Oedipus Rex Scholarship Flashcards
(18 cards)
Garvie
‘Perfect Play’
-perhaps the most celebrated of all Sophocles plays
-favourite of Aristotle as it illustrates his theory of the ‘tragic hero’.
Garvie
‘Modern Appeal’
Much of its appeal for modern readers may derive from its resemblance to a detective novel.
Garvie
‘use of irony’
Sophocles irony is very prominent.
Springs from Sophocles deep conviction that humans by their nature are flawed.
Garvie
‘Oedipus’
The man who thinks he knows is in fact ignorant.
Garvie
‘Tiresias and Oedipus’
Oedipus is ignorant but determined to know.
Tiresias is knowing but determined to hide the truth.
Garvie
‘Oedipus and Tiresias’
Tiresias is physically blind.
Oedipus is physically sighted but blind to the truth.
Ironic.
Garvie
‘Oedipus Victor?’
Oedipus did not fail at all.
He sets out to find the truth and does so.
Garvie
‘Oedipus’ pursuit of knowledge’
He never says ‘I wish I had not found out’.
He has gained what he values the most (knowledge).
Garvie
‘Oedipus/pain’
He is the only character for whom to live a painless lie is worse than to accept a painful truth.
Garvie
‘Oedipus/discovery’
It is not so much his crimes as his discovery of them that leads to his fall.
Garvie
‘Oedipus/admire?’
It is Oedipus, with his relentless search for the truth whom we admire.
Garvie
‘Jocasta’s Anagnorisis’
His excitement contrasts with her horror.
Contrasts the joyous mood at the start.
Garvie
‘Minor Characters’
It is the minor characters whose behaviour is more attractive than the hero’s.
Edith Hall
‘Anagnorisis/slave characters’
Perhaps the most famous Anagnorisis in tragedy is the direct result of a testimony of a slave.
Higgins
‘Oedipus/ ideal King’
He seems outwardly the ideal King, revealing his intelligence, responsibility and energy.
However, his curiosity, eagerness and arrogance betrays him.
Higgins
‘Catharsis’
The pity and terror of Oedipus’ fate brings about a catharsis.
The realisation that the power of fate cannot be overcome by will.
Fagles
‘Oedipus’
Oedipus is his own destroyer.
Goldhill
‘Oedipus’
Oedipus is a paradox in himself.
He is both a saviour and a monster.
