Oedipus Handout - Lesson Plan 9 Homework
Schmidt/Duffner Name:
Honors English II Oedipus unit
- “Lords of the realm, it occurred to me,
just now, to visit the temples of the gods,
so I have my branch in my hand and incense too.
Oedipus is beside himself. Racked with anguish,
No longer a man of sense, he won’t admit
The latest prophecies are hollow as the old –
He’s at the mercy of every passing voice
If the voice tells of terror
I urge him gently, nothing seems to help,
So I turn to you, Apollo, you are nearest.”
Who is the speaker?
What is the significance, that is, what does this quote show the reader in terms of the play overall, Greek culture, and/or the theme?
- How is Oedipus a tragic hero?
- What is hamartia? What is Oedipus’ hamartia? Find an example.
- “You are the king, no doubt, but in one respect,
at least, I am your equal: the right to reply.
I claim that privilege too.
I am not your slave. I serve Apollo.
I don’t need Creon to speak for me in public.”
Who is the speaker?
What type of characterization is this?
Who is the speaker characterizing?
What does this characterization tell the reader?
If you were to classify this characterization as using one of the appeals, which would you apply to it? Support your response.
- “My king,
I’ve said it once, I’ll say it time and again –
I’d be insane, you know it,
senseless, ever to turn my back on you.
You who set our beloved land – storm-tossed, shattered –
Steer us through the storm!”
Who is the speaker?
Who is the audience?
What is the significance of the quote?
What motif is present?
What is the significance of the motif?
- List major characteristics of theater during the 5th century BC?
- “And so,
unknown to mother and father I set out for Delphi,
and the god Apollo spurned me, sent me away
denied the facts I came for,
but first he flashed before my eyes a future
great with pain, terror, disaster – I can hear him cry,
‘You are fated to couple with your mother, you will bring
a breed of children into the light no man can bear to see –
you will kill your father, the one who gave you life!’
I heard all that and ran. I abandoned Corinth,
From that day on I gauged its landfall only
By the stars, running, always running
Toward some place where I would never see
The shame of all those oracles come true.”
Who is the speaker?
What is the speaker discussing (beyond exposition for the play)?
What is he saying about human power v. supernatural power with your example?
How does this relate to the overall theme of the play?
- What is a foil character? What is the purpose of a foil character?
Give an example of a foil character and support your response.
- What did Aristotle believe was the most important part of drama? What are the elements of this aspect of drama?
- What assumption allows Sophocles to use dramatic irony?
Find an example of dramatic irony. Identify the speaker and the significance of your quote.
- “By her own hand. But you are spared the worst,
you never had to watch…I saw it all,
and with all the memory that’s in me
you will learn what that poor woman suffered.”
Who is the speaker?
What is the speaker discussing?
12. What is catastrophe and where does it occur?
