Background Notes: Greek Theater, Sophocles, and Oedipus Rex

Question 1

a) Who was Dionysus?

b) What is his importance to Greek theater?

Answer 1

a) son of Zeus, god of wine. His alter was located in the middle of the site.
b) Civil duties of citizens; his alter was in the middle of the theatre

Question 2

Parts of Greek theater- draw a sketch and label it.

Answer 2

pardos, skene, orchesta, (look at paper)

Question 3

Sophocles was born in ________ in the ___ century in they year _____ B.C.

Answer 3

Colonus; 5th; 495 B.C.

Question 4

When was Sophocles first recognized as a playwright?

Answer 4

At age 28 when one of his plays won 1st plays in a competition.

Question 5

Sophocles established himself as one of the greatest writers of Greek tragedy when he wrote ____ plays, _____ of which won 1st place in the play competition in Athens.

Answer 5

123; 24

Question 6

Only ___ of Sophocles’ plays survived. 3 of the plays deal with the Oedipus story. List these 3 plays

Answer 6

7; Antigone, Oedipus Rex, and Oedipus at Colonus

Question 7

Sophocles had a huge impact on Greek theater. List and explain each change he made:

Answer 7

1. Introduced stage machinery. He was a first to use a crane to lower and take away actors.
2. Introduced painted backdrops.
3. He added a 3rd actor (there was only 2 before)
4. He varied the types of music the chorus sang.
5. He added more elaborate costumes including masks.

Question 8

Greek tragedies deal with __________ issues and with contemporary __________ and topics such as ________, _________, _________, and _________.

Answer 8

universal; politics; war, love, family, and death.

Question 9

In most tragedies, the hero changed between states of _______ and _______. The hero’s ________ and errors were pointed out followed by the hero’s ___________ of his actions.

Answer 9

fortune and misfortunes; tragic flaw; recognition

Question 10

List and explain the characteristics of a tragic hero:

Answer 10

1. must have a fall from greatness
2. be an extraordinary person with a tragic flaw
3. experience a moment of realization that he/she has made a big mistake
4. has to suffer greatly

Question 11

List 3 purposes of the Chorus in a Greek play:

Answer 11

1. acts like characters, group of citizens
2. used to set the mood and heighten dramatic effects
3. adds movement, song, and dance

Question 12

Explain why actors wore elaborates masks.

Answer 12

distinguish characters and to amplify voice

Question 13

Sophocles was the first to use dramatic irony. Dramatic irony=

Answer 13

An occasion where the audience knows more than the characters in the play.

Question 14

How does dramatic irony affect the audience.

Answer 14

Makes an audience feel privileged.

Question 15

a) What was the Oracle of Delphi?
b) What was her warning concerning Oedipus?
c) How did Oedipus’ parents react to this warning?
d) What does Oedipus mean in Greek?

Answer 15

a) A woman priestess who would give truth from the god, Apollo.
b) He would grow up to kill his father and sleep with his mother.
c) They tied and pierced his ankles as a baby so he wouldn’t move. Then they had a servant take him to a mountain top to leave him to die.
d) Swollen foot or ankle

Question 16

Explain how Oedipus came to be adopted by King Polybus?

Answer 16

His birth parents gave him to someone to get rid of him, but they felt bad so he gave Oedipus to a shepherd who then gave him to the King.

Question 17

Why did Oedipus run away from King Polybus?

Answer 17

He heard his prophesy.

Question 18

a) What was the Sphinx?

b) Why did it torment Thebes?

Answer 18

a) A unique demon of destruction and bad look- a winged lion with a women’t head.
b) If anyone could not solve her riddle she would kill them.

Question 19

a) The Riddle of the Sphinx:

b) What was the punishment for those who couldn’t solve it?

Answer 19

a) “Which creature in the morning goes on four feet, at noon on two, and in the evening upon three.”
b) She would kill them

Question 20

What crime does Oedipus commit before arriving in Thebes?

Answer 20

Road rage, killed many people

Question 21

Explain Oedipus’ answer to the riddle:

Answer 21

man- he crawls as a baby, walks as a man, and uses a cane as old man.

Question 22

How was Oedipus rewarded for answering the riddle correctly?

Answer 22

Crowned King of Thebes

Question 23

What happened to the Sphinx?

Answer 23

It killed itself because the riddle was answered.

Question 24

On what event in history is Oedipus Rex based?

Answer 24

The plague in Athens in 430 BC.

Question 25

Explain why we say the play begins in medias res?

Answer 25

Oedipus has been king for many years before the play begins.

Question 26

List and identify the characters in the play:

Answer 26

1. Oedipus- King of Thebes
2. Jocasta- Queen of Thebes
3. Laius- former King of Thebes
4. Creon- Jocasta’s brother, acted as king after Laius died
5. Tiresias- blind prophet
6. Antigone and Ismere- Oedipus and Jocasta’s daughters
7. Chorus and chorus leader- “act as the voices of society”