Focus: Analyzing Sophocles' Oedipus Rex
1. Warm-up: Perusing each other's reading tickets, musical chairs style
2. Engaging in a lively and revealing Socratic seminar on Oedipus Rex
3. Wrapping up the discussion (final 10 minutes)
HW:
1. Make sure your blog is set up before tomorrow (in other words, you need to have finalized your question before tomorrow).
2. Bring Oedipus Rex back to class tomorrow so that you can work on composing your first and second posts in class. If you bring your own laptop, please do so tomorrow.
3. If you are purchasing your own copy of Wuthering Heights, please bring that to class starting Thursday.
4. Start working on your college essay (due September 12).
What is fate in this story? Did Oedipus ever really have a choice in this story? -Nick S.
ReplyDeleteBecause of fate, he made those choices.
In Sophocles’ time period, prophecies always came true -Kate E.
Is it really his fault?
Giving away their child was not a good idea seeing as though the prophecy would come true anyway -Katie F.
Oedipus never really did have a choice even though he thought he did -Kendall C.
How did you feel Oedipus was portrayed by Sophocles?
Oedipus was childlike/immature. Went to drastic measures. -Whitney K.
Pompous. Inner character came out as the novel unfolded. -Paul G.
It was noble that he sacrificed his happiness for his people. -Katie F.
He was smart. Everybody loved him but he eventually had to crawl away from his own city. -Ian S.
Everything you work for is so easy to lose -Anna W.
Oedipus doesn’t care what the prophet says as he is too prideful in himself. -Natalie S.
Oedipus is paranoid. Doesn’t trust anyone or anything including himself. -Nick S.
Is Sophocles trying to say something about trust? -Whitney K.
Accusatory especially of Tiresias the blind seer. Oedipus holds on to his ignorance and blindness so deeply. When Oedipus finally recognizes the truth, he can’t handle it. -Mackenzie R.
Ignorance can be so happy and wisdom can be so sad. You can know so much information and not know any truth about it.
Chorus
A group of people who sang and danced in the background. Would have rhymed in Ancient. Supposed to represent the ideal audience as they offer commentary throughout the play. Judgement they offer is what the audience should be feeling. Constantly referring to other greek mythology. -Ms. Leclaire
Why didn’t Laius just kill Oedipus?
The number 3. It took them three days to decide to leave Oedipus on the mountainside. 3 also appears in a plethora of Greek mythology-Nick S.
Part of fate
Afterwards guilt -Katie F.
Tiresias
Wise
In Greek mythology, he was blinded by Hera for disagreeing with her. However, Zeus gave him the gift of foresight.
Always treated poorly by the main characters.
Sophocles
Puns implying what is happening
Dramatic Irony: Audience knows the whole story
Highlights the importance of honoring the gods -Madison