Oedipus Rex

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Oedipus Rex

• Sophocles

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Sophocles Background

• Born in 495 B.C. about a mile northwest of
  Athens, Sophocles was to become one of the great
  playwrights of the golden age. The son of a
  wealthy merchant, he would enjoy all the comforts
  of a thriving Greek empire. He studied all of the
  arts. By the age of sixteen, he was already known
  for his beauty and grace and was chosen to lead a
  choir of boys at a celebration of the victory of
  Salamis. Twelve years later, his studies
  complete, he was ready to compete in the City
  Dionysia--a festival held every year at the
  Theatre of Dionysus (Dion-ah-sus) in which new
  plays were presented.
• In his first competition, Sophocles took first
  prize--defeating none other than Aeschylus
  (Esk-e-lus) himself. More than 120 plays were to
  follow. He would go on to win eighteen first
  prizes, and he would never fail to take at least
  second.

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An accomplished actor, Sophocles performed in
many of his own plays. However, the young
athenian's voice was comparatively weak, and
eventually he would give up his acting career to
pursue other ventures. In addition to his
theatrical duties, Sophocles served for many
years as an ordained priest. He also served on
the Board of Generals, a committee that
administered civil and military affairs in
Athens, and for a time he was director of the
Treasury, controlling the funds of the
association of states known as the Delian
Confederacy. One of the great innovators of the
theatre, he was the first to add a third actor.
He also abolished the trilogic form. Many great
stories were created in trilogiescan you think
of some? Aeschylus (Esk-e-lus), for example, had
used three tragedies to tell a single story.
Sophocles chose to make each tragedy a complete
entity in itself--as a result, he had to pack all
of his action into the shorter form, and this
clearly offered greater dramatic possibilities.
Many authorities also credit him with the
invention of scene-painting.
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The plays took place in real-time. Since the
skenes didnt change, the time of the play had to
take place in a day, sometimes within a few
hours. Think about the olden days of
television, when there were live studio
audiences. I Love Lucy is a great example.
The stage was the fantasy, and the seats in
the audience were the reality. The three walls
held the stage and actors in the fantasy, and
the edge of the stage acted as a fourth wall,
which separated fantasy on stage to reality in
the audience. What are some benefits of having
these live studio audiences? When something
funny happens, and the audience laughs, those
watching at home also laugh. The CHORUS in Greek
plays acted as the cue card holdersLaugh,
Applause, etcIt was the chorus job to pull
the audience in and make them feel part of the
play, feeling the emotions the chorus displayed.
What do todays TV shows add to make the home
audience feel and react to what
producers/writers want them to laugh at, gasp at,
etc?
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Reading Greek Tragedies
The basic structure of a Greek tragedy is fairly
simple. After a prologue spoken by one or more
characters, the chorus enters, singing and
dancing. Scenes then alternate between spoken
sections (dialogue between characters, and
between characters and chorus) and sung sections
(during which the chorus danced). Here are the
basic parts of a Greek Tragedy a. Prologue
Spoken by one or two characters before the chorus
appears. The prologue usually gives the
mythological background necessary for
understanding the events of the play. b. Parodos
This is the song sung by the chorus as it first
enters the orchestra and dances. c. First
Episode This is the first of many "episodes",
when the characters and chorus talk. d. First
Stasimon At the end of each episode, the other
characters usually leave the stage and the chorus
dances and sings a stasimon, or choral ode. The
ode usually reflects on the things said and done
in the episodes, and puts it into some kind of
larger mythological framework. For the rest of
the play, there is alternation between episodes
and stasima, until the final scene, called
the... e. Exodos At the end of play, the chorus
exits singing a processional song which usually
offers words of wisdom related to the actions and
outcome of the play.
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Womens Roles in Ancient Greece
  Women in most city-states of ancient Greece
had very few rights. They were under the control
and protection of their father, husband, or a
male relative for their entire lives. Women had
no role in politics. Women with any wealth did
not work. They stayed indoors running their
households. The only public job of importance
for a woman was as a religious priestess. In
Athens, the law required all inheritances to go
through the male line and limited property that
could be owned by women. It was the wives who
supervised the slaves and managed the household
responsibilities, such as weaving and cooking.
In affluent homes, women had a completely
separate area of the house where men were not
permitted. In the homes of the poor, separate
areas were not available. Poor women often
worked outside the home, assisting their husbands
at the market or at some other job. Poorer women
often went to the market without a male escort.
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Go to the last 2 pages in your packet

• Life in Ancient Greece- read cartoon and article
  about the views of women and womens status in
  Greek society.
• How has the view of women changed? Why?

