Starter Question: (at least a paragraph)

• Reading your fortune cookie, write a paragraph on how you would avoid/ bring about your fortune.

Standards and Objectives

Standards:E1-1.6: Create responses to literary texts through a variety

of methods (for example, written works, oral and auditory presentations, discussions, media productions, and the visual and performing arts).

Objectives: 1.) Identify characteristics of Greek tragic and apply it to the

story of Oedipus Rex.

2.) Analyze the Greek central belief of fate through discussion and its function in the “Satan’s Waiting” cartoon and everyday living.

Tragedy

• Is a form of Drama that shows the downfall of a dignified, superior character who participates in events of great significance.

• The ancient Greeks, who developed tragedy, used to explore ideas about humans relationship to the gods, often delving into such serious subjects as duty, suffering, and fate.

Characteristics of Greek Tragedy

Tragic Hero

• At the center of a tragedy is it’s hero, the main character, or protagonist.

• The Tragic hero is a person of high rank who accepts his or her downfall with dignity.

Tragic Flaw

• An error in judgment or a weakness in character, such as pride or arrogance helps bring about the hero’s downfall.

• The tragic hero recognizes this flaw its consequences but only after it is too late to change the course of events.

Catastrophe

• A tragedy ends with a catastrophe, a disastrous conclusion that usually involves multiple deaths

• If the tragic hero does not die, then he or she suffers complete ruin

Chorus

• Throughout a tragedy, the chorus- a masked group of actors- observe and comment on the action through songs.

• Their responses and values were supposed to reflect those of the audience.

Central Belief of the Greeks

• The ancient Greeks believe in the idea of Fate

• Fate a destiny preordained by the gods no matter what action a person takes in the present.

• Greeks believed it was impossible to escape one’s fate.

The Fates

• Or Moirai • Where three goddesses who determined the

length of a person’s life and how much suffering it would contain.

• There are three Fates. Clotho, the spinner, who spins the thread of life. Lachesis, the measurer, who choses the lot in life one will have and measures off how long it is to be. Atropos, she who can not be turn, who at death with her shears cuts the tread of life.

Satan is Waiting •  

•  

Number of Life Fate and Why? Could Have Controlled and Why?

Group Share

1. Desk A share number 3 and discuss with group.

2. Desk B share number 4 and discuss with group.

3. Desk C share number 8 and discuss with group.

Homework

• Read the story of Oedipus Rex on 696.

• Complete the graphic organizer on the story.

• Identify a movie or television show that could be a modern Greek tragedy.

• Complete the graphic organizer.

Ticket out the Door

• Do you believe the Greeks had it right with fate or do we control our own lives?

What walks with four legs, then two, and finally three?

The Sphinx’s Riddle

OEDIPUS REX-

• Oedipus sends his brother-in-law, Creon, to the oracle of Apollo at Delphi.

• Creon returns and announces that the plague will end when the Thebans punish the murderer of the their previous king, Laius.

• Oedipus tries to take the role of savior and vows to do everything in his power to apprehend the murderer and save his people

Teiresias• blind prophet and servant

of Apollo

Jocasta• the wife and mother of Oedipus

• she tells Oedipus not to trust in the oracles.

Oedipus

• protagonist

• his name means “swollen-foot”

• he inspires both pity and fear

Creon• brother of Laius

• Oedipus feels threatened by Creon and believes that he covets the throne

• Creon defends himself saying he has no desire to be king and that Oedipus harms himself in making such accusations

Tragic End

• Oedipus’ wife/mother – Jocasta – kills herself and Oedipus blinds himself and goes into exile

• Creon becomes King of Thebes