ap lit - oedipus exam

Greek theater, characters, settings,

tragedy

play w/ tragic events that leads to downfall of main character

stichomythia

dialogue during altercation btwn 2 actors in alternating lines

hamartia

tragic flaw → downfall

hubris

doom bought by excessive pride

peripeteia

unexpected reversal of fortune that alters course of the story (occurs when the Messenger reveals that Oedipus's adopted father, Polybus, was not his biological father)

memesis

imitation

catharsis

purgation of emotions (pity/fear)

anagnorsis

discovery of tragic flaw

pathos

appeal to emotion (pity/fear)

Aristotle’s definition of tragedy

plot, character, thought, diction, melody, spectacle

1: PLOT (mythos)

plot of structure of events;

• Oedipus’s search for Laius’s murderer, leading to his peripeteia (reversal) and anagnorisis (recognition) when he discovers he himself is guilty.

2: CHARACTER (ethos)

character/moral nature of a figure

• Oedipus = noble but flawed king, whose hamartia (which is his hubris/pride) → the truth despite warnings

3: THOUGHT (dianoia)

thought, reasoning, or themes

• fate v free will, ignorance v knowledge, and the danger of pride, shown in Oedipus’s debates with Tiresias and Jocasta

4: DICTION (lexis)

language, style, or choice of words in dialogue

• Sophocles uses dramatic irony, such as Tiresias’ statement “You are your own worst enemy”, which foreshadows Oedipus’ downfall.

5: MELODY (melos)

musical element (song, rhythm, melody)

• The Chorus’s odes sets the emotional tone (reflection on prophecy, the gods, and the unfolding tragedy)

6: SPECTACLE (opsis)

spectacle (costumes/scenery)

• Jocasta’s hanging and Oedipus blinding himself

CHARACTERS

Oedipus

The King of Thebes, determined to uncover the truth about Laius’s murder, but doomed by fate and his tragic flaw.

Jocasta

Queen of Thebes and Oedipus’s wife (and mother), who tries to stop him from pursuing the truth.

Creon

Oedipus’s brother-in-law, a calm and rational figure who becomes a rival in Oedipus’s paranoia.

Tiresias

A blind prophet who knows Oedipus’s true identity but is met with anger and disbelief.

The Chorus

A group of Theban elders who reflect on the action, offer prayers to the gods, and voice communal fears and hopes.

Messenger

• Who: A man from Corinth who once gave baby Oedipus to Polybus and Merope.

• Role: Brings “good news” that Polybus (Oedipus’s supposed father) has died of natural causes, which makes Oedipus think he escaped the prophecy. But he then reveals that Oedipus was adopted.

Shepherd

• Who: The herdsman who was ordered to kill baby Oedipus but pitied him and handed him to the Corinthian Messenger instead.

• Role: He’s the last missing piece of the puzzle (the only one who can confirm Oedipus is the son of Laius and Jocasta)

ROCHE (Foreword)

• Main Idea: Life is a mix of fate (what we can’t control) and destiny (how we act on it).

• Human Limits: People are fragile and face unexpected challenges.

• True Greatness: Not about fame or success, but about being noble, humble, and responsible for our actions.

• Potential Flaw: Arrogance and selfishness can lead us off track.

• What Matters: It’s not what fate throws at us, but how we respond—with dedication and endurance.

• Big Picture: Your outcome is based on your dedication, so don’t quit on your destiny

• Final Message: Both fate and our destiny shape who we become.

• Greek expectation: selflessness, motivation, intentional, idealistic

• Tone: encouraging, inspiriing, philosophical

ROCHE (Introduction)

• Fate + flaws = tragedy → fate sets the stage, but pride and ego cause downfall

• Oedipus: blinded by hubris, ignores warnings, speeds up his doom

• Creon: stubborn pride + selfishness = his ruin

• Greek lesson: humans aren’t gods → arrogance brings punishment

• Takeaway: Sophocles makes us reflect on our own flaws and the need for humility

Jocasta

• Jocasta’s voice: The poem gives her perspective, showing her fears, grief, and powerlessness.

• Fate vs. choice: She tries to resist prophecy (prays for a daughter, mourns her son), but fate still prevails.

• Marriage & power: Bound by Laius’ will and societal expectations, she feels trapped and silenced.

• Emotional torment: She is wracked by guilt, shame, horror, and maternal grief as events unfold.

• Tragic lens: Eisenberg paints Jocasta as both victim and symbol of human suffering under fate.

HEROIC OR DEFIANT