Important Terms and Characters at a glance!

Oedipus Rex

• First play in a trilogy called “Oedipus the King” by the playwright Sophocles.

• Oedipus- Swollen Foot• Hubris- excessive pride likely to evoke the wrath of the

gods.**YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS TERM**

• We recognize the tragic flaw of Oedipus through his unavoidable fate– Oedipus has excessive pride, realizes his error,

suffers gallantly, and then we as the audience experience Catharsis

Oedipal Complex

Defined as the Freudian Theory that all young children around age 3+ have a strong attachment to the parent of the opposite gender and wish to kill/destroy the same gender parent so they can take their place.

In media res

• In the middle of the action

• When the play begins, there will be no explanation of what is taking place. You will realize before and after events through character dialogue.

Divine Right

• Belief that a King was considered a superior being because he was chosen by God or the gods.

• Crimes against the King were considered the worst of acts

• Regicide- Killing of a king

Other important termsPolis- City State; Independent cities but still

a part of the Greek empire. Often at war with one another.

Thebes- Polis of the Greek Empire. Setting of Oedipus Rex and many other Greek plays

Corinth- Polis where Oedipus grew up

Think about it• Fate plays a major

role in Oedipus, as well as many Greek plays. In this day and age, what are some ways that ones destiny can be predicted?

• Tarot cards, Fortune cookies, Magic Eight Balls

• Psychics, Ouija Boards, Nostrodamus

• Revelations, the Apocalypse, other religious predictions

Oracle at Delphi

• Ancient peoples prophesied in ways we may find grotesque. Ancient Romans studied animal entrails while Ancient Greeks listed to the oracles.

• Oracle- the place and/or spirit that delivers the message, the message from the gods

• Current Connections:

Oracle at Delphi• Delphi is the place that

characters in Oedipus go to hear the prophesies

• Usually a place where a priestess or seer goes or sits waiting to hear a message from the gods

• They then return to share their messages

Other important terms

• Sphinx- Mythical creature with the face and bust of a woman, head and body of a lion, and wings of a bird.

• Chorus- In Oedipus, the chorus consists of the old Theban citizens. They lead in the dialogue.

• Choragos- Leader of the Chorus