Tragedy: Greek style

Characters and Elements of a Greek Tragedy Antagonist – Character or Force opposing protagonist, gives rise to conflict Protagonist – Hero, main character Dramatic Irony – When the audience knows more about the story than the characters do.

A tragic figure is: Better than normal people Has a reversal of fortune Recognizes the consequences of his/her actions Has uncommon suffering with uncommon dignity

Eventually tragic heroes: fall from great heights or high esteem realize they have made an irreversible mistake face and accept death with honor meet a tragic death

The Dirt on Oedipus Thebes – town founded by a guy named Cadmus – defeats dragon but looses all his men plants the dragons teeth in ground giants are born, kill each other 5 survivors – Fathers and founders of Thebes

Laios and Jocasta – King and Queen bear a son, Oedipus even before birth, Apollo foretells disaster for him He’ll kill his father and marry his mother

What do you do? The only logical thing (in their eyes) Kill him – Given to a Servant, left in the mountains with his feet pierced with an iron pin. The Shepherd can’t do it, gives Oedipus to a Corinthian Shepherd King of Corinth adopts him and names him Oedipus (swollen foot)

In Corinth . . . What would you do? Oedipus leaves, never to return Oedipus grows up, hears Apollo’s prediction What would you do? Oedipus leaves, never to return Oedipus wanders around – finds Thebes

In the mean time . . . King Laios was killed on the road by an unknown traveler Thebes is in the grip of the Sphinx Oedipus comes along. He must solve a riddle to get rid of the Sphinx He is made king, marries the queen and they have four children. They are very happy!

Literary terms- How the play is set up Prologue – 1-2 char, provide background for story. Parados – Chorus to set story’s mood and tone. Episodes – scenes, move through action, dialogue Ode – ends each scene and presents some of the truths or points out the meaning of some events to establish the play’s tone.

Another important terms: Catharsis - release of emotions of pity and fear by audience, evoking compassion for the protagonist, (suffering, affirmation (as opposed to denial) of human values) And remember . . . Hubris – pride/over self-confidence leads protagonist to disregard divine warning or an important law