Gliederung of Oedipus
 
pp./part Gliederung Aristotle/Campbell
Structure		 Characters/Chorus Themes

(prologue)
293-97		 Prologue -- establishes problem (plague); Creon, oracle
 

Prologue: A monologue or dialogue preceding the entry of the chorus, which presents the tragedy's topic
 

 
  • set-up. What is the basic CONFLICTgoing to be?

    •  
  • Exposition --
  • begin to see hamartia (his flaw is lack of knowledge)
  • Like the Campbell hero, Oed doesn't know his parents; is a spirutual orphan
  • Call to adventure... Oed answers the call of the plague  Real call is Tiresesius.  ANd Oed refuses it. 
  • Could see Tiresius as his mentor/supernatural aid, except in this case teh hero refuses his help.
  • Oedipus --seems sympathetic to others. runs the state, does it well  (Alazon)
  • Creon: another good guy, trying to get help.  very logical.  Kind of an agroikos b/c he keeps tryng to get real (Eiron)
  • plague (waste land)
  • guilt
  • suffering (internal/ external) 
  • blindness/ sight

parode
297-99		  Chorus talks about suffering. Ask for help from gods
Parode (Entrance Ode): The entry chant of the chorus, often in an anapestic (short-short-long) marching rhythm (four feet per line). Generally, they remain on stage throughout the remainder of the play. Although they wear masks, their dancing is expressive, as conveyed by the hands, arms and body

episode 1		 Episode 1a-- Oed talks to Chorus: trying to figure out who teh stranger is.CURSE
Episode 1b  -- Oed talk to Tiresius:. Tiresius tells Oed he is the one but Oed won't believe him.
  • dramatic irony (curses himself)
  • Tiresius in conflict wi Oed (AGON)
  • complications begin
  • Tiresius is another EIron
  • since Tiresius is blind, there are lots of ironic refernces to who can see and who is blind

Chorus 1		 Who is the Man? Chorus aginst the man but for Oedipus

Episode 2		 2a-- Oed and Creon 
2b -- Jocasta & Chorus try to calm Oed ; Jocasta in denial tells of prophecy; Oed tells of killing old man; realizes
I AM the One!

Chorus 2		 Chorus: invokes law, but worries that oracles are wrong, gods dead

Episode 3		 3a--Jocasta prays
3b--Messenger  1 arrives bringing news of Oeipus's (adopted) father's death.; aslo reveals that Oed was found exposed on a hill, ankles pierced. Jocasta figures it out. Oed sends for shepherd.

Chorus 3		 Chorus celebrates potentially noble birth of Oed

Episode 4		 Shepherd reveals Oed's identity   Turn and recognition

Chorus 4		 Chorus mourns peripetia 

Episode 5		 5a--Messenger 2 brings news of Jocasta's suffering and death and Oed's self-mutilation
5b-- Oed appears and laments
5c-- Creon take over

Exode		 Chorus declares power of fate