Oedipus Rex (The King)by Sophocles

Greek Theater

Amphitheater: semi-circle with a central viewing area

Greek Theater - Parts

Greek Theater – Parts DefinedThymele – altar for god(s), in middle of “stage”

Theatron – place for audience to sit

Orchestra – where the actors performed, at front of “stage”

Skene – place for scenery

Praskenion – dressing room for actors

Genre: Greek TragedyTragedy orignates from “tragos,” which means “goat.” Theory: Winners of festivals would receive a goat as prize.Focused on popular myths and legends (Oedipus, Trojan War, Hercules, Perseus) and the gods and goddessesExamined the consequences of individual actions, the relationship of people to the gods, and the role fate plays in lifeBest known writers – Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles

Genre’s Characteristics• A tragedy is a serious drama featuring a hero or main

character, often of noble birth, who strives to achieve something and is ultimately defeated.

• The structure of most Greek tragedies presents a tight, formal arrangement of parts.•Prologue: the opening scene of the play. •Parados: the first of the Chorus’s lyric songs, or choral odes.

•Dialogue: the conversation of the play’s characters. •Choral Odes: lyric songs are choral odes. Sophocles treated his chorus as collective “actor.”

•Exodos: the concluding scene of a play.

Greek Drama One of the oldest forms of drama (6th century) Grew out of religion and myth Performed at religious festivals to honor Dionysus,

the god of wine and fertility Only male actors allowed to perform Actors wore masks for 3 main reasons.

1) Characterization and visibility2) To play various roles with few actors3) Sound assistance (mouth pieces acted like megaphones)

Greek Masks

HistoryPlays were a part of festivals to honor the gods. Oedipus honors the deity, Dionysus, god of fertility.Every citizen attended these plays, sometimes up to 15,000.At the end of the festivals, judges would vote on the best play.

Greek godsDionysus – god of wine, fertility, and drama

Apollo – god of healing and prophecyZeus – the supreme deity of godsAthena – goddess of wisdom

Dionysus Apollo

SophoclesConsidered the greatest playwright from Ancient Greece.It is believed he won the Athenian festival eighteen times.Very involved in political and militarily affairs.Oedipus Rex is part of a trilogy.

Sophocles the Innovator

Added a 3rd actor.First to include painted scenery.Reduced the size of the chorus to fifteen men. Purpose of chorus is to represent the citizens who often question, advise, and express opinions.Never showed violent scenes on stage. Violence was reported by a messenger, a character in the play.

ThemesTheme: The central idea or insight to a work of literature.

Fate vs. Free Will – In ancient Greek culture, it was questioned whether it was possible to avoid one’s fate by simple chance or an attempt to avoid prophecy.

Oedipus and the Sphinx

Themes

The Quest for Identity and TruthThe Nature of Innocence and GuiltThe Nature of Moral ResponsibilityThe Abuse of Power

Oedipus and the Sphinx

The Characters

Oedipus (ED i pus)their son

Jocasta (jo KAS tuh)Laius (LAY oos)

Creon (KREE ahn)her brother

The Royal Family

The CharactersOedipus’ Family

The Thebans

Oedipus (ED i pus) Jocasta (jo KAS tuh)

The Royal Family

AntigoneIsmeneEteocles Polynices

child

ren

Delphi’s OracleOracle of Delphi

Most important shrine in Greece – for the god ApolloBuilt around a sacred spring, was considered to be the “opmhalos” (the navel) – the center of the worldPriestess of Apollo – Pythia – gave cryptic answers to those seeking answers

Sphinx

Sphinx – a winged, man-eating creature with a lion’s body and a woman’s head, vicious and single mindedName from the Greek word sphingo meaning “to strangle”

The Sphinx’s RiddleThe Sphinx plagued Thebes with her riddle.“What walks on four legs in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three in the evening?”When Oedipus solved the riddle, the Sphinx killed herself and he inherited the throne of Thebes, which also included its queen, Jocasta.

Oedipus and the Sphinx

Tragic Herocharacter who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw that, combined with fate and external forces, brings on a tragedyHamartia: weakness or flaw in a character.Hubris: excessive pride or arroganceCatharsis: self-realization and self-awareness, where suffering causes relief