Stages of a Tragedy
This is the opening of a tragedy, where the characters and conflict are introduced via a monologue. (Oedipus doesn't have one of these, though.)
What is the Prologue?
The current king of Thebes. He became the king by solving the riddle of the Sphinx, which had been terrorizing the town, and by marrying Jocasta after Laius' death.
Who is Oedipus?
Aristotle believed there should be no _______ seen onstage (it could only happen offstage and be referenced by the characters later.)
What is violence?
When Oedipus' birth parents hear the prophecy that their son will kill its father/marry its mother, they assign a henchman to do this.
What is throw the baby off the mountain?
The chorus' last song, commenting on the end of the play.
What is the exodus?
A blind clairvoyant who relays crucial information to Oedipus.
Who is Tiresias?
Aristotle believed a tragic hero was always brought down due to his own _________.
What is a hamartia? (Character flaw or error in judgment.)
At the end of the play, this person commits suicide.
Who is Jocasta?
The scenes where most of the action of a tragedy takes place (the majority of the play is contained within these.)
What are episodes?
Jocasta's brother, Oedipus' brother-in-law.
Greeks went to the theatre as their civic duty, similar to a pilgrimage, to honor this God.
Who is Dionysus?
Oedipus got his name from an injury he received as a baby. What does his name mean?
What is "swollen feet?"
The songs that the chorus sings throughout the play, to recap a scene, inform the audience about something that happened offstage, or even interact with the characters.
What are odes?
Former king of Thebes, Oedipus' biological father.
Who is Laius?
Greek tragedies nearly always leave their audiences with this emotion in the end.
Catharsis (a relieving release of emotions after a long period of tension or grief.)
At the end of the play, this person takes over the kingdom of Thebes and raises Oedipus' two daughters.
Who is Creon?
The chorus' first song, and usually their longest song, in a tragedy.
What is the parodos?
Oedipus' two daughters (and, also, sisters.)
Who are Antigone and Ismene?
The turning point in a tragedy, where a character discovers another character's true identity or the true nature of their circumstances.
What is anagnorisis?
This person, the king of Corinth, adopted Oedipus as a baby.
Who is Polybus?