1. Oedipus the King

2. I. Background A.The Labdacids (great Theban dynasty 1. Labdacus (his mother’s father is one of Cadmus’ “sown men”) a. carries off Pelops’ son while driving a chariot—kidnapping and assault b. Pelops gives “The Curse of the House of Labdacus

3. Background B.Oedipus Family Tree

4. Plot – unity of action

5. II. Major Themes A.Psychological 1.Search for identity a.Archetypal theme— b.What is man? – riddle of the Sphynx (solved the first time, but not the second) a.Price of self knowledge b.The monster within

6. II. Major Themes A Psychological (continued) 2. child pays for the sins of the father 3. Pride

7. II. Major Themes B.Social Level 1. duty to the society 2. the search for the truth a. The truth—all is suffering b. Blindness—sight imagery

8. II. Major Themes C.Universal Level 1.Respect for the gods 2.What the gods are or represent 3. Pride—greatest sin against the gods (anti – sophists and Socrates?)

9. Fate or Free Will 4. Fate and Free Will – –They interact: one creates the other –Greeks had no trouble with the paradox

10. Fate or Free Will

11. The terrifying question about Oedipus, even more than his inability to escape his fate, is the role of chance—he just hap- pened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. What happened to him could just as easily have happened to any of us.

12. III. Characters A.Oedipus: he thinks he knows who he is B. Jocasta C. Creon

13. III. Characters D.Tieresius E. Chorus F. Messenger G. Shepherd/Soldier

14. IV. Style A.Formal tragic form—Define: 1.Prologue: spoken before chorus appears 2.Parados: chorus’ song as it first enters 3.Five dramatic scenes 4.Stasimon: choral odes at the end of each episode—reflects on that episode 5.Exodus: choral song as they exit B. Contagion imagery—don’t forget the plague!

15. IV. Style C.Eyes—sight—blindness symbolism D. Use of Irony 1. symmetrical— 2. structural-- (see list)

16. IV. Style E.Symbolism mountain 1.Setting – Thebes Corinth 2.Crossroads 3. Sphynx 4. Tiresias 5. Swollen feet

17. Conclusion: The Big Why What makes Oedipus Rex great? 1. depth of understanding -- human nature -- human suffering -- the universal questions