Lesson Plan
Topic:	Theme	Date:	DAY NINE
Objective:	1. Learners will be able to define and identify falling action and resolution.  2.  Students will be able to explain the relation of the journey to truth, the dramatic structure, and Oedipus the King.  3.  Students will be able to define and explain the theme of Oedipus the King.  4.  Students will demonstrate an overall understanding of the plot and literary elements studied over the last two weeks.  *Competency Goal 5.01 – Learners will continue to analyze the dramatic structure of Oedipus the King, thus they will be building on prior knowledge of the characteristics of literary genres, in this case drama, exploring how those characteristics apply to literature of world cultures. *Competency Goal 2.02 – Learners will create responses that examine a cause/effect relationship among events by effectively summarizing situations, by showing a clear, logical connection among events, by logically organizing connections as a result of transitioning between points, and by developing a graphic to illustrate points.
Activities	Description of activity	Time	Materials
Anticipatory Set	Reading Quiz: 1. Where does Oedipus send Creon at the beginning of the play and why?  2. What is peripeteia?  3. Name the two ways that the oracle tells Thebes to deal with the corruption.  4. What does Oedipus see as proof of his superiority to Tiresias?  5. Creon’s logical defense highlights Oedipus’ loss of composure.  This supports the notion that Creon is what type of character?  6. What detail do Oedipus and Jocasta cling to as they try to convince themselves that they’ve outwitted the gods?  7. What news does the messenger bring?  8. What is climax and what is the climax in Oedipus?  9. Name two of the three requests that Oedipus makes to Creon during the resolution of the play.  10. Where does Oedipus ask to be sent?  Bonus: Why is it fitting?	15 min
Objective	Today we are going to finish looking at Oedipus the King in terms of the dramatic structure.  We are also going to do some close reading with the falling action and the resolution.  Then, we will look at the theme of the play - what is Sophocles saying?	1 min
Instructional Input/ Guided Practice	Give specific notes on plot and make distinction of how it relates to the dramatic structure and the journey to truth.  Draw dramatic structure triangle on the board.  Go through the falling action and the resolution.  Redefine and look at specific examples from the reading (falling action: 312 - 313) and (resolution: 315, 318 - 319).  Discuss and note on board the different events in each part of the plot.  Focus on the significance of self-blinding.                          Discuss THEME.  Define theme: the central or dominating idea in a literary work.  In non-fiction, the thesis and in fiction, poetry, and drama, it is the abstract concept, which is made concrete through its representation in persona, action, and image in the work.  What is the difference between theme and motif: motif is recurring image, word, object, phrase, or action that tends to unify the work.  How can we find theme: Notice repeating patterns and symbols. Sometimes these lead you to the theme.  What allusions are made throughout the story?  What are the details and particulars in the story?	30 min
	What greater meaning may they have?  Remember that theme, plot, and structure are inseparable, all helping to inform and reflect back on each other. Also, be aware that a theme we determine from a story never completely explains the story. It is simply one of the elements that make up the whole.  Recall the work we did on the human power v. divine power.  Who did we decide would prevail?  So, it seems that Sophocles is commenting on the relationship between humans and gods in terms of fate.  Further, think about why Oedipus ends up in Thebes: running away from problems.
Guided practice	Put students into pairs and pass out diagnostic handout.  Explain that they will complete this for homework, but they have time to work in pairs to help each other.	10 min
Independent practice	Homework: complete handout (this serves as checking for understanding).  Read Aristotle, On Tragedy handout.		handouts