1. Greek Tragedy: Oedipus the King
Prentice Hall Literature World Masterpieces

2. Background: Sophocles
enjoyed a comfortable life in a well-to-do family
age 28--won the wreath in his first play competition --Antigone
wrote 123 plays/7 survived intact
end of Sophocles' life--Peloponnesian War/time of political turmoil

3. Background: Oedipus Rex
(tragedy) - a serious drama featuring a noble, dignified main character (often a member of royalty) who strives to achieve something and is ultimately defeated
(tragic flaw) - a character flaw or weakness that eventually leads to a character's downfall

4. Festival of Dionysus :
4 day celebration in honor of Dionysus, god of wine and revelry
plays were performed/competition

5. Aristotle’s Definition of a Tragic Hero
1. Should be ruler or leader
2. Of good character (neither exceptionally virtuous nor exceptionally evil)
3. Tragic hero goes through one or more reversals of fortune, leading to a final recognition of truth

6. Aristotle’s Definition of a Tragic Hero (cont.)
4. His/her misfortune brought about by some error of judgment or frailty – “hamartia” (tragic flaw) 5. Tragic hero experiences profound suffering in this process 6. Audience should be moved by pity and fear

7. Irony in Oedipus 3 Types of Irony.....
Irony is the contrast between what appears to be and what actually exists.
3 Types of Irony.....
(verbal irony)—when a character says one thing but means another
(situational irony)—what happens is different from what’s expected to happen
(dramatic irony)—the audience or reader is aware of critical information that a character does not know

8. Sophocles' Oedipus Trilogy
Sophocles wrote the 3 plays over a 36 year period
Antigone was written first
1. --Oedipus Rex (written second)
2. --Oedipus at Colonus (written last)
3. --Antigone (written first)

9. Random Greek Artifact…Agamemnon’s Death Mask

10. Ancient Greek theater Delphi

11. Ancient Greek theater

12. The Sphynx—Oedipus’ Nemesis