1. Oedipus
By Cade Anderson, Connor Anton, John Sebok, Tien Tavu, and Katherine Welch

2. topic Background of Sophocles: Who was Sophocles? Why is Greek
theater still important to us today, even if these plays were
written thousands of years ago? What was Greek culture like
(belief systems, traditions, etc.) and do aspects of Greek culture show through in Oedipus the King? Can anything in Oedipus the King relate to our lives or the lives of others today?
- This prompt connects to Oedipus the King through parts of Greek culture that are woven into the story of Oedipus when things like the gods, oracles, and prophecies are alluded to throughout the play.
Add connection

3. Literal meaning
The literal meaning of the prompt is who is the author of Oedipus the King, and how does one's basic knowledge of the author allow them to identify the transcendent set of personal values and morals displayed in the novel? -and how does the novel illustrate these values to better display Greek culture and relate to the lifestyle of modern society? 
- Sophocles was a master tragic playwright who composed and displayed dramas in the ancient Greek theatre. Greek theatre and the lessons portrayed in its pieces are still relevant because they continue to provide a basis of life lessons and moral obligations that serve to guide the lifestyle's of modern society such as how Oedipus the King teaches us about pride and the inescapability of fate. Oedipus the King also helps to reveal the important innerworkings of Grecian culture such as society's daily reliance on the gods as people often called upon them and looked to the gods in times of crisis as well as believing and executing the prophecies that the gods displayed to them. 

4. Examples from the Text
Throughout the play, there were references to religion coming from Greek culture.
For example, in the beginning of the play, there were allusions to various Greek gods as the Chorus prayed and worshipped them, asking for help and support to revive the city of Thebes.
"Sweet message of Zeus! You have come from Apollo's golden temple to splendid Thebes, bringing us news.... First I call upon you, immortal Athena, daughter of Zeus. And on your sister Artemis, the protector of this land, who sits in glory on her throne in the market place... send help and bring us joy." (pg ).
Additionally, the play was filled with numerous types of ironies and shows the fall of a tragic hero, introducing a new field of drama to the Greek theatre. 
Oedipus, who became the king for the city of Thebes, investigates the murder of Laius with excessive pride until he realizes that the murderer was himself, and acknowledges punishment for the better good of his city.
"[L]ook at Oedipus here, who knew the answer to the famous riddle and was a power in the land. On his good fortune all the citizens gazed with envy. Into what a stormy sea of dreadful trouble he has come now. Therefore we must call no man happy while he waits to see his last day, not until he has passed the border of life and death without suffering pain." (pg ).

5. Literary Devices

6. Literary Devices
Archetype (Supernatural Intervention): Creon reveals what he was told by Apollo
"I was told by the god Apollo. He ordered us... to drive out the thing that defiles this land... atone for a murder which brings the plague- storm on the city" (Sophocles 6-7).
- The revelation of the curse on Thebes and the way to stop it being told by Apollo himself exemplifies supernatural intervention because Oedipus' and Thebes' fate is entirely dependent on and controlled by Apollo and the other gods. Creon's quest to seek Apollo for answers also reveals the dependence of the people on the gods for safety and justice. 
kids
Connor – don’t forget to have examples for each

7. Tone (Desperation): The chorus calls to the Greek gods for help in finding Laius' killer and ending the plague
"First I call upon you, immortal Athena, daughter of Zeus. And on your sister Artemis... and I call on far-shooting Apollo... appear to me"(Sophocles 12)!
- The chorus' pleading call to the Greek gods reveals the state of desperation of Thebes and urgency of removing the plague from the country. A begging tone shows that the curse of the plague on Thebes is inevitable as it is the work of the gods and that the only true way to solve the problem is by listening directly to the gods' wishes. This also reveals the dependence of the uppermost classes on the wisdom and power of the Greek gods.
Connor – don’t forget to have examples for each
Literary Devices

