1. Oedipus: The Legend 12-2 English Miss Lindner

2. Where it begins…

3. Birth/Early Life of Laius Prince of Thebes Father was killed in battle, too young to rule the country Sent to live in Pisa with King Pelops Raised with Chrysippus, Pelops son Teenage emotions and actions

4. Early Life continued Shamed of actions Goes to apologize to Pelops Chriysippus killed himself from the shame Apollo curses Laius Laius tells no one about the curse Heads back to Thebes to rule

5. The Oracle at Delphi

6. Oracle Laius heads there to see what he can do to repent his curse Oracle doesn’t give a straight answer Tells him that his son will kill him and marry his mother Laius vows not to have any children Stays away from his wife… until one night Decides to tell Jocasta about the curse

7. Oedipus

8. King Laius asks the Theban Sheppard to kill his child because he can’t do it himself Takes him to the Cithaeron mountain Can’t kill the child, gives to a Corinthian servant Takes to King Polybus and Queen Merope Raise him as his own

9. Oedipus continued Oedipus is told Polybus and Merope aren’t his parents Asks him parents, they say it’s not true Oedipus can’t let it go, so he travels to the Oracle Hears the same prophecy that King Laius was told Decides to go far away from Corinth Heads to Thebes

10. Prophecy On his way to Thebes, gets into a scuffle with some men Outcome of the scuffle results in the fulfillment of half of the prohecy Encounters the Sphinx outside of Thebes Answers the riddle correctly Creon praises him, as do the citizens of Thebes

11. Fulfillment of Prophecy Oedipus is regarded as a great hero Creon wants him to be the King but there are a few rules Marries Jocasta Story begins with the characters addressing the plague that has been brought upon Thebes

12. Vocabulary Group 1- Tragedy, Oracle, Sphinx Group 2- Dramatic Irony, Catharsis, Hamartia Group 3- Tragic Hero, Plague, Anagnorisis Group 4- Crown of Laurel, Olive Branch, Peripeteia Group 5- Supplication, Hubris

13. Characterization Group 1- Oedipus Group 2- Creon, Apollo Group 3- Priest of Zeus, Laius Group 4- Tiresias, Polybus Group 5- Chorus, Merope

14. Scene 1 Discussion Why has Oedipus sent for Tiresias? Who are the members of the chorus supposed to represent? What happens during the interview between Tiresias and Oedipus? What predictions does Tiresias make? What is Oedipus’ reaction to Tiresias’ charge: “…you are the unholy defilement of this land”? What villainous motives does Oedipus ascribe to Creon and Tiresias?

15. While reading Scene 2

16. Scene 3 What does Jocasta bring to the Chorus? Why is this significant? What news does the messenger bring? How did the messenger know that Polybus was not Oedipus’ father? How did Oedipus get his name? What convinces Jocasta that the prophecy turned out to be true? What advice does Jocasta give Oedipus about trying to solve the mystery of his birth?