12th Grade English
1st Semester
TRAGEDY: Texts, Essential Questions and Assessments
Unit 1: Greek Tragedy (Oedipus Rex and Antigone by Sophocles)
Do we control our destinies?
Is Oedipus his own worst enemy or a victim of fate?
How did ideas around gender roles contribute to the tragedy in Antigone?
Assessments:
a. Test and In-Class essay on Oedipus. Is Oedipus a victim of fate or his own free will?
b. Modern Adaptation of the central conflict of Antigone
c. Literary Essay on Antigone. Students choose between: How do we evaluate Creon as a leader? And
What views of the law are expressed in the play and which one does Sophocles ultimately support?
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
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It is possible for every person to make a difference.
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There is a consequence to every action or inaction.
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Ambition and drive are important for progress, but they should be balanced by moral courage.
There are two sides to every story; in order to be effectively persuade, one must objectively consider
both sides.
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What is loyalty and how does one handle conflicting loyalties?
When would betrayal be acceptable?
What is courage?
How can one person make a difference?
How do individuals balance selflessness and selfishness?
When is ambition a positive versus negative trait?
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Tragic hero
Drama terminology (monologue, soliloquy, aside, etc.)
Story Elements
Foreshadowing
Point of view
Tone
Characterization
Irony: verbal, situational, dramatic
Objectivity—formal/informal
Fact vs. Opinion
Social and historical context
Rhetorical Strategies
Ethos, pathos, logos—reason/logical fallacies
Transitions
Claim and counterclaim
Effective, supporting, credible evidence
Citation
Critical Skills:
Cite examples of the three types of irony
Evaluate characteristics of a tragic hero
Analyze how ideas are developed
Determine an author’s point of view and purpose
Identify bias
Compare and contrast content in various mediums
Analyze use of rhetorical devices
Evaluate the credibility of various sources
Establish and maintain a formal and objective tone
Write an argumentative thesis statement