against Oedipus's accusation?

4. What does Oedipus threaten to do?

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5. What does Jocasta attempt to do? Is she successful?

6. How does Jocasta try to assure Oedipus that he not guilty of Laius' death?

7. What is Jocasta's view of prophecy?

8. Why is Oedipus frightened by the information given by Jocasta?

9. What happened to the one surviving witness to the killing of Laius?

10. Why did Oedipus go to the Oracle at Delphi and what was he told there?

11. Where did Oedipus arrive as a result of this information?

12. What happened at this place?

13. What does Oedipus fear?

14. What detail in Jocasta's story of Laius's death does Oedipus take comfort in?

15. How does Jocasta try to reassure Oedipus?

16. What request does Oedipus make?

17. What wish does the Chorus express in the first stanza?

18. In the beginning of the second stanza the Chorus says that hubris’ 'arrogant disregard for the rights of others' produces the tyrant, without a doubt referring to Oedipus. In your opinion is Oedipus a tyrannical ruler? Is he guilty of hubris? Why?

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ACT III (pgs 301-327)

1. Jocasta appears at the beginning of this scene alone on stage. What prayer does she make and to whom?

2. After her prayer a Messenger arrives. What news does he deliver to Oedipus?

3. What is Oedipus's reaction to this news?

4. What is Jocasta's reaction?

5. What further information does the Messenger give to Oedipus?

6. Whom does the Chorus identify as the herdsman mentioned by the Messenger?

7. Why does Jocasta ask Oedipus not to seek out the herdsman and then leave?

8. How does Oedipus interpret Jocasta's emotional behavior?

9. What is Oedipus's view of the role of Chance (sometimes translated as 'Fortune') in his life?

10. Why do you agree/disagree with Oedipus?

11. Explain the irony of the arrival of the Messenger occurring just after Jocasta's prayer. Is the Messenger's news really the good news he thinks it is?

12. In the first stanza the Chorus addresses the mountain Cithaeron on which Oedipus was exposed as a baby. In the second stanza the Chorus addresses Oedipus and speculates about the identity of his parents. Whom do they suggest as possible parents?

13. By whom had the Herdsman been employed?

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14. Why is the Herdsman reluctant to answer the questions of Oedipus and the Messenger?

15. What revelation does the Herdsman make?

16. What general comment on human life does the Chorus make based on the example of Oedipus?

17. Summarize briefly the account of Oedipus's life given by the Chorus in the next two stanzas.

18. What horrible fact with regard to Oedipus's marriage does the Chorus point out?

19. What news does the Second Messenger announce?

20. What is the symbolic significance of Oedipus's self-blinding?

21. What does Oedipus intend to do? Why?

22. Oedipus joins in song with the Chorus, lamenting his fate. Whom does Oedipus blame for his sorrows?

23. What reasons does Oedipus give for his self-blinding?

24. How does Oedipus feel about Creon at this point?

25. What requests does Oedipus make of Creon?

26. What future does Oedipus foresee for his two daughters?

27. What important truth about his life does Creon point out to Oedipus?

28. What general lesson does the Chorus draw from the example of Oedipus's life?

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