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Of Sophocles' more than 120 plays, only seven
have survived in their entirety. Of these,
Oedipus the King, or Oedipus Rex, is generally
considered his greatest work. This tragedy of
fate explores the depths of modern
psycho-analysis as Oedipus unwittingly kills his
father and marries his mother in an attempt to
avoid the very prophecy he ultimately fulfills. A
masterful work of plot and suspense, Oedipus the
King is often heralded as a "perfectly
structured" play. And although Oedipus cannot
escape his fate, he finally finds peace in the
sequal, Oedipus at Colonus, after enduring the
worst the fates had to offer.
http//www.60secondrecap.com/library/oedipus-rex/3
/
Remember that even though audience members knew
the whole story, they enjoyed watching the play.
They enjoyed the Catharsis, or emotional
release they felt. After the play, they would
feel Wow, my life is not so badI could be in
the same boat as Oedipus, or theyd say Ill
never do what he did!
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Oedipus Rex Pre-Story
Kingdom of Corinth
Kingdom of Thebes King Polybus and
Merope King Laius and
Jocasta Childless
Newborn-Oedipus
Adopted Baby
Gave baby to shepherd/servant to

to avoid prophecy
(baby would kill Named him Oedipus
(swollen feet) avoid the prophecy
that he would kill

his father
Shepherd
gave baby to herdsman

Herdsman gave baby to Polybus and

Merope When Oedipus was at a
party, a drunk man told him that he would kill
his parents. In order to make the prophecy not
come true, Oedipus left Corinth and traveled far
away. On his journey, he came to the 3 Highways,
and the first case of road rage emerged When
Oedipus killed 4/5 men that ran him off of the
road. He proceeded to Thebes. He solved the
Riddle of the Sphinx, and became loved in Thebes.
When Thebes found out that their King, Laius,
was killed, they made Oedipus King. He married
Jocasta and they had 4 children, Eteocles,
Polynices, Ismene, and Antigone. Now we can
begin his story
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Before Oedipus Rex

• SOME twelve years before the action of the play
  begins, Oedipus has been made King of Thebes in
  gratitude for his freeing the people from the
  pestilence brought on them by the presence of the
  riddling Sphinx. Since Laius, the former king,
  had shortly before been killed, Oedipus has been
  further honored by marrying Queen Jocasta.
  Remember, he was made King, so he inheritied all
  of King Laius possessions, even his wife!

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Riddle of the Sphinx

• In Greek mythology, the Sphinx sat outside of
  Thebes and asked this riddle of all travelers who
  passed by. If the traveler failed to solve the
  riddle, then the Sphinx killed him/her. And if
  the traveler answered the riddle correctly, then
  the Sphinx would destroy herself. The riddle
• What goes on four legs in the morning, on two
  legs at noon, and on three legs in the evening?
• Oedipus solved the riddle, and the Sphinx
  destroyed herself.
• The solution A man, who crawls on all fours as a
  baby, walks on two legs as an adult, and walks
  with a cane in old age.
• Of course morning, noon, and night are metaphors
  for the times in a man's (person's) life. Such
  metaphors are common in riddles. There were two
  Thebes, apparently this Thebes was the one in
  Greece. And this Sphinx was apparently not the
  one at Giza, in Egypt.

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Oedipus Rex

• Before we start reading, lets watch and listen
  to a humorous song about Oedipushttp//www.yout
  ube.com/watch?vA9BMcA8-4zofeaturerelated
• The story of King Oedipusan Overview
• http//www.60secondrecap.com/library/oedipus-rex/2
  /
• Lets view a short segment about some of the
  characters we will meet. Start filling in your
  Character section in your study guide as we
  watch
• http//www.60secondrecap.com/library/oedipus-rex/5
  /
• Complete Vocabulary for Prologue
• During the Prologue this part of the play was
  normally read by a lone actor. Oedipus calls the
  citizens of Thebes 'the children of Cadmus'
  because he was the mythical character who founded
  the city, after slaying a dragon and sowing its
  teeth to make the first inhabitants. Apollo is
  invoked because he was the god of healing and a
  plague has blighted the city. Is Oedipus' pride
  evident from the very first lines? Note any
  references to sight it is used throughout the
  play as a metaphor for insight.Lets read the
  Prologue, pages 3-10.
• Why do the priest and citizens come to Oedipus
  for help?
• When Creon arrives back home from his trip to
  Apollos temple, what does he inform Oedipus he
  has to do?
• If you were King, how would you react to what
  Oedipus has to do?

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Complete Voc. For Scene ILets read Scene
I, pages 12-25.

• This scene is filled with many instances of
  dramatic irony. For example, when Oedipus
  condemns the murder which has brought about the
  plague, he is in fact condemning himself (the man
  who unknowingly killed his own father and took
  his mother as his wife). Note particularly the
  character, Tiresias, who clearly knows more than
  he's letting on. Is he trying to protect
  Oedipus?What does Oedipus ask the citizens to
  do?
• Who was murdered? How?
• Why does Choragos tell Oedipus to call in
  Teiresias?
• What is Teiresias trying to tell Oedipus?
• Why do you think Oedipus is so naïve?

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Lets read Ode I, pages 25-26.

• The Chorus seems completely confused - are they
  following Tiresias or Oedipus?
• How does the chorus feel about what Teiresias
  tells Oedipus?
• Study Guide questions 1-11

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Complete Vocabulary for Scene IILets read
Scene II, pages 27-45.

