Welcome to today’s classPresented by

Md. Munibur Rahman

Assistant Professor

Department of English

Jessore Govt City College, Jessore

King Oedipus

Sophocles (496 – 406 BC)

King OedipusThe cover of the drama shows “Oedipus and the Sphinx” from a cup in the Etruscan Museum, the Vatican (Photo: Scala)

Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex • Probably it’s the most famous tragedy ever

written. • It is known by a variety of titles (the most

common being Oedipus Rex), including Oedipus the King and Oedipus Tyrannus.

• Sophocles first produced the play in Athens around 430 B.C. at the Great Dionysia, a religious and cultural festival held in honor of the god Dionysus, where it won second prize. Dionysus is the god of wine and fertility and drama; the Greek name of Bacchus.

Translation of Oedipus Rex (1)

• Thomas Francklin, 1759 – verse • Edward H. Plumptre, 1865 – verse: full text • Richard C. Jebb, 1904 – prose: full text • Gilbert Murray, 1911 – verse • Francis Storr, 1912 – verse: full text • William Butler Yeats, 1928 – mixed prose and verse • David Grene, 1942 (revised ed. 1991) – verse • E.F. Watling, 1947 – verse • Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald, 1949 – verse

Translation of Oedipus Rex (2)• Theodore Howard Banks, 1956 – verse • Albert Cook, 1957 – verse • Bernard Knox, 1959 – prose • H. D. F. Kitto, 1962 – verse • Stephen Berg and Diskin Clay – verse • Robert Bagg, 1982 (revised ed. 2004) – verse • Robert Fagles, 1984 – verse • Nick Bartel, 1999 – verse: abridged text • Kenneth McLeish, 2001 - Verse • George Theodoridis, 2005 – prose: full text • Luci Berkowitz and Theodore F. Brunner, 1970 – prose • Ian Johnston, 2004 – verse: full text

Ancient Greek Tragedy• video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmSbqfy5Df0&feature=related

Sophocles Aristotle

Ancient Greek Theatre.flv • Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNAM3PzGcow&feature=related

Three Theban plays: Not a trilogy• Oedipus the King Oedipus at Colonus

Antigone.• Antigone was first performed in 442 BCE.• Oedipus the King was first performed c. 429

BCE.• Oedipus at Colonus was written shortly before

Sophocles' death in 406 BC and produced by his grandson (also called Sophocles) at the Festival of Dionysus in 401 BCE.

People and places to know:

• Oedipus• Jocasta• Laius• Polybus• Merope

• Sphinx• Teiresias (Tiresias )• Apollo• Delphi• Cithaeron• Thebes (the House of Cadamus)

The picture shows Oedipus explaining the riddle of the Sphinx.

Painted by: Jean Auguste

Sphinxa winged female monster in Greek mythology having a woman's head and a lion's body

and noted for killing anyone

unable to answer its riddle

an ancient Egyptian image in the form of a recumbent lion having a man's head, a ram's head, or a hawk's head

Sphinx

Apollo

Apollo has been variously recognized as a god of light and the sun, truth and prophecy, healing, plague, music, poetry, and more. Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto, and has a twin sister, the chaste huntress Artemis. Apollo is known in Greek-influenced Etruscan mythology as Apulu. Some of his epithets: Phoebus, Delian (as born in Delos island), Pythian, Lycian, etc.

Oracle: A prophecy (usually obscure or allegorical) revealed by a priest or priestess; believed to be infallible.

Pythia: (Greek mythology) the priestess of Apollo at Delphi who transmitted the oracles

Cithaeron / KithaironIt is a mountain range about 10 mi long, in central Greece, standing between Boeotia in the north and Attica in the south. It is mainly composed of limestone and rises to 4,623 ft. Its northeast side is formed by the mountain Pastra

Cithaeron / KithaironIt is a mountain range about 10 mi long, in central Greece, standing between Boeotia in the north and Attica in the south. It is mainly composed of limestone and rises to 4,623 ft. Its northeast side is formed by the mountain Pastra.

Cithaeron / KithaironIt is a mountain range about 10 mi long, in central Greece, standing between Boeotia in the north and Attica in the south. It is mainly composed of limestone and rises to 4,623 ft. Its northeast side is formed by the mountain Pastra

DelphiThe Pythia was the priestess at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus.

Teiresias (Tiresias ) A famous prophet of Thebes. He accidentally came across Athena while she was bathing, so she blinded him. At his mother’s pleading, Athena gave Teiresias the gift of prophecy to compensate for his blindness. He died after drinking the water from the spring Tilphussa, where he was struck by an arrow of Apollo.

