Oedipus Myth

Oedipus Delphic Oracle – The Prophecy and Apollo Corinth The Riddle of the Sphinx Self-punishment Children: Eteocles Polyneices Ismene Antigone

Part I Laius and Jocasta (Thebes), receive warning from the Delphic oracle soon-to-be-born son will kill his father and marry his mother. After its birth, to avoid the prophecy, infant’s feet are pierced and bound, given to a shepherd who is instructed to abandon the child on the slopes mountain The shepherd takes pity on the child, gives it to another shepherd from Corinth, who brings it to the childless Polybus and Merope (Corinth), to be brought up as their own son. Name him Oedipus, which means "swollen foot."

Part II Oedipus reaches adulthood, learns from oracle he is destined to kill his father and marry his mother. To evade his fate, Oedipus leaves Corinth During journey, his chariot and another’s meet where three roads cross. No one is willing to move; fight ensues, hot-headed Oedipus kills the other man — his biological father, King Laius.

Part III Oedipus reaches Thebes, confronted the Sphinx, a mythological creature with the head of a woman and the body of a lion. She terrorizes the city by asking a riddle, killing those that cannot answer it. Oedipus gets same cryptic question and he answers it, Oedipus proclaimed city’s savior and king by queen’s bro, Creon Oedipus marries Laius’ widow — his own mother — and has four children with her: Antigone, Ismene, Eteocles, and Polynices. After ruling benevolently for many years, a plague suddenly descends upon the city and this is where the story begins…

As you read the play Take notes after each BEAT… There are no scenes in Oedipus, so a beat is made up of the characters in that particular beat; the beat CHANGES when another character comes in. Take notes on what is happening in each beat: write a quick summary of the beat, who is in the beat and questions you have so far