Appreciating Drama:Appreciating Drama:Greek TragedyGreek Tragedy

DerivationDerivation The word The word tragedy itself tragedy itself

might have been might have been derived from derived from

tragodoia, meaning tragodoia, meaning a chorus of people a chorus of people

who imitated goats, who imitated goats, or wore goatskins, or wore goatskins, or connected with or connected with

a performance a performance where a goat was where a goat was

either awarded as a either awarded as a prize or was prize or was

ritually sacrificed. ritually sacrificed.

Elements of Greek Elements of Greek TragedyTragedy

A Greek tragedy has five A Greek tragedy has five constituents elements.constituents elements. The first of The first of

these is the these is the prologueprologue. This is the part of . This is the part of the play that is enacted before the the play that is enacted before the

Chorus makes its first entry. This may Chorus makes its first entry. This may be either in monologue or dialogue. The be either in monologue or dialogue. The

second structural element of the tragedy second structural element of the tragedy is called the is called the parodosparodos. . This the song This the song which is sung at the time when the which is sung at the time when the

Chorus enters the stageChorus enters the stage

The third element comprises the The third element comprises the episodesepisodes,, or scenes in which the actors or scenes in which the actors take part along the Chorus. Derivatively take part along the Chorus. Derivatively the term perhaps means the entrance of the term perhaps means the entrance of

an actor along with the Chorus. The an actor along with the Chorus. The episode include lyric passage, episode include lyric passage,

lamentations, and incidental songs by the lamentations, and incidental songs by the chorus. The fourth element is chorus. The fourth element is embolimaembolima, ,

mere musical interludes between the mere musical interludes between the episodes. The last element in the structure episodes. The last element in the structure

is the is the exodosexodos or final scene. This comes or final scene. This comes after the last after the last stasimonstasimon..

Aristotle’s Definition of Aristotle’s Definition of TragedyTragedy

Tragedy has been defined by Tragedy has been defined by Aristotle:Aristotle:” A tragedy is the imitation of ” A tragedy is the imitation of

an action that is serious and also, as an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself; in having magnitude, complete in itself; in language with pleasurable accessories, language with pleasurable accessories, each kind brought in separately in the each kind brought in separately in the

parts of the work; in a dramatic, not in a parts of the work; in a dramatic, not in a narrative form; with incidents arousing narrative form; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish

the catharsis of such emotionsthe catharsis of such emotions”.”.

Oedipus RexOedipus Rex

Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King as it is Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King as it is generally known in its English translation, generally known in its English translation,

is the first in terms of the order of events in is the first in terms of the order of events in the Theban legend. Sophocles compresses the Theban legend. Sophocles compresses

the plot by taking up only the closing the plot by taking up only the closing period in King Oedipus’s 15-year rule over period in King Oedipus’s 15-year rule over

Thebes. It is only through other characters, Thebes. It is only through other characters, as well as from some of the speeches of as well as from some of the speeches of

Oedipus himself, that we are able to piece Oedipus himself, that we are able to piece together the earlier part of the storytogether the earlier part of the story

Polybus, the childless king of Corinth, has brought up a Polybus, the childless king of Corinth, has brought up a foundling as his son, keeping him ignorant of the fact that foundling as his son, keeping him ignorant of the fact that

he was not his real son. One day a drunken courtier makes he was not his real son. One day a drunken courtier makes an institution about Oedipus parentage which angers him an institution about Oedipus parentage which angers him so much that he decides to approach the oracle of Delphi so much that he decides to approach the oracle of Delphi in order to find out who his parents really are. Instead of in order to find out who his parents really are. Instead of

satisfying him, the oracle tells him that he is fated to marry satisfying him, the oracle tells him that he is fated to marry his mother and kill his father, Still believing that the king his mother and kill his father, Still believing that the king

and queen of Corinth are his parents, Oedipus decides that and queen of Corinth are his parents, Oedipus decides that the best way of avoiding horrible fate predicted for him the best way of avoiding horrible fate predicted for him would be to stay away from Corinth As he is going away would be to stay away from Corinth As he is going away

from the shrine, he meets an old man traveling in a chariot from the shrine, he meets an old man traveling in a chariot and, being roughly treated by him, kills him as well as all and, being roughly treated by him, kills him as well as all

but one of his attendants. He then reaches the city of but one of his attendants. He then reaches the city of Thebes, which is being terrorized by the Sphinx who kills Thebes, which is being terrorized by the Sphinx who kills

everyone who passes that way by [putting him a certain everyone who passes that way by [putting him a certain question which no one is able to answerquestion which no one is able to answer

Oedipus is able to answer the question Oedipus is able to answer the question and, in desperation, the Sphinx dashes and, in desperation, the Sphinx dashes herself to death. The grateful people of herself to death. The grateful people of

Thebes, who have recently lost their Thebes, who have recently lost their king, offer the kingship to Oedipus king, offer the kingship to Oedipus

who has delivered then from this who has delivered then from this fearful monster. Oedipus is also fearful monster. Oedipus is also married to the widowed queen, married to the widowed queen,

Iocasta, his real motherIocasta, his real mother..

