Oedipus Rex
Sophocles
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.
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 trilogies…can 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 scenepainting.
The plays took place in real-time. Since the skenes didn’t 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”
holders—”Laugh”, “Applause”, etc…It 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 today’s TV shows add to make the home audience “feel” and “react” to
what producers/writers want them to laugh at, gasp at, etc…?
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.
Women’s 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.
Go to the last 2 pages in your
packet
• Life in Ancient Greece- read cartoon and
article about the views of women and
women’s status in Greek society.
• How has the view of women changed?
Why?
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 bad…I could be in the same boat as
Oedipus”, or they’d say “I’ll never do what he did”!
Oedipus Rex Pre-Story
Kingdom of Corinth
King Polybus and Merope
*Childless
*Adopted Baby
*Named him Oedipus (swollen feet)
Kingdom of Thebes
King Laius and Jocasta
*Newborn-Oedipus
*Gave baby to shepherd/servant to
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…
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!
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.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Oedipus
Rex
Before we start reading, let’s watch and listen to a humorous song about
“Oedipus”…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9BMcA84zo&feature=related
The story of King Oedipus—an 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.
Let’s 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 Apollo’s temple, what does
he inform Oedipus he has to do?
Complete Voc. For “Scene I”
Let’s 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?
Let’s 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
Complete Vocabulary for “Scene II”
Let’s 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?
• Let’s view a segment about the “Road Rage”
• http://www.60secondrecap.com/library/oedipus-rex/1/
Three Highways/Crossroad where
Laius was killed
Let’s 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
Complete Vocabulary for “Scene III”
Let’s 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?
Let’s read “Ode III”, pages 58-59.
• * What is the chorus referring to?
• STUDY GUIDE Questions 19-23
Complete Vocabulary for “Scene IV”
and “Exodus”
Let’s 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?
Let’s read “Ode IV”, pages 65-66.
• *What does the chorus say about
Oedipus?
Let’s read the “Exodos”, pages 6781.
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
Some
Questions
For
Thought…
If you were Oedipus, what would you have done differently?
•
• What was Oedipus’ tragic flaw?
• Let’s 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/
Let’s view 2 videos
As 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?v=sA1_QZxvRy
o
• http://youtube.com/watch?v=NvUGr27mtv
k
Tragic Hero
Oedipus as Greek Tragic Hero—Pride (he won’t 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.
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
Post- Reading Project
You will create an animoto…see my sample. Directions for creating an animoto
Are located on the class wiki at http://contienglish12.wikispaces.com under the
“Creating….” page.