Transcript Oedipus vs. Willy Loman

Oedipus vs. Willy Loman
Tragic heroes? or just Tragic?
Character Analysis
• Revisit the 3 words you used to
describe both Willy and Oedipus.
• What were they?
Oedipus
Prideful?
Arrogant?
Oblivious?
Angry?
Depressed?
Others?
Willy
Angry?
Delusional?
Arrogant?
Depressed?
Determined?
Others?
Tragic Heroes?
• Aristotle once said that "A man doesn't become
a hero until he can see the root of his own
downfall."
– An Aristotelian tragic hero must possess specific
characteristics:
1) Flaw or error of judgment (hamartia)
2) A reversal of fortune brought about because of the hero's
error in judgment.
3) The discovery or recognition that the reversal was brought
about by the hero's own actions
4) Excessive Pride (hubris)
5) The character's fate must be greater than deserved.
Divide and Conquer
• You will be labeled either “A” or “B”
• If you are an “A” your task is to determine if
Willy Loman is a tragic hero
• If you are a “B” your task is to determine if
Oedipus is a tragic hero
• You have 5 minutes to reflect and decide.
• If you are an “A” find a “B”
• Share your findings.
Discuss
– An Aristotelian tragic hero must possess specific
characteristics:
1) Flaw or error of judgment (hamartia)
2) A reversal of fortune brought about because of the
hero's error in judgment.
3) The discovery or recognition that the reversal was
brought about by the hero's own actions
4) Excessive Pride (hubris)
5) The character's fate must be greater than deserved.
Homework
– Choose one of the men of whom you deem to
be a tragic hero.
– Imagine that the man is being awarded
(posthumously) a certificate of recognition for
his accomplishments.
– Draft the speech that would be used to present
the award to his living or non-exiled family
members.
• This should be in your RJ, ½ page or longer, & handwritten: it must use specific reasons why this man
deserves this award.
Thursday
Let’s “honor” the “heroes”
• A few volunteers?
• What is the point?
– Crash Course – Oedipus
Theme Analysis
Oedipus the King
Title of the play
• Explain how the title of the play informs the
story. If the title is directly referenced during
in the script, be sure to include/explain that
moment also.
• “the King” or “Rex” gives us insight into the
position of our title character, he will clearly
have a powerful position
Philosophic Statements
• Identify lines in the play when characters say
particularly insightful, revealing, and guiding
principles. Explain.
– “And may Phoebus, who sent this oracle,
come as our savior and end our sickness.” Lines
180-181
Contrasting Values of Protagonist
and Antagonist
• In a sentence, describe the values of the
protagonist, antagonist, and how those are
pitted against each other.
Unfolding of Dramatic Action
• Why does the protagonist take the climatic
action? This involves restating what the
climatic action is and offering a motivation.
• What is the result?
• What is most important to the protagonist
at the moment of greatest agony?
Central Idea
• In a single sentence, describe the issues the
play is exploring universally. This is often
called a “theme.”
Tomorrow:
• You will take a multiple choice test regarding
Oedipus
• You will then complete metacognition for
the multiple choice portion of the final
exam.