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FOR HOMEWORK TONIGHT: EXPLAIN THE FOLLOWING QUOTE AND
STATE WHY YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE (3-4
SENTENCES PLEASE!): "Every man has his own
destiny , the only imperative is to follow it,
to accept it, no matter where it leads him."
-Henry Miller
OEDIPUS THE KING
A PLAY BY SOPHOCLES
SOPHOCLES496 B.C. – 406 B.C.
• Known as greatest Greek tragic playwright, wrote 123 plays
• Lived in Athens (First democracy,free thought encouraged)
• Elected to government positions, served in armed forces
• Purpose of writing: Moral instruction
Greek THEATER: background
• First theater in Western world• Performance an act of worship
of Dionysus (God of wine and living)
• Actors wore masks to reflect emotions
• Theater held between 14,000 and 41,000 people
• Prizes awarded for best play
Oedipus the king: characters
OEDIPUS, KING OF THEBES – Noble king. Curious by nature. Weak at times.
JOCASTA – Queen of Thebes, supportive wife of Oedipus.
CREON – Jocasta’s brother, brother-in-law of Oedipus. Tries to be a loyal servant of Oedipus.
TIRESIAS – Mysterious Soothsayer (psychic)
CHORUS – Group of citizens who speak in one voice and represent all Thebans. Comment on action in play, interact with characters.
OEDIPUS THE KING: MAJOR THEMES TO CONSIDER
• Play about man and gods, and how they interact
• How much does fate control us?• Rational thought vs. irrational
action (freedom and the responsibility to act properly)
• Hubris (tragic flaw, means “excessive pride”)
Elements of Greek tragedy (according to Aristotle)
• Main character (tragic hero) – Once great man who suffers due to error in judgment, or “tragic flaw”
• Deals with matters of this world• Catharsis: Audience sees character’s
thought process and is able to sympathize
• Tragic realization – A harsh lesson the character eventually learns after tragic downfall
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