● Son of Laius & Jocasta-King & queen of Thebes● Exposed as a baby-Rescued, raised by king & queen of Corinth● Oracle: will kill father & marry mother-Leaves Corinth-Kills Laius during travels● Defeat of the Theban Sphinx-Becomes king of Thebe, marries JocastaSophocles’ Oedipus the King● Plague in Thebes-Curse against murderer of Laius ● Oedipus vs. Tiresias & Creon-Overestimation of knowledge● Oedipus’ true identity revealed-Killer of Laius-Son of Laius, husband and son of Jocasta● Suicide of Jocasta● Blinding and exile of OedipusExile & Death of Oedipus● Oedipus wanders in exile with daughters● Arrival in Colones (deme of Attica)● Death in secluded place-Called by a god-Disappears● Oedipus becomes hero-Hero cult: worshipped after death-Protects and Benefits place of deathOedipus and Hero Motifs● Exposure -Oracle surrounding birth-Raised away from birthplace● Defeat of Sphinx-Extraordinary exploit● Rescue by sheperds-Danger of Mount Cithaeron-Death avoided● Pierced ankles-marker of identity● Typical hero roles-Savior: defeat of Sphinx-Protector: cult hero after death● Rewards-Marriage-kingshipOedipus: outside the box● Approaches challenges on his own-No enemy opposition-Not reliant on others● Brings ruin to city-Plague in Thebes● Bittersweet rewards-Polluted marriage-Kingship through parricide-Suffering through knowledge Themes of Sophocles’ Play● Dramatic irony-Play with well-known story● Cleverness vs. lack of knowledge-sight vs. blindness● Fate and freewill-Double determinationDue on Fridays by 5:00pm200-250 wordschoose a hero or villain story from that weeks readings or filmsdiscuss what you find interestingHow does this