Classics 102 2023

Greek tragedy & the Oedipus Rex: tutorial (term 4, week 1)

Submission date: Friday 1st September

For questions 1-6, read Thury and Devinney’s introduction to the play (reader, p. 1-
5).

1. Why has ‘Oedipus the King’ been described as a detective story?

It has been described as a detective story because of the murder mystery in
this play. Oedipus seeks the to find the person who murdered the previous
king of Thebes named Laios.
[2]
2. How do Homer’s and Euripides’ versions of the Oedipus myth differ from
that of Sophocles?
They differ in that the Sophocles version of the story the focus was on the
different characters development whereas in Homer’s and Euripides version
the focus is on the ended.
[2]
3. What is ‘dramatic irony’?
[3]
4. What were the roles of the chorus in Greek tragedy?
They reflected on the action that had taken place in the previous episode. This
was done through the performances inbetween episdes known as choral odes.
[2]
5. What did Aristotle mean by the hamartia of a tragic hero?
The word hamartia refers to the tragic flaw of the hero but Aristotle refered tp
it has the ‘great error’ which changed the fortune of the main character from
good to bad.
[2]

For questions 7-10, consult the slides for lectures 1 and 2.

6. What was the ‘Great Dionysia’, how did it incorporate dramatic

performances?
[3]
7. What are the technical terms for:
a) The entrance ode of the chorus.
b) A choral ode that follows an ‘episode’ of dialogue.
c) The exit ode of the chorus.
[1.5]
 8. Who are the three Athenian tragedians whose plays survive?
[1.5]
9. How do ancient and modern drama differ in terms of the audience’s
experience?
[3]

For discussion: in what contexts and media is drama, of any type, watched in today?

Total marks for tutorial: 20