1. As the playwright Sophocles, defend your reasoning for choosing to portray the legend of Oedipus in dramatic format. Consider the following in your argument: the values and beliefs of your culture, the history of Greek literature and the theater,

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• 1. As the playwright Sophocles, defend your
  reasoning for choosing to portray the legend of
  Oedipus in dramatic format. Consider the
  following in your argument the values and
  beliefs of your culture, the history of Greek
  literature and the theater, and the influences
  upon your writing. Why did you feel that Oedipus
  was the best subject matter for your play? Why
  was the drama the most appropriate medium for the
  story?

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• Why did you feel that Oedipus was the best
  subject matter for your play?
• Legendary hero has a lot to lose everyone
  knows who he is
• Doubted the gods people are beginning to
  believe that mans reason is greater than the
  gods the lesson will be strong and is a message
  the audience needs to hear
• Audience beliefs While some are beginning to
  doubt, others still have beliefs in the gods
  they will identify with the importance of Apollo
  and the oracles

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• Why was the drama the most appropriate medium for
  the story?
• Dramatic irony The fact that the audience is
  already aware of information about Oedipus fate
  will build the irony and suspense in the story
• Festival Production Since people are attending
  the festival to honor the gods, the message of
  the importance to keep honoring the gods should
  be strong and clear

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• 2. According to Aristotle, the purpose of tragedy
  is, to arouse pity and fear in the audience, and
  so create a catharsiscleansing of emotionsthat
  will enlighten people about life and fate. As
  the audience watches the fate of the tragic hero
  unfold, Aristotle believes they will recognize in
  it the universal human plight. Keeping these
  ideas in mind, discuss the journey of Oedipus as
  it pertains to Aristotles definition. How is
  Oedipus the epitome of the tragic hero?

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• Journey of Oedipus
• Saves Thebes from Sphinx Makes him a hero
  builds expectations of the audiencethey will
  have more pity for him when he falls
• Becomes King of Thebes Gives him high position,
  wealth, and powerhe will have a lot to lost,
  making him an ideal tragic hero
• Promises to help Thebes be rid of the plague
  Makes the audience want him to succeed that much
  more

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• Journey of Oedipus (contd)
• Begins the search for the murderer of Laius
  This begins the fear in the audience that Oedipus
  will discover he IS the murderer
• Learns that the people he thought were his
  parents are not his truth birth parents Builds
  suspense and more dramatic irony as Oedipus grows
  closer to the truth adds to the pity the
  audience has and will have for him

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• Journey of Oedipus (contd)
• Discovers the ultimate truth and loses his
  family, his position, and his eyesight This
  causes the final fear and pity for the audience
  and sends the message and warning home