Major gods and goddesses

Greek Name Roman Name god/goddess of

Aphrodite Venus Love (goddess)

Apollo Apollo light, sun, prophecy, healing, music, poetry, etc. (god)

Artemis Diana chastity, hunting, and wild animals (goddess)

Athene/Athena

Minerva war, wisdom and crafts (goddess)

Eros Cupid love (god)

Hades Pluto Underworld (god)

Hera Juno Protector of women and marriage

Zeus Jupiter King of all gods and goddess of Olympus

http://sites.google.com/site/tragedy160/maps/gr_south.gif?attredirects=0

The structure of Greek Tragedy

• Prologue, 1-150• Parodos, 151-215• First Episode, 216-462 • First Stasimon, 463-512 • Second Episode, 513-862 • Second Stasimon, 863-910

• Third Episode, 911-1085 • Third Stasimon, 1086-

1109 • Fourth Episode, 1110-1185 • Fourth Stasimon, 1186-

1222 • Exodos, 1223-1530

Prologue: An introduction to a playStasimon: (στάσιμον) is a stationary/standing song, composed of strophes and antistrophes and performed by the chorus in the orchestra. Ancient tragedy began as a conversation between a single actor and a chorus. A second and third actor were added -- eventually.

Strophe & AntistropheAntistrophe (a turning back) is the portion of an ode sung by the chorus in its returning movement from west to east, in response to the strophe, which was sung from east to west.

Peripeteia/Peripety

/ˌpɛrəpɨˈtaɪə/ (Greek: περιπέτεια) A sudden turn of circumstances or an unexpected reversal/turning point. The English form of peripeteia is peripety.

Anagnorisis

/ˌænəɡˈnɒrɨsɨs/; (Greek: ἀναγνώρισις):It is a moment in a play or other work when a character makes a critical discovery. Anagnorisis originally meant recognition in its Greek context, not only of a person but also of what that person stood for. Anagnorisis was the hero's sudden awareness of a real situation, the realisation of things as they stood, and finally, the hero's insight into a relationship with an often antagonistic character in Aristotelian tragedy.

Introduction

• The setting of the Oedipus the King as in the case of most Greek tragedies, does not require a change of scene. Throughout the play the scene with at least one door represents the façade (face or front of a building) of the royal palace of Thebes.

• http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/netshots/oedipus.htm

Prologue (1-150) - Oedipus, Priest and Creon

Read (1)

Prologue, 1-150. (Priest, Oedipus, Creon)

• The priests of Thebes appear before Oedipus as suppliants, entreating him to find some end to the plague.

• Oedipus has already sent Creon to Delphi, who arrives to report that the killer of Laius must be sought out and banished.

• Oedipus vows to find the killer and summons the people of the city.

Prologue (1-150) - Oedipus, Priest and Creon

• What is the dramatic purpose of the prologue?

• How does Oedipus characterize himself (8)?

• What is his attitude toward the suppliants (13-14)?

Pollution/ miasma

• blood pollution that infects the family, and for a royal family the city itself

• The Plague of Thebes, oil on canvas,

Charles François Jalabeat (French, 1819-1901)

Oedipus

• "Oidi-pous“ in Greek means "swollen footed”• But we can also analyze Oedipus in at least

two other ways: – oidi- to a Greek sounds like oida, oide = "I know,

he knows" (a central theme in the play) – -dipous to a Greek means the "two-footed one,"

with obvious associations to the riddle of the Sphinx (another central theme)

Oedipus• Man of action, caring but haughty: 7ff, 71ff

etc. • Revealer of the truth: 150 • Solver of riddles: 443ff (e.g.)

Parodos , 151-215.

• The Chorus of Theban citizens offer prayers to Zeus, Apollo, Athena for release from the plague.

Parodos:

Parados (151-215)

• What is the reaction of the Chorus to the advice of Apollo ('the Delian Healer') to Thebes (154-157)?

• What conditions in Thebes does the Chorus describe (170-182)?

• Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wcqRm_loB0&feature=related

Priestess of Delphi (1891) by John

Collier

chorus is an "act-dividing song":

–allows for entrances and exits –allows for the scene to change –marks the passage of time–chorus comments directly or indirectly

on what is going on

First Episode , 216-462.

Read (2): p.6, p.7-11

First Episode , 216-462.

• A group of Theban people lead urges Oedipus to save them from the plague in the country.

• Oedipus appeals for information and pronounces his curse on the murderer.

• Teiresias is summoned: at first he refuses to tell what he knows, but aroused by Oedipus' taunts he declares Oedipus the murderer.

