K – February 9

21. Prolific (pro LIF ik): abundantly fruitful, marked by great productivity Synonym: fertile Sentence: His prolific career resulted in an abundant supply of money.

22. Reprove (reh PROOV): to scold or to rebuke for a misdeed usually with kindly intent Synonym: admonish, rebuke, reproach Sentence: The Doctor reproved the patient for not taking better care of himself.

Introduction to Oedipus and Greek Tragedy

Structure of Greek Tragedy Prologue - the opening scene - the background of the story is established, usually by a single actor or in a dialogue between two actors. Parodos - the entrance of the chorus, usually chanting a lyric which bears some relation to the main theme of the play. Episode – the counterpart of the modern act or scene - the plot is developed through action and dialogue between the actors, with the chorus sometimes playing a minor role.

Structure of Greek Tragedy Stasimon- the choral ode. A stasimon comes at the end of each episode so that the tragedy is a measured alternation between these two elements. Exodos- the final action after the last Stasimon, ended by the ceremonial exit of all the players.

The Chorus Chorus- consists of twelve to fifteen elders (men) Choragos- the leader of the chorus Ode- indicates the end of a scene - also used to provide the chorus’s response to the proceeding scene. Lyric Poem- verse which focuses on emotions and thoughts

Elements of Greek Tragedy: The subject is serious. The tragic hero is pitted against forces beyond his or her control. The tragic hero makes decisions that lead to a “no-win” situation.

Aristotle’s Definition of Tragic Figure The character must be a person of noble birth. The character must be neither totally good nor totally evil. An error of judgment or a weakness in the character causes the misfortune. The character must be responsible for the tragic events. Action involves a change in fortune from happiness to misery.

Exploration of the tragic hero 1. Tragedy arouses the emotions of pity and fear, wonder and awe. Two purposes: 1. The reader turns his thoughts inward to ponder their own fate 2. The reader is moved to consider momentarily the fate of all human beings. 2. A tragic hero must be a man or woman of capable of great suffering. (usually kings, queens, or nobles) 3. Tragedy explores the question of the ways of God to man. (Why do people suffer?) 4 Tragedy purifies the emotions. (Catharsis- emotional release is the climax of the play) 5. Tragedy shows how man is brought to disaster by a single flaw in his own character. (The Tragic flaw)

The Three Functions of the Chorus: To provide background information for YOU- the audience! To talk and give advice to the main characters! To interpret important events that occur in drama

Greece

Greek Theatre

Sophocles – Author of Oedipus 496-406 B.C. considered the greatest of the ancient Greek playwrights Sophocles was known for his musical, poetic, and dramatic talents At the age of seventeen, he was the choragos, or chorus leader, in a dramatic celebration of Greece's victory over Persia

Sophocles, Cont. When he was twenty eight, he caused a sensation by winning first prize for tragedy at the festival of Dionysus, defeating Aeschylus, the leading playwright of the day. Over the next sixty-two years, Sophocles went on to win twenty-four first prizes and seven second prizes in thirty-one competitions--the best record of any Greek playwright.

Sophocles, Cont. wrote more than one hundred and twenty tragedies, of which only seven survive today His plays always contain a moral lesson--usually a caution against pride and religious indifference. also a great technical innovator: He added a third actor to Aeschylus's original two, introduced painted sets, and expanded the size of the chorus to fifteen.

Sophocles, Cont. Sophocles wrote the three tragedies about King Oedipus of Thebes and his family over a forty-year period began with the third part of the story, Antigone, first performed in 442 B.C Twelve years later, Sophocles backtracked and wrote the first part of the story, Oedipus the King. The last year of his life Sophocles wrote the middle segment, Oedipus at Colonus.

The Oedipus Myth Characters and Terms: King Laios Queen Jocasta Thebes Oracle at Delphi Oedipus Corinth Sphinx Chorus Choragos

The Oedipus Myth Characters and Terms, Cont. Polyneices Eteocles Antigone Ismene Creon Teiresias Haimon Eurydice Sentry

Thebes, Egypt

Map of Corinth

Oedipus’ Family Tree Antigone Haimon Ismene Eurydice Eteocles Polyneices Creon Oedipus Laios Jocasta