Oedipus Rex Reader’s Theatre Quick Writes, Essential Questions, Discussion Points, and More.

Sophocles 496 BC-406 BC Second greatest

writer of tragedies after Aeschylus

Wrote 123 plays of which only 7 survive today

Plays were awarded in dramatic competitions of the time

Most well known for Oedipus Rex and Antigone

Drama Conventions Act: a major division within a play or an

opera Scene: a division of a play or of an act

of a play Dialogue: the conversation between

characters in a novel, drama, etc. Monologue: a long, uninterrupted

speech that is spoken in the presence of other characters

Drama Conventions Soliloquy: a speech in which a

character, alone on stage, expresses his or her thoughts aloud

Stage Directions: an instruction written into the script of a play, indicating stage actions, movements of performers, or production requirements

Aside: a part of an actor’s lines supposedly not heard by others on the stage and intended only for the audience

Greek terminology

Tragedy—an imitation of a serious action which will arouse pity and fear in the viewer

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

Hubris—arrogance or overweening pride which causes the hero’s transgression against the gods; usually, the tragic flaw

Nemesis—Fate that cannot be escaped

Structure of Greek TheaterThousands of Greeks attended the

theater. Originally they stood (all day) to watch

the performances, but eventually there were wooden seats and ultimately stone benches.

The horseshoe-shaped viewing area was the theatron or “watching place” and held as many as 16,000 citizens

In front of and surrounded on three sides of the viewing area was the orchestra or “dancing place.”

The thymele, an altar to Dionysus, stood in the center. It was here that the interaction between actors and Chorus took place.

Behind the orchestra was a changing hut or dressing room, the skene building.

The parados was the entrance to the orchestra used by the Chorus, and often by the spectators. These were at either end of the skene building.

They used larger than life masks combined with sweeping gestures and declamatory delivery to create a dramatic, believable impact.

The masks identified the speaker as male/female, young/old, grief-stricken/hopeful. The open mouth was to increase the resonance of the actor’s voice.

MASKS

The Chorus

The Chorus helped the mood, added beauty to the production, provided background information, divided the action into episodes, and reflected on events and themes. The chorus was made up of background characters,

such as town elders, young maidens, or captives of war.

They asked ?s, commented on actions, offered approval or criticism, and gave advice, usually through the chorus leader.

Choral odes were an integral part of tragedy, not to be considered outside the action.

Limitations of Greek Theater

Rather than coming and going like other characters, the Chorus (15 men in Sophocles’ time) remained a continuous presence throughout the play. For the most part, they stood in the

background, occasionally speaking with a character but mainly silent until the recitation of an ode.

Unlike modern theater, there were no intermissions between acts, no opening and closing of a curtain, and no lighting effects since plays were performed in outdoor theaters during daylight hours.

Themes & Symbols in Oedipus Rex Themes

The search for self-knowledge can destroy the self.

One cannot escape one’s own destiny.

Symbols Sight VS.

Blindness The place where

three wagons meet (the crossroads)

Wrap-Up Quick write Based on your reading of the two

comics from the beginning of class, what do you predict the play Oedipus Rex will be about?

Quick write Write the following quote in your journal and

then respond to the thinking question that follows.

“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real

facts.” (Abraham Lincoln)

Can people be trusted with the whole truth? Why or Why not?

Essential Questions How does Oedipus show that he cares

for the people of Thebes and desires to resolve their plight?

Plight: What report came back with Kreon from

his travels to the oracle?

Mini-Lesson: Irony Verbal Irony: words are used to

suggest the opposite of what is meant. Situational Irony: an event occurs that

directly contradicts the expected Dramatic Irony: contradiction between

what a character thinks and what the reader knows to be true.

Essential Questions Why is Oedipus’s curse an example of

dramatic irony? What internal conflict prevents Tieresias

from telling the truth at first? What does this reluctance show about Teiresias’s character?

What external conflict does Oedipus’s assumption about Teiresias and Kreon create?

Lines 553- 837 Essential Questions What does Teiresias’s response (lines

553-573) to Oedipus’s questions reveal about Oedipus’s search for truth? (Hint: Think about theme.)

What character trait does the Chorus’s song re-emphasize about Oedipus?

Lines 838-1158 Quick write Oedipus: Taunt me for the gift of my

brilliant mind. That gift is what makes me great.

Teiresias: That gift is your destiny. It made you everything you are, and it has ruined you.

Think about this excerpt. Write about an example in your own life where knowing too

much was not a good thing.

Lines 838-1158 Essential Questions How is Jocasta’s telling of her story an

example of situational irony? Near the end of these lines Oedipus

says, “Even so, I want that shepherd summoned here. Now. Do it now.” What in Oedipus’s character is working against him?

Lines 1159-1446 Quick write

In which line would Oedipus be standing ? Explain your thinking using a specific example from the text.

Lines 1159-1446 Essential Questions Why does Jocasta say to Oedipus: “No

more questions. For god’s sake, for the sake of your own life!”?

How is the Shepherd’s reluctance to answer the Messenger’s questions similar to Teiresia’s reluctance to answer Oedipus’s questions earlier in the play?

Lines 1160-1446 Quick write

Lines 1160-1446 Essential Questions