Greek Drama (496-406 BC)
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Dionysus (Greek god of wine and fertility); theater grew out of the festivals that
honored the god, evolving from ritual chants & dances
Thespis – created the idea that one choral member should step out and speak: acting
is born (thespian means actor)
Actors wore masks so audience could see facial expressions
Tragedy – death or demise (downfall) of the hero
Hubris – excessive pride (remember: this has a negative connotation, it’s more
when a person believes they are better than others and is more interested in their
own welfare)
Tragic Flaw – a quality which in moderation is good, but in excess is destructive to
oneself and others
Tragic Hero:
o Of noble birth (high ranking, upper class, aristocracy)
o Possesses tragic flaw that will cause own downfall
o Reversal of fortune
o Recognition of mistakes, takes responsibility for actions & downfall
o Audience feels pity & fear toward him
The Oedipus Myth
(BEFORE the play!)
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Cadmus killed Apollo’s snake & a curse was put on his descendants
Prophecy for King Laius & Queen Jocasta (Thebes): their son will kill his father and
marry his mother
Laius gives Oedipus, who has had a rod driven through his ankles, to a servant to
leave the baby boy on a mountain to die
Servant feels badly and gives baby to a shepherd who then gives Oedipus to Queen
Merope & King Polybus of Corinth
Bothered by taunts about not being the true son of Polybus, Oedipus goes to the
oracle who tells him the prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother
Oedipus flees in fear of fulfilling the prophecy
On his way to Thebes, Oedipus kills a charioteer, rider and others (EXCEPT for a
messenger) who are rude to him
Oedipus solves the riddle of the Sphinx, the monster who is terrorizing Thebes
As reward, Oedipus marries the Queen (Jocasta – his mother!) and becomes King of
Thebes
Twenty years later, Thebes is struck by a plague because Laius’s murderer was
living in Thebes unpunished
The play opens as the new king Oedipus begins an investigation into the murder of
the previous king Laius to rid Thebes of the plague
IRONY – Oedipus is trying to help the city & find the murderer when he IS the
murderer and thus, the reason for the plague!
REMEMBER – Oedipus does not know that Laius is his real father; he also does not
know that Laius was the rider he killed on his way to Thebes
Keeping the Family Tree Straight!
Laius – biological father of Oedipus; king of Thebes (killed by Oedipus at crossroads)
Jocasta – biological mother AND wife of Oedipus; queen of Thebes
Merope & Polybus – adoptive parents of Oedipus; king and queen of Corinth
Creon – brother of Jocasta, uncle AND brother-in-law of Oedipus
Vocabulary
1. suppliant – a person making a plea to authority
2. expiate – to get rid of guilt or sin
3. treachery – betrayal of trust through deceptive action
4. sluggard – lazy person
5. chide – to scold, express disapproval
6. calamity – an event causing distress
7. vex – to torment, trouble; to bring distress to; to irritate or annoy
8. augur – religious officials who interpreted omens; prophet
9. insolence - rudeness, disrespectful behavior
10. surfeit – an excess or extra amount
11. knave – male servant; dishonest person
12. invoke – to call on or appeal to (as in for help or aid); to declare to be in effect
(as in a law)
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The Chorus
sets a mood
serves as voice of public opinion
serves as the unconscious of the main character
strophe – song; antistrophe – counter song
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Foils
Foils – characters who are opposites and therefore highlight each other’s strengths
and weaknesses
When Oedipus is put next to Teiresias, O’s ignorance is highlighted
Oedipus
Able to see physically, blind to his
identity/the truth about himself
Teiresias
Physically blind, wise prophet who “sees”
truth
Oedipus
Reactive, violent, full of arrogance/hubris,
war-monger, interested in only his welfare
Creon
Reasonable, humble, willing to speak &
listen, peacemaker, looking out for welfare of
whole city
Plot Elements
Exposition
Rising Action
Beginning of story where
important information is
introduced (setting,
characters, etc.)
Series of events that builds
interest and tension
Climax
Point of highest emotional
intensity
Falling Action
Events after climax leading
to resolution
Resolution
The conflict has been
resolved; establishes a new
norm or new state of affairs
– the way things are going to
be from then on
Oedipus wants to investigate
the murder of Laius in order
to end the plague that is
afflicting Thebes
Teiresias says Oedipus is the
murderer, Oedipus accuses
Teiresias & Creon of
treachery, 1st messenger
tells Oedipus Polybus is dead
Oedipus realizes the truth
and that the prophecy has
been fulfilled
Jocasta hangs herself,
Oedipus gouges out his eyes,
Oedipus asks Creon to watch
over his children & exile him
Oedipus is exiled and the
plague of Thebes will be
lifted
*IMPORTANT TO KNOW*
How does Sophocles’ play Oedipus The King teach us valuable lessons about how to live an
honorable life? Think of the “big ideas” below to help you form your ideas about the lessons
in the play.
Responsibility
Leadership
Listening
Integrity
Truth