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0 Otk Final Study Guide 2009 OEDIPUS THE KING FINAL STUDY GUIDE LA2 PRE-IB HONORS INTRODUCTION TO GREEK TRAGEDY KNOW THE DEFINITIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND UNDERSTAND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE TO GREEK TRAGEDY AND (IN SOME CASES) MODERN­DAY LITERATURE: 1. Aristotle’s views on tragedy 8. Functions of the chorus 16. Role of tragedy in Athenian society 2. Catharsis 9. Harmartia 17. Skene 3. Cause of Hero’s downfall (misfortune) 10. Hubris 18. Stasimon 4. Dramatic irony 11. Life of Sophocles 19. Structure of plays 5. Episode 12. Orchestra 20. The purpose of masks 6. Etymology of the words theater, drama, 13. Parados 21. Theatron chorus 14. Prologue 22. Tragic flaw 7. Exodus 15. Protagonist, Deuteragonist, Tritagonist 23. Tragic hero OEDIPUS THE KING KNOW THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FOLLOWING TOPICS, SITUATIONS, THEMES, MOTIFS, AND SYMBOLS IN THE PLAY: 1. Dramatic purpose of prologue 2. Examples of Oedipus’ hubris 3. Condition of Thebes under the plague (look for specific imagery) 4. Oedipus’ attitude toward the following as well as how it changes throughout the play: supplicants, priest, Creon, Teiresias, Jocasta, chorus, Corinthian messenger, Old Shepherd 5. Theban citizens’ view of Oedipus at beginning of the play and how it changes 6. Steps Oedipus takes to rid Thebes of the plague 7. Apollo’s messages and prophecies through the oracle of Delphi to Jocasta & Laius, Oedipus, Creon, Teiresias 8. Three crossroads (why Oedipus and Laius are there, what happens, whose fault, who survives, symbolism, etc.) 9. Punishments Oedipus vows to take on the murderer of Laius 10. Oedipus’ assassin theory about the murder of Laius 11. Oedipus’ conspiracy theory involving Teiresias and Creon 12. Examples of dramatic irony in Oedipus’ opening speech in the first episode 13. Reasons for Teiresias’ reluctance to tell Oedipus the truth 14. Oedipus’ skepticism of Teiresias and what it is based upon 15. Images of sight and blindness exchanged by Oedipus and Teiresias and used throughout the rest of the play 16. Why Laius’ murder was never investigated 17. Creon’s reasoning for why he does not seek the throne 18. Contrast between the characters and personality traits of Creon and Oedipus in the second episode 19. Role of the chorus and their reactions after the following: o Hearing Apollo’s message about how to cure the plague o Upon learning Polybus and Merope are not Oedipus’ real parents o Teiresias’ initial accusation that Oedipus is the murderer o After learning the horrible truth o Oedipus’ accusations against Creon o After hearing of Oedipus’ self‐blinding 20. Symbolism of Oedipus’ name, the scar on his ankles, the place Laius is killed, images of sight and blindness 21. Views of prophecy (fate) and chance (fortune) by the following characters and how they change throughout the play: Jocasta, Oeidpus, Creon, the chorus 22. What specific pieces of evidence gradually allow Oedipus to come to an understanding first of his role in Laius’ murder and second of his fulfillment of the prophecy 23. Jocasta’s relationship with the Old Shepherd and why she grants his wish to work in the country 24. The irony of Jocasta’s prayer to Apollo and the appearance of the Corinthian messenger in the third episode 25. The relationship between Oedipus and the Corinthian messenger 26. Oedipus and Jocasta’s reactions to each bit of news provided by the Corinthian messenger 27. The points in the play at which the following characters come to understand the prophecy has been fulfilled as well as their reactions to it: Oedipus, Jocasta, the Old Shepherd, the chorus, the people of Thebes, Creon, Oedipus’ children 28. The blame Oedipus assigns to the following people; Apollo, himself, Jocasta, Laius, Polybus & Merope, the Old Shepherd, the Corinthian messenger 29. The specific aspects and themes of Oedipus’ downfall emphasized by the chorus in the fourth stasimon 30. The themes presented by the Second Messenger in his speech to the people of Thebes in the exodus 31. The symbolic significance of Oedipus’ self‐blinding as well as the reasons he himself states for doing it 32. Oedipus’ punishment and the fate of his children 33. Creon’s attitude toward Oedipus at the end of the play and the specific actions he takes 34. The role that pity plays in the tragedy 35. Oedipus’ “tragic flaw” 36. Understand the timeline of the events that happen in the prologue, parados, first episode (scene), first stasimon (choral ode), second episode, second stasimon, third episode, third stasimon, fourth episode, fourth stasimon, exodus. ESSAY TOPICS: YOU ARE REQUIRED TO COMPOSE AND COMPLETE, A MLA FORMATTED, WORD­PROCESSED, 3 PAGE MINIMUM LITERARY CRITICISM PAPER. CHOOSE ONE FROM THE FOLLOWING TOPICS AND USE THE CONVERSATIONAL ROUNDTABLE AS A GUIDE TO COMPLETING YOUR COMPOSITION: 1. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE METAPHOR & MOTIF OF SIGHT? CONSIDER EACH OF THE CHARACTERS IN RELATION TO THEIR VISION. 2. WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THE NAME “OEDIPUS”? WHY DO THE MAIN CHARACTERS NOT SEE THE CONNECTION OF THE MEANING OF “OEDIPUS”? 3. SPECULATE AS TO THE MULTIPLE MEANING OF “CROSSROADS.” WHAT POSSIBLE THEMES AND ISSUES ARE REVEALED AT THE “CROSSROADS” 4. CONSIDER IMPORTANT CHARACTER TRAITS OF OEDIPUS BY HIS THOUGHTS, DIALOGUE, ACTIONS, AND THE WORDS OF OTHER CHARACTERS. DOES OEDIPUS CHANGE? WHY OR WHY NOT? 5. WHAT LEADS YOU TO BELIEVE THAT AN “INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP” WITH YOUR PARENT IS “WRONG/IMMORAL”? WHAT IS SOPHOCLES’ SAYING ABOUT THIS ISSUE OF INCEST? 6. IDENTIFY 3 OR MORE EXAMPLES OF FORESHADOWING AND CONSIDER THE EFFECTS OF THIS LITERARY DEVICE ON THE STORY. 7. COMPARE AND CONTRAST AUDIENCE [US] TO… o OEDIPUS o TEIRESIAS o JOCASTA o SHEPHERD AND/OR OTHER CHARACTER D.N.CHUNG, C. FENSTERMAKER; VALENCIA H.S., PYLUSD EMAIL: [email protected] // [email protected] 1 OEDIPUS THE KING FINAL STUDY GUIDE LA2 PRE-IB HONORS 8. ACCORDING TO ARISTOTLE, THE AIM OF A TRAGEDY IS TO BRING ABOUT A “CATHARSIS.” WHAT IS THE CATHARTIC EFFECT OF OTK? WHAT DOES SOPHOCLES DO IN HIS DRAMA TO BRING ABOUT A CATHARSIS? 9. WHAT IS ARISTOTLE’S DEFINITION OF A “PERFECT TRAGEDY”? HOW DOES OTK ACHIEVE THIS FEAT? HOW DOES OTK NOT ACHIEVE THIS? 10. WHAT WAS OEDIPUS’ “HARMARTIA”? HOW DOES HIS FRAILTY CONTRIBUTE TO HIS DEMISE? D.N.CHUNG, C. FENSTERMAKER; VALENCIA H.S., PYLUSD EMAIL: [email protected] // [email protected] 2 .
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