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Oedipus the King

DO NOW: Oedipus’ short temper contributes to his downfall What is your tragic flaw?. Oedipus the King. Summary ….so far. How many actors are performing in this play? Scene: In front of the palace in Thebes

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Oedipus the King

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  1. DO NOW: Oedipus’ short temper contributes to his downfall What is your tragic flaw? Oedipus the King

  2. Summary ….so far • How many actors are performing in this play? • Scene: In front of the palace in Thebes • Oedipus’ first dialogue is with the children. What kind of character is Sophocles trying to instill in the minds of the audience? • Role of the Priest- lines 13-65 Let audience know the danger and destruction that is enveloping the city

  3. So far…. • Lines 66-79 Oed.- He is just as heartbroken as they are– he assures the listeners he did something about it • 79- sent Creon( Jocasta’s brother) to the god Apollo (Greeks believed that Apollo established the oracle at Delphi after killing Python, the serpent that guarded the spot Delphi was the “center of the world”…people would go there to seek advice from Apollo –through his priestess he would answer questions from mortals) • Ex. of how the gods were an extended family—every Greek knew the ancestry of the immortal gods—Source of pride and power.

  4. So far… • Oed. Is trying to save the city Creon is gone for a few days a bit worried • EXPOSITION ENDS ACTION BEGINS • Creon arrives wearing laurel (symbolic of good news) • Line 100 Anxiety for Oed. • Line 101-135 dialogue between Creon and Oed. • Who was King Laius?

  5. So far…. • Lines 101-135 • Creon states that murder and guilt is destroying the city • Oed. Asks tons of questions ACTOR MUST COMMAND A SENSE OF URGENCY– Why? • Summarizes travelling men – all killed but one • Line 153 Oed.- Perplexed as to what stopped the people from finding out who murdered their King???

  6. Pg. 474-75 • Line 155-170 2 reasons for Oed. Commitment to find and punish Lauis’ murderer.. A. the action will end the plague B. the action will protect Oed. From the murderer • PRIEST AND CREON EXIT TO CHANGE ROLES/MASKS ETC.. • CHORUS ENTERS –comments on dramatic action set it in overall context of Greek life and religion.(each choral ode was accompanied by music)

  7. Chorus • Lines 175-225 Chorus call out to gods –talk about their land through use of vivid images-remind the gods that they have helped Thebes before—the plague is as devastating as war • Lines 234-239 How are these lines dramaticirony? What does he say of himself? What does Oed. Believe to be true and what does the audience know to be true?

  8. Oedipus myth occurred before the play begins… • Oedipus believes himself the son of the king and queen of Corinth; he left that city to avoid a terrible prophecy; arrives at Thebes, he solved the riddle of the Sphinx and married Queen Jocasta, the widow of King Laius. • Lines 240- 270- Oed to chorus: tell me if you know who killed the king. If you don’t tell-consequences: • What are the consequences? READ LINES 255-269 SILENTLY • WHAT IS THE IRONY OF THE CURSE HE BESTOWS?

  9. OEDIPUS • Irony: In cursing the murderer, Oedipus is putting the nail in his own coffin of destruction • How is he a tragic hero so far? • Nobility lines 285-88 genealogy • Tragic flaw brings about destruction of self—He actively wills to find the killer. Doing so will result in his downfall • Possesses outstanding character traits

  10. Begin Reading • Lines 304- chorus suggests Oedipus calls on Teiresias (prophet) He states he already did that and chorus tells Oed. an old story about King Laius being killed by wayfarer • ENTER TEIRESIAS • Read character parts Who will play Teiresias ??? • Begin reading/acting lines 323 2 characters… finish for hw up to & including Jocasta’s entrance line 760

  11. SUMMARY CONT. • Lines 325-455-Dialogue between Teiresias and Oed.- at first, Oed. Praises Teir. Phrophetic abilities. • The audience knows that Teirs. Has insight that Oed. lacks. • Teir. Refuses to speak about what he knows • Oed. Is angered– blames him for being a person who plots against another • Line 391- Teir.-Don’t speak to me ever again—you are the LAND’S POLLUTION

  12. Summary cont. • 405- Teir. “you are the murderer of the king whose murderer you seek.” • Oed. Is outraged/self-pity- paranoid- thinks Creon is in on it… • 469- Teir. “Do you know who your parents are? Teir. Gets ready to leave– Oed. Stops him with a question • “What parents…not.. My parents..Oed. Reactions suggests his is uneasy about his origin and identity.

  13. Oedipus & Teiresias • Line 504--Oed. Curses Teir. And orders him to leave the city • CHORUS- confused and trying to be objective • Line 615-Creon returns to defend himself against Oed. Accusations—Creon is totally under control when accused, knows a good leader cannot lead by fear but wisdom and self-control 2 virtues Oed. Is NOT displaying– tragic flaw

  14. Creon & Oed. • Lines- 655-690 Creon willing to die if he is guilty of conspiracy with Teir. • Line 709-CHORUS stops the bickering between the men by stating Jocasta is coming • The Chorus may occassionally advise the characters or express sympathy with the tragic hero Lines 692-693 and 709-711 the chorus favors moderation and forgiveness

  15. Jocasta’s Entrance • Line 714- 725 She knows Oed. Is interpreting the situation w/ no justification. He has NO evidence that Creon, her brother is plotting against him. • Oed. Refuses to be gracious to Creon—he will hate him • Line 781-Jocasta is reasonable is asking HOW Creon accuses Oed. From the horses mouth or rumor???\

  16. Jocasta • The playwright, Sophocles uses QUESTIONS to move the urgency along. • When we first meet her, her characterization reveals an urgent sense, yet one who has it together—reasonable, logical • So think of this– if Oed. Married his mother..how old must she be?? Ouch… • Line 785- 805- READ SILENTLY SUMMARIZE THAT JOCASTA’S PROOF THAT ORACLES ARE MEANINGLESS PROVES THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT SHE INTENDS…..