• Is Creon being admirable here? Why should Oedipus
  have such a strange reaction to Jocasta's account
  of her lost child? What is the significance of
  her baby's ankles having been pinned? (Oedipus
  means 'swollen feet - a major clue, but why
  doesn't he make the connection?).The reference
  to the 'sacred dance' (line 895) refers to the
  god Bacchus (aka Dionysus), god of wine, changing
  seasons and creating a frenzy.What does Oedipus
  think Creon and Teiresias are plotting against
• him?
• What does Oedipus tell Jocasta about what
  Teiresias told him?
• What does Jocasta say happened to Laios?
• What does Oedipus tell Jocasta about why he left
  Corinth?
• What kind of relationship do Oedipus and Jocasta
  have?
• Lets view a segment about the Road Rage
• http//www.60secondrecap.com/library/oedipus-rex/1
  /

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Three Highways/Crossroad where Laius was killed
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Lets read Ode II, pages 45-47

• What character trait does the chorus say is
  Oedipus downfall? Do you agree with them?
• What has happened to the chorus feelings about
  the gods?
• STUDY GUIDE questions 12-18

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Complete Vocabulary for Scene IIILets read
Scene III, pages 47-58.

• Consider Jocasta's ongoing aspersion of oracles
  in the light of what is about to happen. At what
  point does she begin to suspect the truth? Why
  does Oedipus remain ignorant? Note the way the
  Chorus takes Oedipus' hope and runs with it,
  imagining him to be the foundling son of a
  god.What does the messenger say about
  Polybos?
• 1. What happened to Polybus?
• 2. Who is Polybus?
• How does Jocasta feel about Polybus death?
  Why?
• Who does Oedipus want to speak to? Why?

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Lets read Ode III, pages 58-59.

• What is the chorus referring to?
• STUDY GUIDE Questions 19-23

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Complete Vocabulary for Scene IV and
ExodusLets read Scene IV, pages 59-64.

• Aristotle believed Oedipus Rex to be the finest
  of all tragedies because the protagonist's
  recognition of the truth coincides with the
  reversal of his fortunes. Where exactly does this
  occur? What does the shepherd tell Oedipus?
• How does Oedipus react?
• How would you react if you were Oedipus?

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Lets read Ode IV, pages 65-66.

• What does the chorus say about Oedipus?

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Lets read the Exodos, pages 67-81.

• What was Oedipus trying to do when he found his
  mother/wife dead? Is blinding an appropriate
  (self) punishment?What did Oedipus want to do
  to Jocasta?
• What happened to Jocasta?
• What happened to Oedipus? Why do
• you think he went to such extreme
• measures?
• What is the last thing Oedipus asks for?
• Where does Oedipus go?
• STUDY GUIDE Questions 24-29

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Some Questions For Thought

• If you were Oedipus, what would you have done
  differently?
• What was Oedipus tragic flaw?
• Lets view some segments about Plot, Themes,
  Motif, and Symbols.
• Plot
• http//www.60secondrecap.com/library/oedipus-rex/4
  /
• Themes
• http//www.60secondrecap.com/library/oedipus-rex/6
  /
• http//www.60secondrecap.com/library/oedipus-rex/7
  /
• Motifs
• http//www.60secondrecap.com/library/oedipus-rex/8
  /
• Symbols
• http//www.60secondrecap.com/library/oedipus-rex/9
  /

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Lets view 2 videosAs you view them, see
what you would have done differently, as our
project after Othello will be to re-enact a
scene

• http//youtube.com/watch?vsA1_QZxvRyo
• http//youtube.com/watch?vNvUGr27mtvk

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Tragic Hero

• Oedipus as Greek Tragic HeroPride (he wont stop
  trying to find out the truth when others try to
  talk him out of it).
• One of the best examples of an ancient Greek play
  involving a tragic hero is Oedipus the King by
  Sophocles. While he is a young man, an oracle, or
  someone with the gift of seeing the future, tells
  Oedipus that his fate is to kill his father and
  marry his mother. Oedipus wishes to avoid this
  future, so he leaves his home. This shows that he
  thought himself to be god-like, since humans were
  supposed to accept their fate, according to the
  belief of the time.
• In the end, this tragic flaw caught up with him.
  After rising to power and marrying the queen of
  his new home, Thebes, he learns that he has done
  exactly what he had hoped to avoid. One of the
  men he killed on his way to Thebes was actually
  his father, and the woman he married was his
  mother. The queen is horrified and kills herself.
  Oedipus gauges out his own eyes and leaves
  Thebes. These tragic events occur because of his
  hubris therefore, Oedipus is a true tragic hero.
  He is a man whose greatness brings him glory, but
  whose weakness leads to tragedy.

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Assignments

• Period 1- You will write an essay on one of the
  themes in Oedipus Rex or on Tragic
  Hero--Oedipus. See the handout and rubric for
  details.
• Oedipus essay academic.docx
• Periods 2 and 4- You will complete the handout.
  Answer all 3 questions completely in COMPLETE
  SENTENCES. See the handout and rubric for
  details.
• Oedipus short essay applied.docx

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Post- Reading Project
You will create an animotosee my sample.
Directions for creating an animoto Are located on
the class wiki at http//contienglish12.wikispaces
.com under the Creating. page.