To what extent is the concept of hamartia To what extent is the concept of hamartia applicable to the tragedy of Oedipus in applicable to the tragedy of Oedipus in Oedipus Oedipus

RexRex OrOrWrite a note on Oedipus as a tragic hero in the Write a note on Oedipus as a tragic hero in the

light of Aristotle’s remarks in the Poeticslight of Aristotle’s remarks in the Poetics.. OrOrWhat role do Oedipus’ pride and excessive self-What role do Oedipus’ pride and excessive self-

confidence play in his tragedyconfidence play in his tragedy?? OrOrDo you share the view that Oedipus of Do you share the view that Oedipus of Oedipus Oedipus

RexRex is punished for his basically unsound is punished for his basically unsound charactercharacter??

The conception of the tragic hero The conception of the tragic hero that we gather from Aristotle’s that we gather from Aristotle’s

Poetics is that he is a highly Poetics is that he is a highly esteemed and prosperous man who esteemed and prosperous man who

falls into misfortune because of falls into misfortune because of some serious hamartiasome serious hamartia

It was Odeipus’s hamartia which was It was Odeipus’s hamartia which was directly responsible for his fall. Oedipus directly responsible for his fall. Oedipus

hamartia is proud and over-confident; he hamartia is proud and over-confident; he harbours unjustified suspicions against harbours unjustified suspicions against

Teiresias and Creon; in one place he goes Teiresias and Creon; in one place he goes so far as to express some uncertainty so far as to express some uncertainty

about the truth of reality of oracles. about the truth of reality of oracles. Another view is that the present failings of Another view is that the present failings of Oedipus may be taken to mean that he was Oedipus may be taken to mean that he was

always like that, and that the gods punish always like that, and that the gods punish him because his character is basically him because his character is basically

unsoundunsound

Finally, Oedipus is also held guilty in Finally, Oedipus is also held guilty in another way- it is said that he fails to another way- it is said that he fails to take the logical steps or precautions take the logical steps or precautions

which would have saved him from which would have saved him from committing the crimes. “ Couldn’t committing the crimes. “ Couldn’t

Oedipus have escaped his doom if he had Oedipus have escaped his doom if he had been more careful? Knowing that he was been more careful? Knowing that he was

in danger of committing parricide and in danger of committing parricide and incest, would not a relay prudent man incest, would not a relay prudent man have avoided quarrelling, even in self have avoided quarrelling, even in self defense, with men older than himselfdefense, with men older than himself ? ?

Write a note on the Delphic Write a note on the Delphic oracle in Oedipus The Kingoracle in Oedipus The King

The oracles were a sacred religious The oracles were a sacred religious institution in ancient Greece. Of the institution in ancient Greece. Of the

many shrines which had their own many shrines which had their own oracles, the most famous was the oracles, the most famous was the

one located in the temple of Apollo one located in the temple of Apollo at Delphi. Although the Delphic at Delphi. Although the Delphic

oracle was primarily concerned with oracle was primarily concerned with questions of religion, it also questions of religion, it also

entertained secular questionsentertained secular questions

Even before Oedipus comes to Thebes and Even before Oedipus comes to Thebes and becomes its king, the Delphic oracle plays becomes its king, the Delphic oracle plays

a crucial role in Oedipus’ life oracle that a crucial role in Oedipus’ life oracle that his parents decided to do away with him. his parents decided to do away with him.

When he himself is faced with the problem When he himself is faced with the problem of finding out who his parents were, it is to of finding out who his parents were, it is to

this oracle that Oedipus goes. Instead of this oracle that Oedipus goes. Instead of giving him a direct answer to his question, giving him a direct answer to his question,

the oracle tells him that he would marry the oracle tells him that he would marry his mother and kill his fatherhis mother and kill his father

Because of this prediction, Oedipus Because of this prediction, Oedipus decides not to return to Corinth decides not to return to Corinth because otherwise he might kill because otherwise he might kill

Polybus and marry Merope, whom Polybus and marry Merope, whom he still believes to be his father and he still believes to be his father and

mother. It is while he is returning mother. It is while he is returning from Delphi that he across Laius and from Delphi that he across Laius and

kills him after a quarrelkills him after a quarrel . .

