May 2nd

As we did yesterday in class, you will need to have following in your notes:

Terms to know:
Mimesis, Hamartia, Katharsis, Anagnorisis, Peripetia, Pathos, Tragedy

Please utilize the the "Aristotle as Ideal Tragedy" link and Aristotle's Tragic Terms to define.

Reading Questions:

• Oedipus gives a practical set of reasons why he should seek out the murderer. List one of these reasons.
• In lines 233 onward, what public proclamation or call does Oedipus make to the people of Thebes reminiscent of "crime stoppers"?
• In lines 240 onward, what does Oedipus declare as punishment for Lais' murderer? In lines 254-55, what events is this murderer forbidden to take part in?
• What does Oedipus declare about his pronounced curse if it should turn out that Oedipus himself has given him admittance to his own hearth?
• Oedipus asks Teiresias, "Is this a plot of Creon, or thine own?" Why might Oedipus think Creon is plotting against him?
• What does Teiresias mean when he says that Oedipus is a "double-foe / To thine own kin" in lines 449-50?
• Why is Teiresias bringing up marriage songs or hymeneals and saying Oedipus will wail when he learns of that song?

Application:
Try to find how Aristotle's conventions of tragedy (terms above) can be applied to Oedipus Rex.