Bergen County
Academies
World Literature I
ENGLISH
SUMMER READING
2006
"Here I am myself—you all know me, the world knows my fame:
I am Oedipus."
World Literature I Summer Reading Assignment / pg. 1
BERGEN COUNTY ACADEMIES
WORLD LITERATURE I & IB English A1
SUMMER 2005 READING/WRITING ASSIGNMENT
TEXT: Sophocles, The Theban Plays. You need to have the translation by Robert
Fagles (Penguin Classics, suggested edition ISBN: 0140444254). To make sure you
follow the progression of events through the plays, you should read them in the
following order: Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus and then Antigone.
If you are in the IB English A1 course, you will only be reading Oedipus the King.
Format & Requirements:
 Read Aristotle’s definition of tragedy from Parts VI – XI of Poetics
(http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/poetics.1.1.html#200) (A PDF file of the same excerpt
is available at http://users.bergen.org/ricwee/poetics.pdf). You may also refer to this
website (http://www.cnr.edu/home/bmcmanus/poetics.html) to help clarify some of
Aristotle’s terms.
 Read all three plays (again, you should read them in the following order:
Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus and then Antigone). If you are in the IB
English course, read only Oedipus the King.
 The writing assignment will be 1 page/250 words (maximum 750 words) typed,
double-spaced…no handwritten papers!
 Use MLA format (found in your MLA Handbook) for proper final draft format
and to document quotes and text summary.
 Use 12-pt font, one-inch margins, no cover page.
 Make sure that the final draft of your writing flows smoothly and is free of
errors—more than three spelling errors on the final draft will earn you a failing
grade
YOUR WRITING ASSIGNMENT:
Aristotle introduces the following concepts: reversal, recognition (otherwise known
as epiphany), unity of plot (or unity of action) and the inspiring of pity and fear. Take
one of these four concepts, define it fully according to Aristotle (make sure you
reference Aristotle’s own text and not just the outline website), and show how that
tragic element presents itself in any one of Sophocles’ three plays (you may NOT use
any example Aristotle himself cites). Be clear and specific when referring to events
of the play in question (it may help to assume that your reader has not previously
read the play).
IMPORTANT: Your analysis must be based on your reading of the actual text. Don’t
bother with SPARKNOTES or any other online source, nor should you copy the ideas
on the outline site. It is not worth our time as a class, nor your failing grade.
World Literature I Summer Reading Assignment / pg. 2
Your assignment is due the first day your class section meets. No late assignments
will be accepted. No exceptions. Make sure you have your Sophocles text with you
as well.
You will also be submitting your final draft to TurnItIn.com—details will be provided
via email or on your first day of class.
These instructions are also available at the following address:
http://users.bergen.org/ricwee/summer.pdf
World Literature I Summer Reading Assignment / pg. 3
Guided Reading Questions
Please refer to these questions as you do the summer reading assignment—these questions would
be helpful in preparing you for any assessments at the beginning of the year.
1. In the scene with Tireisias from Oedipus the King, why does Oedipus get so
angry with the prophet?
2. How is Antigone like her father? How is she different?
3. In Oedipus at Colonus, why are so many people eager to have Oedipus come back
to their kingdom to live?
4. How many types of blindness are there in Oedipus the King? What characters are
representative of each type of blindness?
5. What is the edict Creon makes in Antigone that Antigone is determined to
disobey? Why does Creon create this edict?
6. Could Oedipus have done anything to avoid his fate?
7. In Oedipus at Colonus, Oedipus calls himself innocent of his crimes in Oedipus
the King. Do you agree with him? Why or why not?
8. In Antigone, Antigone seems determined to disobey Creon’s edict, even though
she knows it may ultimately lead to her death. Do you agree with her level of
determination to this course of action?
9. The Classical Greek mind tended to think in terms of Chaos vs. Order rather than
Good vs. Evil. How are the themes of Chaos and Order played out in the
Theban Plays?
10.Compare Oedipus in Oedipus The King to Oedipus in Oedipus at Colonus. What
changes have occurred in Oedipus between the two plays? What has remained
the same about him?
11.Fate is the driving theme in Oedipus the King. As represented in the play, is Fate
an outside cosmic force or a personal characteristic?
12.Kings among all three plays are quick to make judgments and enact laws. Are
these quick actions reasonable on their part, or are they often rash actions?