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