8. Literary Devices
Cosmic Irony: Oedipus realizes that his curse had come true
"Oh, God, here comes the dreadful truth... it was the son of Laius, so I was told. But the lady inside there, your wife, she is the one to tell you... she was afraid of dreadful prophecies... it has all come true... I stand revealed – born in shame, married in shame, an unnatural murderer" (Sophocles 87-9).
- The irony that Oedipus confronted his prophesized fate despite going to every measure to prevent both reveals the inevitability of the prophecies of the Greek gods and the tragedy that Oedipus had come across. This ties into the popular theme of tragedy in Greek drama and the strong role of the Greek gods in the fate of characters in Greek literature.
Connor – don’t forget to have examples for each

9. Significant Moments

10. 1) When Oedipus consults the gods after being advised by the priest.
- “I have acted already. I have sent Creon, my brother-in-law, to the prophetic oracle of Apollo, to find out by what action or speech, if any, I may rescue Thebes” (page 4).
- This moment is important to the story because it
uses supernatural intervention as the beginning of
the mystery of who killed the previous king, and is
the starting point of Oedipus’ downfall. It is also
significant to the topic because it mentions aspects
of Greek culture through the inclusion of Greek
religious beliefs and how they reacted to certain
situations.

11. 2) When Tiresias foreshadows Oedipus’ true parentage.
- “He will be revealed as brother and father of the children with whom he now lives, the son and husband of the woman who gives him birth, the murderer and marriage-partner of his father. Go think this out. And if you find that I am wrong, then say I have no skill in prophecy” (page 31).
- This part is important to the novel because it shows who the actual murderer is, concluding the mystery of the novel. This leads to Oedipus’ downfall as it is now made known that he was actually married to his mother, and their relationship was the cause of hardship for Thebes. This significant moment also relates back to the topic because it involves
an oracle who spouts prophecy. In Greek society, these words were
held as sacred and true. In today’s world, hardly anyone actually
believes in “fortune telling”.

12. 3) When Oedipus falls from his status of king to one of shame.
- “From that time on you were called King, you were honored above all men, ruling over great Thebes. And now – is there a man whose story is more pitiful? His life is lived in merciless calamity and pain – a complete reversal from his happy state” (page 90).
- This moment is significant to the development of the play because it shows the downfall of the tragic hero, a conclusion to his great life. This also connects back to the topic, because Greek culture and stories often focused on heroes and their lives, so the inclusion of a tragic hero’s story is reminiscent of that emphasis on heroism and tragedy.

13. Extra prompts

14. Extra Prompt 1
1985: What in “Oedipus Rex” produces a “healthy confusion” in which you explain the sources of other “pleasure and disquietude” experienced by the readers of the work?
The entire play presents a conflict of what is truth, what is lies, what is fate, and what is denial. The initial accusation by Tiresias saying that Oedipus is in fact the killer of King Laius seems at first absurd, leaving the audience at a loss as to who to believe. It is not until the shepherd and messenger come forward that the prophesy given by Apollo and Tiresias is given validity and clarity to the reader. However, the passionate denial of Oedipus to all of these accusations regarding both his mother and father leaves the reader to still feel a small amount of doubt even in the face of the mounting evidence. It is only when Oedipus accepts what has truly happened that the reader experiences the full disquietude produced by Oedipus’s actions. Such an effect is just as profound today as it was when the play was first written, demonstrating the perils of denial and fate that still ring true in contemporary society.

15. Extra prompt 2
2003: Select a tragic figure that functions as an instrument of the suffering of others "Oedipus Rex." Discuss and explain how the suffering brought upon by the tragic figure contributes to the tragic vision as a whole.
The most prominent tragic figure is in fact Oedipus, whose suffering is propelled by his own hunger for information regarding his past. It is this curiosity and need to know that inspires his hunt for a knowledge that will be his downfall. His tragedy is both self-inflicted, as it was his desire to know about his relation to his wife, and the product of events that were out of his control, as Oedipus had no knowledge that the woman he loved was his own flesh and blood. This connects to our prompt as the theme of internal struggle and suffering still rings true with today’s audiences. The lessons regarding the conflict with fate that are demonstrated by Oedipus is still applicable to readers today.

16. Works Cited
Knox, Bernard, translator. Oedipus the King. Pocket Books, 1994.