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The branch of drama that treats in a serious and dignified style the sorrowful or terrible events encountered or caused by a heroic individual. It more precisely refers to a work of art that probes with high seriousness questions concerning the role of man in the universe.

Tragedy

Characters Everything Oedipus Who said this? 10 Point 20 Points 30 Points 40 Points 50 Points 10 Point 20 Points 30 Points 40 Points 50 Points 30 Points 40 Points 50 Points Lit. DevicesVocabulary

The ___________ beg Oedipus to help save Thebes from the plague. Suppliants or sepulchre

suppliants

The citizens of Thebes were prisoners within their own ____________ until Oedipus was able to solve the riddle of the Sphinx. Citadel or chaplet

citadel

Creon gave his __________ once he replaced Oedipus as King of Thebes. Edict or expedient

edict

Laius’ act of _______________ lead to Apollo punishing Oedipus through his given fate. Defilement or contagion

defilement

Oedipus became ______________ with guilt when he discovered Jocasta’s body. Stricken or overwrought

overwrought

The blind prophet who can “see” the future.

Teiresias

The god of prophecy. Laius went to see the Oracle at Delphi to receive his fate.

Apollo

Oedipus’ adoptive father who dies from natural causes.

Polybos

The leader of the Chorus. He sometimes speaks with the other characters in the play to add commentary to the plot.

Choragos

A worker for King Laius who gives baby Oedipus to a servant of Corinth.

The old Shepherd

In literature, a plot device in which the audience’s or reader’s knowledge of events surpasses that of the characters.

Dramatic Irony

Generally, it is an object(s) representing another to give it an entirely different meaning that is much deeper and more significant.

Symbol

A main idea or an underlying meaning of a literary work that may be stated directly or indirectly.

Theme

An object or idea that repeats itself throughout a literary work (both literally and figuratively).

Motif

Made of actors who sang and danced during production. considered the central to the production and important to the meaning of the play, also narrated the story and even commented on the events and action taking place throughout the play.

Chorus

Oedipus’ various attempts to avoid his fate is an example of this Greek term.

Hubris (excessive pride)

Oedipus’ choice to kill the stranger and his men at the crossroads is an example of this Greek term.

Hamartia

Archetypally, the number three represents completeness, closure, unity, awareness, and even spiritual awareness. The repetition of the number “three” in the play is an example of this literary device.

Motif

This motif is used both literally and figuratively to describe the character’s awareness or lack of awareness.

Sight vs. Blindness

This symbol is used to recognize the way in which fate has marked Oedipus and sets him apart from his peers. It also symbolizes the way his movements have been confined and constrained since birth, by Apollo’s prophecy to Laius.

The scar on his ankles

“My children, generations of living In the line of Kadmos, nursed at his ancient hearth: Why have you strewn yourselves before these altars In supplication with your boughs and garlands?”

Oedipus

“The word is that the people of Isthmus Intend to call Oedipus to be their king.”

Messenger from Corinth

“You are all ignorant. No; I will never tell you what I know. Now it is my misery; then, it will be yours.”

Teiresias

“No. Reason it cut, as I have done. Think of this first: Would any sane man prefer Power, with all a king’s anxieties, To that same power and the grace of sleep?”

Creon

“Set your mind at rest. If it is a question of soothsayers, I tell you That you will find no man who craft gives knowledge Of the unknowable.”

Iocaste