Transcript Oedipus the King - North Pocono School District

DO NOW:
Oedipus’ short temper contributes to his downfall
What is your tragic flaw?
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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
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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)
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Ex. of how the gods were an extended
family—every Greek knew the ancestry of the
immortal gods—Source of pride and power.
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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?
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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???
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)
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Lines 175-225 Chorus call out to gods –talk
about their land through use of vivid imagesremind the gods that they have helped
Thebes before—the plague is as devastating
as war
Lines 234-239 How are these lines dramatic
irony? What does he say of himself? What
does Oed. Believe to be true and what does
the audience know to be true?
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 tellconsequences:
 What are the consequences? READ LINES 255269 SILENTLY
 WHAT IS THE IRONY OF THE CURSE HE
BESTOWS?
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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???\
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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…..
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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---
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Jocasta and OedipusJocasta 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
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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.
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Lines 870-875- Oedipus angrily killed an
elderly traveler who assaulted him. He then
“kills them all”. Short temper reveals itself
again….
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Situational Irony example:
Oedipus is on foot when he encounters
Laius– the very man who lamed him as an
infant
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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
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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?
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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?
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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?
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.
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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?
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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”
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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’ selfpunishment—what do they think would have
been more fitting?
Long speech 1480- 1524CREON 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
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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.
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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…