• Oedipus declares a conspiracy by Creon. Teiresias declares that the murderer is present, and will be found son and husband to his mother.

First Episode (216-462) - Oedipus, Chorus and Teiresias

• Explain the following ironies in Oedipus's speech (218-220; 236-248; 249-251; 259-265).

• Why does Oedipus summon Teiresias (278-287)? What is Teiresias's reaction to Oedipus's request for help (316-344)?

I must know. Know thyself!

• But knowing is itself problematized in the Oedipus the King: central to the text is not only what is known and by whom, but what it means to "know"-- what is "true" knowing.

• Insight and blindness

Apollo versus Oedipus: • divine versus human knowledge• Apollo

– sun, day, clear, blazing, burning – fever, blazing, burning: sender of plague and

the Healer – intelligence, clear, seeing – brilliance, poetry – truth (knowledge), clear, seeing – divine prophecy, clear, seeing

Prophet/ Tiresias

• Teiresias, the seer of Oedipus the King: Sophocles’ and Seneca’s versions http://www.leeds.ac.uk/classics/lics/2003/200305.pdf

• South Italian Red-figure bowl. Detail: Tiresias seated holding sacrificial knife as Odysseus (left) stands by him

First Stasimon (463-512)

• What is the Chorus's view of Teiresias's accusations against Oedipus (483-495; 504-511)?

Suffering= pathos• What has Oedipus done to deserve

such awful suffering? Why must he suffer?

Tragedy=an aesthetic question mark

• The dramatic expression of an enquiry into suffering, an aesthetic question mark performed in enacted pain.

• While representing an instance of suffering in dramatic form, always asks why it has occurred.

• Pathology= the study of diseases• Etiology= the causes of diseases or a study of

causes

hubris

• "ungodly pride" (hubris) or "tragic flaw" (hamartia)

First Stasimon , 463-512.

• The Chorus are fearful of the pronouncement of the seer, but declare their loyalty to their king.

Second Episode , 513-862. (Creon, Oedipus, Chorus; Jocasta)

Read (3): p.17-18

Second Episode , 513-862. (Creon, Oedipus, Chorus; Jocasta)

• Creon is indignant at Oedipus' accusations. • They argue over the charge. Jocasta tries to

intervene. Kommos , 649-697. • The Chorus advise restraint and Oedipus lets

Creon go, though he declares him an enemy. Oedipus tells Jocasta the source of the dispute.

• Jocasta tells the story of Laius' death, and Oedipus recognizes many details: but he was a lone killer, whereas a band of killers was reported.

• Oedipus worries about the oracle; Jocasta denounces its veracity, adducing the prophesy about her son.

Second Stasimon , 863-910. (Chorus)

Read (4): p.20-21

Second Stasimon , 863-910. (Chorus)

• Ode to the sanctity of divine law. • The tyrant who ignores justice and reverence

for the gods will fall. • The oracles must be true.

Third Episode , 911-1085. (Jocasta, Messenger, Chorus; Oedipus)

• A messenger arrives from Corinth announcing the death of Polybus and Oedipus' ascension.

• He allays Oedipus' fear of the oracle (that he will marry his mother) by telling him of his true birth.

• Over Jocasta's objections Oedipus vows to continue his search for the truth. Jocasta runs into the palace.

Third Stasimon , 1086-1109. (Chorus)

• Ode to Mt. Cithaeron: we will soon know the parentage of Oedipus.

Fourth Episode , 1110-1185. (Oedipus, Shepherd, Chorus)

• The shepherd arrives who exposed the infant of Laius and escaped when Laius was killed. Oedipus' parentage becomes clear. Oedipus rushes into the palace.

Fourth Stasimon , 1186-1222. (Chorus)

• No man is blest: happiness is but an illusion, for even the great power and blessings of Oedipus have come to a fall.

Exodos , 1223-1530.

Read (5): p.27-32

Exodos , 1223-1530. (Messenger, Chorus; Oedipus, Creon)

• A messenger announces the suicide of Jocasta and the self-inflicted blinding of Oedipus. Oedipus appears to lament his fate. Creon appears.

• Oedipus begs him to take care of his children; Antigone and Ismene (mute) arrive to comfort their father. Creon persuades Oedipus to return to the palace, and assumes the kingship.

Recommended

• Greek Tragedyhttp://classics.uc.edu/~johnson/tragedy/ • http://memo.cgu.edu.tw/yu-yen/oedipus.htm • http://classics.uc.edu/~johnson/tragedy/sum

maries/oedipusrex.html

Thank you!