English 10 Literature Lesson #2Mr. Rinka

Oedipus Rex &

Oedipus at Colonus

Oedipus Trilogy

Oedipus Rex

Oedipus at Colonus

Antigone

Tragic Hero

#1 A person of great position

#2 who has a character flaw

#3 and falls from his position

#4 due to his own actions

Oedipus Rex by Sophocleshttp://www.theatrehistory.com/ancient/oedipus001.html

Some twelve years before the action of the play begins, Oedipus has been made King of Thebes.

He freed the people of Thebes from the suffering brought on them by the presence of the riddling Sphinx.

Oedipus Rex by Sophocleshttp://www.theatrehistory.com/ancient/oedipus001.html

Since Laius, the former king, had shortly before been killed, Oedipus also married Queen Jocasta.

Unknown to all, Laius was Odepius’s father and Jocasta is his mother.

Oedipushttps://mswrede0708.wikispaces.com/LIT+CRITICS+2

Oedipus Rex by Sophocleshttp://www.theatrehistory.com/ancient/oedipus001.html

When he was born the Oracle told his parents their son would kill Laius and marry Jocasta.

The parents had a servant take the baby to Mt. Citheron and leave him to die.

Oedipus Rex by Sophocleshttp://www.theatrehistory.com/ancient/oedipus001.html

The servant felt sympathy for the baby and gave him to a man from Corinth.

This man took baby Oedipus to Corinth and gave him to Polybus and Merope the King and Queen who could not have children.

Oedipus Rex by Sophocleshttp://www.theatrehistory.com/ancient/oedipus001.html

They raised Oedipus until as a young man he found out from the Oracle that he was to kill his father and marry his mother.

Frightened, he ran away from Corinth to avoid his fate, but actually walked into it.

Oedipus Rex by Sophocleshttp://www.theatrehistory.com/ancient/oedipus001.html

At the junction of three roads on the route to Delphi, Oedipus encountered King Lauis (not knowing who he was) and killed him after being bullied.

He then entered Thebes where he solved the riddle of the Sphinx and saved the city.

Riddle of the Sphinxhttp://donaldsweblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/riddles.html

Oedipus Rex by Sophocleshttp://www.theatrehistory.com/ancient/oedipus001.html

Now another deadly pestilence is raging and the people have come to ask Oedipus to rescue them again.

Creon, Jocasta's brother, returns at the very moment from Apollo's oracle and announces that all will be well if Laius' murderer be found and cast from the city.

Oedipus Rex by Sophocleshttp://www.theatrehistory.com/ancient/oedipus001.html

Oedipus vows to find and punish the murderer and sends for the blind seer, Tiresias.

Under pressure from Oedipus the prophet names Oedipus himself as the criminal.

Oedipus is infuriated with this news.

Teiresiashttp://huinee1787.blogspot.com/2009/02/teiresias-tiresias.html

Oedipus Rex by Sophocleshttp://www.theatrehistory.com/ancient/oedipus001.html

Oedipus claims Tiresias is plotting with Creon to gain the throne.

Jocasta appears just in time to avoid a battle between the two men.

She assures Oedipus that seers are not infallible.

Oedipus Rex by Sophocleshttp://www.theatrehistory.com/ancient/oedipus001.html

As proof, she cites the old prophecy that her son would kill his father and have children with her.

She confesses she prevented this by abandoning their infant son in the mountains. As for Laius, he was killed by robbers years later at the junction of three roads on the route to Delphi.

Oedipus Rex by Sophocleshttp://www.theatrehistory.com/ancient/oedipus001.html

Oedipus recalls killing a man similar to Laius' description at the same spot when he was fleeing from his home in Corinth to avoid fulfillment of a similar prophecy.

An old messenger arrives from Corinth, to announce the death of King Polybus, and the election of Oedipus as king.

Oedipus Rex by Sophocleshttp://www.theatrehistory.com/ancient/oedipus001.html

Because of the old prophecy Oedipus refuses to return to Corinth until his mother is dead.

The messenger assures him that he is not the blood son of Polybus and Merope, but a child from the house of Laius deserted in the mountains.

Oedipus Rex by Sophocleshttp://www.theatrehistory.com/ancient/oedipus001.html

This statement is confirmed by the old shepherd whom Jocasta had ordered to kill her baby on Mt. Citheron.