The oracle plays a prominent part in the story The oracle plays a prominent part in the story within the play also. When Thebes is afflicted with within the play also. When Thebes is afflicted with

plague, Oedipus sends Creon to the oracle at plague, Oedipus sends Creon to the oracle at Delphi in order to find out, as he says, whether any Delphi in order to find out, as he says, whether any

word or action of his could save the city from this word or action of his could save the city from this trouble. So far the actions of the characters are trouble. So far the actions of the characters are

concerned, it is clear that all of them hold the concerned, it is clear that all of them hold the oracle’s words in great esteem. It was because of oracle’s words in great esteem. It was because of

the oracle’s warning that Laius and Iocasta the oracle’s warning that Laius and Iocasta abandoned their own son to die on the mountain. abandoned their own son to die on the mountain. Finally, the irreverence and impiety of Iocast and Finally, the irreverence and impiety of Iocast and

Oedipus towards the sacred institution of the Oedipus towards the sacred institution of the oracle seems to shock the Chorus deeply. Although oracle seems to shock the Chorus deeply. Although

they love and esteem their king and queenthey love and esteem their king and queen . .

The PlotThe PlotThe PlThe Pl

The action of Sophocles’ play begins with the The action of Sophocles’ play begins with the people of the city approaching their beloved people of the city approaching their beloved

king to save them from a plague which is king to save them from a plague which is ravaging their city. The king tells them that ravaging their city. The king tells them that

from a plague which ravaging their city. The from a plague which ravaging their city. The king tells them that he is not unaware of their king tells them that he is not unaware of their

plight and has already taken some action to plight and has already taken some action to alleviate their sufferings. He has sent Creon, alleviate their sufferings. He has sent Creon,

his kinsman, to the oracle of Delphi to find his kinsman, to the oracle of Delphi to find out how the trouble which afflicts his people out how the trouble which afflicts his people

could be denied. The answer that Creon could be denied. The answer that Creon brings is that there is a source of pollution in brings is that there is a source of pollution in

the city which should be removed if the city is the city which should be removed if the city is to be saved from the plagueto be saved from the plague . .

The reference is explained as being to the The reference is explained as being to the murderer of Laius, the former king. Oedipus murderer of Laius, the former king. Oedipus proclaims that the murderer of Laius, unless proclaims that the murderer of Laius, unless he himself comes forward, shall be punished he himself comes forward, shall be punished

with death or banishment, and anyone with death or banishment, and anyone sheltering or aiding him knowingly shall also sheltering or aiding him knowingly shall also

meet the same fate. Oedipus makes it clear meet the same fate. Oedipus makes it clear that the order shall be applied irrespective that the order shall be applied irrespective of the status of the person involved. Even if of the status of the person involved. Even if he himself is found to be the murderer, the he himself is found to be the murderer, the

same punishment would be awardedsame punishment would be awarded

The blind prophet, Teiresias, is called to the court to The blind prophet, Teiresias, is called to the court to advise the king as to the best way of ridding the city advise the king as to the best way of ridding the city of the source of pollution. The prophet does not say of the source of pollution. The prophet does not say

anything but states that it would be better fo anything but states that it would be better fo Oedipus if he remains ignorant of the knowledge Oedipus if he remains ignorant of the knowledge

which the former possesses. Oedipus takes this as an which the former possesses. Oedipus takes this as an expression of rebellion. He accuses Teiresias of expression of rebellion. He accuses Teiresias of having plotted his overthrow in conspiracy with having plotted his overthrow in conspiracy with Creon. This angers Teiresias who declares that Creon. This angers Teiresias who declares that

Oedipus himself is the accursed polluter for whom he Oedipus himself is the accursed polluter for whom he is searching, that he has murdered his father and is is searching, that he has murdered his father and is

living in sinful union with his mother. Oedipus at last living in sinful union with his mother. Oedipus at last discovers that the words of the prophet have come discovers that the words of the prophet have come

true. Upon this he blinds himself and requests Creon true. Upon this he blinds himself and requests Creon to banish him from Thebes, Iocasta, who discovers to banish him from Thebes, Iocasta, who discovers

the truth earlier than Oedipus, commits suicidthe truth earlier than Oedipus, commits suicid