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Oedipus Rex

Oedipus Rex. by Sophocles. Sophocles. 496 – 406 B. C. a playwright who lived a long, comfortable, happy life grew up in a wealthy family in ATHENS, GREECE. Sophocles. his dramatic work portrayed misery and tragedy he also became a distinguished public official. Sophocles.

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Oedipus Rex

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  1. Oedipus Rex by Sophocles

  2. Sophocles • 496 – 406 B. C. • a playwright who lived a long, comfortable, happy life • grew up in a wealthy family in ATHENS, GREECE

  3. Sophocles • his dramatic work portrayed misery and tragedy • he also became a distinguished public official

  4. Sophocles • produced 123 plays (only seven survive today) • the age of Sophocles in Greece was a time when anything seemed possible through human effort and reason

  5. Sophocles • toward the end of Sophocles’ life, Athens raged a war against Sparta, their bitter rivals • there also was a great plague in 430 B. C.

  6. Sophocles Sophocles’ surviving plays (written after 440 B.C.) are deeply troubling

  7. Sophocles These plays depict characters caught up in unsolvable dilemmas that test their faith in divine and human justice

  8. The Greek Theatres Often located in or around sanctuaries to the god’s. Skene: rectangular building with 3 doors in front, providing backdrop for the action of the polay, as well as an arena where actors entered and exited. Proskenion: small platform errected to give actors more visibility; separate them fro chorus & orchestra Parados: extending from the orchestra to each side of the theatron, 2 broad aisles where the chorus entered and exited. Orchestra-circular “dancing Place,” where the chorus performed. Theatron: “seeing place,” where stone benches were constructed for the audience to sit.

  9. Important Definitions: Comedy • Greeks and Romans confined the word "comedy" to descriptions of stage-plays with happy endings. Aristotle, in the Poetics, states that comedy originated in Phallic songs and the light treatment of the otherwise base and ugly. He also adds that the origins of comedy are obscure because it was not treated seriously from its inception.

  10. Three Types of Comedy: • Farce: a humorous play involving characters in unlikely and ridiculous situations • Romantic: a popular genre that depicts burgeoning romance in humorous terms, and focuses on the foibles of those who are falling in love. • Satirical: use ironic comedy to portray persons or social institutions as ridiculous or corrupt, thus alienating their audience from the object of humor

  11. Tragedy • A drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances. • Aristotelian- a great person who receives a reversal of fortune. • Hegelian- G.W.F Hegel, German Philosopher • Revenge

  12. Critical Terms to Know: • Anagnorisis- revelation or recognition “knowing again,” “knowing back.” • Hamartia- “mistake” “error” • Hubris- “excessive pride” • Nemesis- “divine retribution” • Peripateia-reversal of circumstances, or turning point • Catharsis- “purification”

  13. Elements of Tragic Hero • A mighty figure • Suffers reversal of fortune • Endures uncommon suffering • Recognizes the consequences of his actions • Hero’s plight ennobles audience. Oedipus- Chart Handout

  14. Role of the Chorus • Characteristics • Group of about 15 men • Sang lyric poetry and danced to musical accompaniment • Were unpaid, drawn from the citizenry at large • Performing in the chorus was regarded as a civic duty • Were trained and costumed • Wore the dress of the people they represented and wore light masks.

  15. Functions of the Greek Chorus • Provided link from audience to actors, responding to the play in a manner the playwright hoped the audience would respond. • Provided tension release • Reflected upon what has happened, pondered what might happen, asked questions • At times advised central characters

  16. Greek Chorus Cont’d • Often functioned as the conscience of the people, establishing an ethical perception from which to view the action • Helped to establish mood and to heighten the dramatic moments throughout movement and song. • Added theatricality to performance

  17. Helped establish important pacing of the play, pointing moments at which the audience should reflect upon what has occurred and what must yet transpire • Could be in the play or outside of it, by either participating in the action of by commenting on the action as an observer • Separated scene of action from another • Usually through a leader as spokesperson, could interact with the central characters.

