Oedipus Rex
“Swollen Foot King”
Hmm…sounds interesting!
Drama Terms to Know

Monologue-a long speech monopolizing
conversation

Soliloquy-a dramatic monologue meant to
represent thoughts
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Act-a division of a play which may consist of one
or more scenes
Tragedy v. Comedy

Tragedy-a serious drama describing a
conflict btwn. the protagonist and a
superior force; has a sorrowful or
disastrous conclusion

Comedy-Less serious drama; has a
successful conclusion after a struggle;
purpose is to amuse
Drama terms to know. . .

Stage Direction-author’s cues in parentheses
designed to aid character movements/emotions

Antagonist-person/force in conflict with main
character; in a tragedy-brings out the flaw

Protagonist-main character
Drama Terms…

Prologue-provides background info. to the
story

In Media Res-In the middle of the

Dramatic Irony-when the audience
understands something a character does
not
sequence of events
Greek Stuff to Know

The word drama comes from
the Greek word “Dran,”
meaning “to do” or “to act”

Greek theater developed as
part of the religious festival
to honor the Greek god
Dionysus—god of food and
wine
Dramatic Roles

Greeks weren’t fans of violence on
stage, and so adopted the role of the
messenger—reported what was
going on in other places—especially
violence

The chorus-gives info. and tells the
reaction of the city
Limitations to Greek Theatre

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BIG audiences—couldn’t see actors. Therefore,
actors wore large masks and robes to show
emotion.
No girls-Masks and robes showed gender
No curtains
No lighting
No violence on stage
No intermission
Chorus always on stage
Oedipus background
Sophocles is the author, but the myth of
Oedipus was told for ages.
 Setting: Thebes
 Oedipus solved the riddle of the Sphinx—
Can you??

The Tragic Hero/Tragedy

Tragic Hero-A character, usually
of high birth, neither totally good
nor totally evil, whose downfall is
brought about by some weakness
or error in judgment

Harmatia-a tragic flaw, weakness
of character or error in judgment
that causes fall of hero

Hubris-arrogance or pride which
causes the hero’s transgression
against gods; usually the tragic
flaw
Tragic Hero/Tragedy
Anagnorisis-recognition of truth/discovery
of hero; change from ignorance to
knowledge
 Peripeteia-reversal of fortune
 Nemesis-Greek goddess of retribution
 Catharsis-A purge of emotions that leaves
the viewer relieved and elated

The Fall
A HERO -> WITH a TRAGIC FLAW
 STRUGGLES (against society, fate, self…through
a series of wrong choices)
 LEADS TO:
1. Reversal-the fall (Peripeteia)
2. Suffering-mental and/or physical
3. Recognition-knows what he/she did
wrong (Anagnorisis)
• And then…death, destruction, waste of hero
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