Oedipus Rex
Webquest for Language Arts Grades 11-12
Oedipus the King by Sophocles
What makes Oedipus Rex a Greek Tragedy? Do we really need to read a text that is 100s of years old? Before
we answer this question, let’s see how Oedipus and Ancient Greece have impacted our lives.
Have you ever heard of the Oedipus complex?
Have you wondered where the origins of Western Theatre began?
Who were some of Western society’s first philosophers?
What is the Riddle of Sphinx?
By studying this classic Greek text you will learn about the tragedy of Oedipus. Was this King truly dedicated
to the city of Thebes? Is he a true tragic hero? Why does he undergo a quest for truth, after others warn him of
the dangers of learning this truth? What is the root cause of his city’s suffering? Oedipus’s journey for the
truth leads to a rude awakening and the reversal of his fortune as predicted by the Gods.
By reading Oedipus Rex we not only examine one of the first ancient Greek dramas, we also examine human
nature, dignity and what makes a King, a human being.
In this web quest, you will explore these questions and have the opportunity to take your quest further to
discover more about life in Ancient Greece. Let’s begin…
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The Task
1. Find out how Oedipus became King. What riddle did Oedipus solve in order to be the
King?
2. Create a riddle for the Sphinx to answer. Base your question on information extracted
from the text or your research on Ancient Greece.
3. Answer a riddle posted on the class blog by another student.
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The Process
1. To find out how Oedipus became King, you will need to read the first twenty pages of the text. Your
answer should be a half page summary and posted no later than a week from the first day of class.
2. To find out what riddle Oedipus solved you will need to do a web search using the key words “Riddle of
the Sphinx.”
3. In order to create a riddle for the Sphinx to solve, you will need to finish reading the entire text and/or
do some basic research on Ancient Greece.
4. Post your riddle question on the class blog www.languageartshaycraft.org and see if other students can
answer it. Your riddle will need to be posted by the end of the week.
5. Go to the class blog www.languageartshaycraft.org and answer at least five of your classmate’s riddles.
Post your answer for others to see by the end of this week.
6. Once you have posted your answers, check below to evaluate your progress and learning and to see if
you have met the expectations for this assignment.
Resources
The text Oedipus Rex by Sophocles: http://www.enotes.com/oedipus-rex-text
Study notes: http://pd.sparknotes.com/drama/oedipus/section1.html
Extra Reading! Check-out these websites!
On the playwright: http://www.sophocles.net or Sophocles:
On the Sphinx: Seven Wonders of the World
Learn how to pronounce the Greek Alphabet Greek Alphabet
Want to see a Greek Film? Greek Films
Assessment
Content
Understanding
Connecting and
collaboration
Participation
and deadlines
4
My postings
reflect a deep
understanding of
the content
through the use
of detailed
examples and
comparisons.
I make
meaningful
connections
between the
course content
and classroom
practice. I post
more than the
required riddle
questions and
respond more
than the required
riddle questions,
thoughtfully and
respectfully to
provoke
discussion and
thinking.
My blog posting
and riddles are
posted ahead of
the deadline. I
offer assistance
and to my peers
to help them be
successful.
3
My postings
reflect an
understanding of
the content. I use
some examples
and comparisons
from the text.
2
My postings
reflect a
developing
understanding
of the content.
1
My postings reflect
some fundamental
misunderstanding
of the content but
with assistance I
can develop an
understanding.
I make insightful
and reasonable
connections
between the
course content
and teaching
practice. I post
one riddle
question and
respond
thoughtfully to
the required
amount of riddle
questions.
I attempt to
make
connections
between the
course content
and teaching
practice, but
post only the
question and
less than five
answers to my
classmate’s
riddles. My
answers do not
provoke
critical
thinking or
discussion.
Some of my
blog postings
are posted on
time.
I rarely connect the
course content to
teaching practice
and do not meet
the requirements
for creating and
answering riddles,
but with assistance
and guidance I can
meet the
requirements.
My blog posting
and riddles are
posted on time.
Meeting all
deadlines.
Very few or none
of my blog
postings were
posted but with
assistance the
deadlines can be
met for future
activities.