  18. OEDIPUS REX INTRODUCTION

  19. OEDIPUS REX • one of the world’s greatest tragedies

  20. OEDIPUS REX • a TRAGEDY is a serious drama featuring a main character who strives to achieve something and is ultimately defeated!

  21. OEDIPUS REX • The main character’s downfall is often due to an inborn character flaw or weakness – the tragic flaw.

  22. OEDIPUS REX - Background • During the early years of the Peloponnesian War, when Oedipus Rex was produced, Athens suffered from political instability and devastating plague.

  23. OEDIPUS REX - Background • Sophocles opens his play with a situation that the people of Athens could identify with: a plague with no end in sight!

  24. Ancient Athens – 5th Century B. C.

  25. OEDIPUS REX-Prologue • The city of Thebes is ravaged by plague • Citizens beg King Oedipus for help

  26. OEDIPUS REX-Prologue • Oedipus sends his brother-in-law, Creon, to the oracle of Apollo at Delphi.

  27. OEDIPUS REX-Prologue • Creon returns and announces that the plague will end when the Thebans punish the murderer of the their previous king, Laius.

  28. OEDIPUS REX-Prologue • Oedipus tries to take the role of savior and vows to do everything in his power to apprehend the murderer and save his people

  29. OEDIPUS REX-Prologue • Oedipus does not realize that his vow will relentlessly lead him to an encounter with himself, his past, and his darkest secrets!!! • . . . Read on to discover the truth along with Oedipus! (THE END)

  30. MAIN CHARACTERS

  31. Teiresias • blind prophet and servant of Apollo • reveals the reasons for the devastation and plague in Thebes

  32. Teiresias • one of the most powerful characters in the play • tells Oedipus he will become blind and poor

  33. Jocasta • the wife and mother of Oedipus • she tells Oedipus not to trust in the oracles • she tries to protect Oedipus from the awful truth

  34. Jocasta • she alternately condemns and upholds the authority of the oracles as best suits the direction of the argument at the moment

  35. Oedipus • protagonist • his name means “swollen-foot” • he inspires both pity and fear

  36. Oedipus • a hereditary curse has been placed on his family, and he unknowingly has fulfilled the terms of the prophecy that he would kill his father (Laius) and marry his own mother (Jocasta)

  37. Oedipus • when he curses the murderer of Laius he is cursing himself and predicting his own exile and consequent life of “wretchedness.”

  38. Oedipus • he is wise, revered by his subjects, and dedicated to the discovery of truth • he wants to rid Thebes of the plague, but fate and the gods have other things in store for him

  39. Chorus of Theban Elders • men of Thebes who honor and respect the king and the gods • their odes reveal both a strong attachment to the king as well as grounding in religious culture

  40. Creon • brother of Laius • Oedipus feels threatened by Creon and believes that he covets the throne • Creon defends himself saying he has no desire to be king and that Oedipus harms himself in making such accusations

  41. Messenger • tells Oedipus that King Polybos of Corinth is dead • Oedipus learns from the messenger that Polybos was not his father • the messenger had been given Oedipus as an infant by one of Laius’ men

  42. Shepherd of Laius • reveals his information only after Oedipus threatens his life • admits to receiving the infant (he gave to Polybos’ messenger) from Laius and Jocasta • Oedipus eventually realizes his own identity and his crimes of patricide and incest after hearing the shepherd’s story

  43. Second Messenger • announces and describes Jocasta’s suicide • predicts future sorrows for a people whose kings descend from this polluted line

  44. The Chorus • choral odes bring an additional viewpoint to the play • offer a broader and more socio-religious perspective than those offered by individual characters

  45. THEMES • quest for identity and truth • nature of innocence and guilt • nature of moral responsibility

  46. Imagery • references to light and darkness to predict the future

  47. Example of Imagery • The priest says at the beginning: "All the house of Kadmos is laid waste; all emptied, and all darkened”

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