Sophocles' Trilogy:
Oedipus the King Oedipus at Colonus Antigone
The three plays can be studied together or individually. Each is complete in itself, and ancient audiences knew the rough outlines of the plot from long oral traditions that preceded formal theatrical productions of these stories.
Antigone flowed first from Sophocles’ hand and was seen first by ancient audiences, but it comes last in the lives of the characters, wrapping up the final disasters of their histories.
The first play in the characters’ lives is Oedipus the King, which is the story of a man unwittingly moving ever closer to the unhappy fate he is struggling mightily to avoid. The story line continues in Oedipus at Colonus.
In the second play of the trilogy, Oedipus is exiled from Thebes. After years of wandering with his daughter Antigone, Oedipus arrives at a grove in Colonus, a village near Athens. In the meantime, Oedipus' sons -- each claiming the right to the throne of Thebes -- prepare to go to war. Eteocles, the younger son, supported by Creon, takes over the throne. He and his brother Polynices were supposed to share it six months at a time. Once in power, Eteocles does not wish to give it up. Polynices gathers an army to attack Thebes.
Assisted by six chieftains, Polynices attempts to invade Thebes. The seven men lead attacks against each of the seven gates of Thebes; Eteocles defends the gate attacked by Polynices. The two brothers die at each other's hands. Then, the Theban army finally beats back the attack.
The final tragedy of the family cycle will unwind in Antigone, when their doomed sister meets her own fate.
Antigone, the play that wraps together the final events of these characters’ sad lives, begins in Thebes. After her father’s death, Antigone has returned to the royal palace where she was raised. Her family’s tragedies have been compounded by her brothers Eteocles and Polynices, who have killed each other in war.
Antigone flowed first from Sophocles’ hand and was seen first by ancient audiences, but it comes last in the lives of the characters, wrapping up the final disasters of their histories.
The first play in the characters’ lives is Oedipus the King, which is the story of a man unwittingly moving ever closer to the unhappy fate he is struggling mightily to avoid. The story line continues in Oedipus at Colonus.
In the second play of the trilogy, Oedipus is exiled from Thebes. After years of wandering with his daughter Antigone, Oedipus arrives at a grove in Colonus, a village near Athens. In the meantime, Oedipus' sons -- each claiming the right to the throne of Thebes -- prepare to go to war. Eteocles, the younger son, supported by Creon, takes over the throne. He and his brother Polynices were supposed to share it six months at a time. Once in power, Eteocles does not wish to give it up. Polynices gathers an army to attack Thebes.
Assisted by six chieftains, Polynices attempts to invade Thebes. The seven men lead attacks against each of the seven gates of Thebes; Eteocles defends the gate attacked by Polynices. The two brothers die at each other's hands. Then, the Theban army finally beats back the attack.
The final tragedy of the family cycle will unwind in Antigone, when their doomed sister meets her own fate.
Antigone, the play that wraps together the final events of these characters’ sad lives, begins in Thebes. After her father’s death, Antigone has returned to the royal palace where she was raised. Her family’s tragedies have been compounded by her brothers Eteocles and Polynices, who have killed each other in war.
Introduction to Oedipus Rex
Oedipus Rex Anticipation GuideOpen the file to the right. Response to the statements, either Agree or Disagree, and provide your reasoning? Based on the statements, what predictions can you make about the play's characters, events, or themes?
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Introduction to Greek Theater
Open the file below. As you view the video posted at the right, answer the questions on the guide. After you've finished, conduct quick research to answer the question you supplied in the last item.
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Riddle of the Sphinx
Can you answer the Riddle of the Sphinx? Open the PowerPoint file at the right and give it a try!
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Oedipus the King opens fifteen years after Oedipus solved the Sphinx’s riddle and saved the city of Thebes. The city is now suffering from corruption and plague, and its inhabitants look to none other than Oedipus, the King.
The Play
5th Scene and Epilogue |
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3rd and 4th Scenes |
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2nd Scene and 3rd Choral Ode |
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1st Scene and 2nd Choral Ode |
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Prologue and 1st Choral Ode
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Prologue and 1st Choral Ode | |
File Size: | 1201 kb |
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Exit Ticket
What characteristics of a tragic hero have we seen so far in Oedipus?
What characteristics of a tragic hero have we seen so far in Oedipus?
Open the PowerPoint file and use the content to complete a set of Cornell Notes including a summary which addresses the writing prompt provided.
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Structure of Greek Tragedy and Characteristics of a Tragic Hero
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Open the PowerPoint and use the content to complete a set of Cornell Notes including a summary which includes original examples of the three types of irony.
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Types of Irony
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Open the PowerPoint and use the content to complete a set of Cornell Notes including a explanation of how Sophocles demonstrates the three unities in Oedipus.
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The Unities of Aristotle
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