Anticipation Guide Characteristics of a Sophocles Tragedy A Greek Tragedy Structure The Role of the chorus The Sphinxs Riddle Oedipus Myth Characteristics of a Sophocles tragedy It is based on events that already took place and with which the audience is familiar ID: 552424
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Slide1
Oedipus the King
Anticipation Guide
Characteristics of a Sophocles Tragedy
A Greek Tragedy Structure
The Role of the chorus
The Sphinx’s Riddle
Oedipus MythSlide2
Characteristics of a Sophocles tragedy:
It is based on events that already took place and with which the audience is familiar.
The protagonist is a person of noble stature.
The protagonist has a weakness and, because of it, becomes isolated and suffers a downfall.
Because the protagonist's fall is not entirely his or her own fault, the audience may end up pitying him or her.Slide3
Characteristics of a Sophocles tragedy:
(5) The fallen protagonist gains self-knowledge. He has a deeper insight into himself and understands his weakness.
(6) The audience undergoes
catharsis
, a purging of emotions, after experiencing pity, fear, shock and other strong feelings. The people go away feeling better.
(7) The drama usually unfolds in one place in a short period of time, usually about a day. Slide4
Greek Tragedy Structure
Prologue
:
Spoken by one or two
characters
before the chorus appears.
The prologue
usually gives the background information needed to understand
the events
of the play
.
II.
Parodos
:
the song sung by the chorus as it makes its entrance
III.
Episodes/Scenes:
the main action of the playSlide5
Greek Tragedy Structure
IV. Odes
: a song (and often dance) that reflects on the events of the episodes,
and weaves
the plot into a cohesive
whole
A.
Choragos
: the leader of the chorus who often interacts with
the
characters
in the scenes
B.
Chorus: the singers/dancers who remark on the action
1
. strophe: the movement of the chorus from right to left across
the stage
2
. antistrophe: the reaction to the strophe, which moves across
the stage
from left to right.Slide6
Greek Tragedy Structure
V.
Paean
:
sung by the chorus as it makes its final exit, which usually offers words of wisdom related to the actions and outcome of the play
VI Exodus
:
a prayer of thanksgiving to Dionysus in whose honor the Greek
plays were performedSlide7
Role of the Chorus
to explain the action
to interpret the action in relation to the law of the state and the law of the Olympian gods
to foreshadow the future
to serve as an actor in the play
to sing and/or dance
to give the author's viewsSlide8
The Sphinx’s Riddle
"What goes on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening?“Slide9
OEDIPUS MYTH
Laius
and
Jocasta
(childless king and queen of
Thebes)
Told
by Apollo their son would kill father and marry
mother
When
son born→
Laius
hobbles him and sends him away to die
w/shepherd
Shepherd
gives to another shepherd from
Corinth
Corinth shepherd gives child to his childless king and queen
They name him Oedipus (swollen foot)Slide10
OEDIPUS MYTH
Oedipus
grows up; at banquet, drunk man says he’s not real
son
Oedipus
goes to oracle of Apollo to find
out
Prophecy
of murder/incest
repeated
Oedipus
won’t go
home
Comes to place in road; attacked by driver of chariot; Oedipus kills him, old man (
Laius
) in chariot, and others (except one).
Oedipus arrives at ThebesSlide11
OEDIPUS MYTH
City
had been plagued by Sphinx; Oedipus solves riddle of
Sphinx
Oedipus marries
Jocasta
, becomes king of Thebes; Has two daughters and
sons
Plague
breaks out; people die, crops
die
Thebans
pray; priests beg Oedipus to save them