  17. Jocasta • Humans will receive info they need from Apollo ..not form oracles. She does not support that Apollo speaks through others. • Line 808-816 What is the detail that catches Oedipus’ attention? • What did the oracle say would happen to Laius? • Read out loud 825-855 Dialogue---

  18. Isn’t that awesome dialogue?? • Jocasta and Oedipus- • Jocasta tells her part--- ironic that Sophocles does not give her lines about “marrying the mother”. Her character believes that Laius’ death prevented the oracle’s prophesy from coming true. • Line 799-808--She discredits the idea that Apollo speaks through others

  19. Line 795- the mention of the “crossroads” increases Oedipus’ anxiety. There is dramatic tension created between Jocasta’s ignorance and Oedipus’ knowledge of the past and what they mean for Oedipus’ fate. • Suspense is added not by what is said BUT by what is UNSAID! • Lines 860-870- Oedipus reveals he grew up in Corinth—complicate the plot-maybe he is not the son of King Polybus.

  20. Lines 870-875- Oedipus angrily killed an elderly traveler who assaulted him. He then “kills them all”. Short temper reveals itself again…. • Situational Irony example: • Oedipus is on foot when he encounters Laius– the very man who lamed him as an infant

  21. CHORUS • 939-944- If the herdsman sticks to his story about “robbers” Oedipus believes that he is innocent • CHORUS enters • Strophe- May I always obey the laws of the gods, which are unchanging and immortal • Antistrophe- the chorus contrasts the arrogant tyrant with the good person • 2nd Strophe & Antistrophe presents 2 different viewpoints about the relationship between the gods and humanity • Strophe- chorus seems confident the gods will strike down the haughty • Antistrophe- chorus seems pessimistic about oracles being fufilled and states that its members may not participate in traditional worship if the gods fail them • PRAISE DIVINE LAW, CONDEM THOSE WHO REJECT THE LAW CALL ON GODS NOT TO FAIL TO ENFORCE THE LAW IN THE CASE OF OEDIPUS

  22. PART II pg. 503 • The painful truth will be revealed to Oedipus gradually during Part II • Oed. Is relentless in pursuing the knowledge that will bring his downfall—adds suspense • Read lines 1011-1034What news does the messenger have to share with Jocasta? • Oedipus enters • Line 1040-1080 dramatic irony--Jocasta and Oedipus’ discussion about the Messenger’s news—How so?

  23. Oedipus mocks the oracles—the audience knows they have already been fulfilled! • Jocasta reassures Oedipus about a son’s incest with a mother ironic for the same reason… • Do you think at this point that Oedipus is completely unaware that Jocasta is his mother? From what did his marriage to Jocasta stem?

  24. Oedipus’ name = swollen foot • Line 1158- 1170 the messenger provides details way to coincidental for Jocasta to ignore. What kind of inference is she likely to make after hearing these lines?

  25. answer • She fears the infant she gave away long ago is Oedipus; the prophesy may have been fulfilled. • The herdsmen line signals the truth. Jocasta now knows. Ugh! She exits • Line 1185- Oedipus thinks she left distraught b/c she fears he is of low birth nobility • CHORUS- they speculate that Oedipus will not turn out to be the “golden child” of divinity, but a mortal son of a father whom he murdered.

  26. The final step in the play pg. 510 • Oedipus will cont. to seek the truth and we will watch his reaction to the truth of his identity. • READ THE HERDSMAN DIALOGUE. • He is described as an honest man. • What responsibility does he have for the catastrophe that happens to Oedipus? • Is he honest?

  27. What is the “lie”? • What did Oed. believe to be true about his origins? How would you characterize the Herdsman? • CHORUS- lines1305-1340- Oedipus exemplifies the fate of mankind. They link his destiny with the fact that he is human. • Greek word for hamartia- “flaw”

  28. The 2nd Messenger • Lines 1340- 1355- What news does the 2nd messenger bring? • How does Jocasta meet her demise? Onstage or off stage? • What did Oedipus do as a result? • Line 1450- Who does he blame for his evil destiny? • The chorus is not happy about Oedipus’ self-punishment—what do they think would have been more fitting?

  29. Fate worse than death…. Long speech 1480- 1524- CREON ENTERS Shows Oedipus mercy. He has been a trusted advisor to him. Oedipus realizes he wronged Creon. Creon is heir to the throne. 1550-He wants the God to reveal what should be done with Oedipus We learn that Oedipus has two daughter—Antigone and Ismene they are there to say goodbye to their father

  30. His downfall • His willfulness to seek out the truth and the cause of the plague on Thebes leads to his downfall and the suffering of his family. At the end of the play he resigns to his new life and accepts it with some calm. • He could not evade fate through death—that is why he did not take his life. He took on the responsiblilty—does not blame anyone…

  31. pp

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