Intoduction to Oedipus
The Characters and how to
pronounce the names.
Title: Jan 82:08 PM (1 of 8)
Oedipus (Eddy) http://mw.com/dictionary/oedipus
"swollenfoot," from oidan "to swell" + pous (gen. podos)
"foot."
• Son of Jocasta (Iokasta) and Laius (Laios)
• Adopted son the the King and Queen of Corinth
• Slayer of Laius
• Defeater of the Sphinx
• King of Thebes
• Husband of Jocasta
Title: Jan 88:55 AM (2 of 8)
Jocasta (Iokaste)
http://mw.com/dictionary/jocasta
• Wife of Laius (Laios)
• Mother and later wife of Oedipus
• Queen of Thebes
Title: Jan 89:14 AM (3 of 8)
Kreon (Creon)
• Brother of Jocasta
• Uncle/Brotherinlaw of Oedipus
• Eventual king of Thebes
Title: Jan 89:14 AM (4 of 8)
http://mw.com/dictionary/Laius
Laios
• King of Thebes
• Husband of Jocasta (Iokasta)
• Father of Oedipus
Title: Jan 89:14 AM (5 of 8)
The Shepherd
• Charged with killing Oedipus
• Gives him to a Corinthian Shepherd
• Witnesses the murder of Laios
Title: Jan 811:46 AM (6 of 8)
Tiresias (Teiresias)
http://mw.com/dictionary/tiresias
• Blind seer
Title: Jan 89:14 AM (7 of 8)
The Greek chorus (choros) is believed to have grown out of the Greek dithyrambs and tragikon drama in tragic plays of the ancient
Greek theatre. The chorus offers a variety of background and summary information to help the audience follow the performance,
commented on main themes, and showed how an ideal audience might react to the drama as it was presented. They also represent
the general populace of any particular story. In many ancient Greek plays, the chorus expressed to the audience what the main
characters could not say, such as their fears or secrets. The chorus usually communicated in song form, but sometimes spoke their
lines in unison.
The chorus was an essential, primary component of early Greek theater during a time when tragedy and comedy were lyrical works.
Before the introduction of multiple, interacting actors by Aeschylus, the Greek chorus was the main performer in relation to a solitary
The importance of the chorus declined after the 5th century BC, when the chorus began to be separated from the
actor.[1][2]
dramatic action. Later dramatists, such as Sophocles depended on the chorus less than their predecessors. In the Theban plays of
Sophocles, the chorus serves as a body of omniscient commentators that often reinforce the moral of the story. The chorus will
switch between the roles of "commentator" and "character". When the chorus is acting as a character, they often provide other
characters with the insight they need.
The Greek chorus had to work in unison to help explain the play as there were only 1 3 actors on stage who were already playing
several parts each. As the Greek amphitheatres were so large, the chorus' actions had to be exaggerated and their voices clear so
that everyone could see and hear them. To do this they used techniques such as synchronization, echo, ripple, physical theatre and
the use of masks to aid them.
http://mw.com/dictionary/choragus
Choragos
Title: Jan 89:14 AM (8 of 8)