So, the ancient prophecy was fulfilled in each dreadful detail. Jocasta in her horror hangs herself.

Oedipus Rex by Sophocleshttp://www.theatrehistory.com/ancient/oedipus001.html

Oedipus stabs out his eyes.

Then he imposes on himself the penalty of exile which he had promised for the murderer of Laius.

Oedipushttp://sumnonrabidus.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/oedipus.jpg

Oedipus Rex

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA1_QZxvRyo&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOLmfbeACoQ&feature=related

Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocleshttp://athina.byzantinewalls.org/2009/08/10/summary-of-oedipus-at-colonus/

Led by his daughter Antigone, Oedipus, the blind and banished King of Thebes, has wandered to Colonus.

He sits to rest on a rock just within a sacred grove of the Furies and is told to leave by a passing native.

Oedipus and Antigonehttp://www.auburnschools.org/ahs/kmock/English%2010/English%2010%20Main%20Page.htm

Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocleshttp://athina.byzantinewalls.org/2009/08/10/summary-of-oedipus-at-colonus/

But Oedipus, instructed by an oracle that he had reached his final resting-place, refuses, and the stranger goes and consults the Elders of Colonus.

At first, the Elders pity the blind beggar and his daughter.

Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocleshttp://athina.byzantinewalls.org/2009/08/10/summary-of-oedipus-at-colonus/

Learning his name the Elders are horrified and order him to leave the land.

Oedipus appeals to the world-famed hospitality of Athens and implies blessings his coming will give the state.

Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocleshttp://athina.byzantinewalls.org/2009/08/10/summary-of-oedipus-at-colonus/

They agree to await a decision from King Theseus.

Theseus arrives, and Oedipus asks him for protection in life and burial in this land; he promises much good fortune would follow.

Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocleshttp://athina.byzantinewalls.org/2009/08/10/summary-of-oedipus-at-colonus/

Theseus departs having promised to aid and befriend him.

As soon as Theseus leaves Creon enters with an armed guard and seizes Antigone. They have already captured Ismene, the other sister.

Antigone & Ismenehttp://www1.union.edu/wareht/gkcultur/guide/11/

Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocleshttp://athina.byzantinewalls.org/2009/08/10/summary-of-oedipus-at-colonus/

Creon is about to take Oedipus, when Theseus, who heard the ruckus, hurries up and, scorning Creon for his lawless act, threatens to arrest him till he has shown where the captives are and freed them.

Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocleshttp://athina.byzantinewalls.org/2009/08/10/summary-of-oedipus-at-colonus/

In the next scene Theseus returns bringing with him the freed sisters.

Theseus informs Oedipus that a stranger who has taken sanctuary at the altar of Poseidon wishes to see Oedipus.

Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocleshttp://athina.byzantinewalls.org/2009/08/10/summary-of-oedipus-at-colonus/

The stranger is Polyneices who has come to receive his father’s blessings and forgiveness, knowing by an oracle that victory will fall to the side that Oedipus backs.

Oedipus denies the hypocrite, and places a curse on both his unnatural sons. Eteocles is the other son.

Oedipus, Antigone, Ismene, & Polyneices

http://evans-experientialism.freewebspace.com/sophocles_oedipus02.htm

Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocleshttp://athina.byzantinewalls.org/2009/08/10/summary-of-oedipus-at-colonus/

A clap of thunder sounds, and Oedipus is aware that his hour is come and bids Antigone summon Theseus.

Attended by Theseus and his daughters, Oedipus leads the way to the spot where he should die.

Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocleshttp://athina.byzantinewalls.org/2009/08/10/summary-of-oedipus-at-colonus/

Halfway he bids his daughters farewell, and only Theseus knows where he died. He must keep it secret.

The gods take Oedipus.

Theseus had promised to take care of Antigone and Ismene.

Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocleshttp://athina.byzantinewalls.org/2009/08/10/summary-of-oedipus-at-colonus/

Antigone leaves to try and stop the siege of Thebes from happening.

Oedipus at Colonus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Kg-X6YloOg&feature=related

English 10 Literature Lesson #2Mr. Rinka

Oedipus Rex &

Oedipus at Colonus

Oedipus Trilogy

Oedipus Rex

Oedipus at Colonus

Antigone