THESPIANS+2

=Period 2=

=__THESPIANS__=

__Chorus__ Example: page 465 part II line 1308-1311 "Oedipus, you are my pattern of this, Oedipus, you and your fate! Luckless Oedipus, whom of all I envy not at all". In this case, the strophe is making Oedipus aware of the fact that although he keeps trying to run away from his fate, his destiny will catch up to him eventually. Even though this seems to be a negative view, it is truthful, which is why it is part of what the strophe has to say. Example: page 465 part II lines 1312-1321 The antistrophe is saying in response to the strophe, that Oedipus is trying to hide in Thebes away from his fate.
 * The chorus of singers and dancers plays an active part in __Oedipus__
 * Members serve as confidents and advisors to the main characters
 * The chorus helps move along the story, helping the audience, and not playing a major role in the story
 * The chorus holds the play together
 * Sometimes members of the chorus give advice to major characters or ask questions
 * They represent actions and emotions of the characters and show how the audience could feel in two different perspectives (positive and negative)
 * The chorus faces in one direction for the strophe, and the opposite for the antistrophe
 * The chorus also sets a mood and explains a scene
 * The chorus is always on the stage, but not playing a role in the scene, it is viewed to be more of a narrator
 * Strophe: Moves toward the right, positive foreshadowing
 * Antistrophe: Moved toward the left, negative foreshadowing.

__Teiresias, the Oracle__ Example: page 443, lines 506-510 "I have said what I came here to say not fearing your countenance: there is no way you can hurt me. I tell you, king, this man, this murderer--- he is here." Here, the Oracle is blatantly telling Oedipus that he, Oedipus, is the murderer of the king, yet he refuses to listen. Teiresias tells him that it doesn't matter what he might do to him, he is just going to speak the truth and not worry about the consequences. This shows the Oracles true power when it comes to foreshadowing events and stating the truth or what really exists. Example: On page 442, lines 459-486, the Oracle, Teiresias, speaks of Oedipus’s life. In the quote, he states that Oedipus’s life is right in front of his eyes, but he is so unaware of what is going on right in front of him he can’t understand what the Oracle is saying. He is telling Oedipus that his life is only beginning to go downhill and he can’t escape his fate.
 * The blind Oracle, Teiresias, is a key role in the story because he is the major foreshadower for events to come.
 * He predicts that Laius, King of Thebes will bare a child with Jacosta who will eventually kill him unknowingly and the boy will marry his own mother, also unknowingly. Once this baby was born, his feet were staked to the ground and he was left to die. Oedipus, the baby who was left to die was adopted. Grown up, he then tries to escape his destiny of killing his own father and marrying his mother, but does so without knowing.
 * After becoming king by ridding the town of Thebes of the Sphinx, Oedipus encounters another problem when a plague strikes the town because the real killer of the previous king has not been brought to justice.
 * Seeking justice, Oedipus inquires the Oracle, who he gets into an argument with. This argument happens because Teiresias accuses Oedipus of the crime and Oedipus blames Teiresias's anger. Blinded by his stubbornness, he won't accept the fact that he could have been a suspect. Rage overpowering his actions, Teiresias claims that he is so fixated on Teiresias' rage he can't see his own.

__The First and Second Messengers__
 * They report the truth to prove that the Oracle's actions and 'tales' are fact and not just being made up.
 * They are unbiased characters which plays an important role because they are one of the few, who are unrelated to anyone in the story, therefore can simply achieve their tasks at hand.

__Herdsman__
 * Oedipus was given to the Herdsman by Jocasta, who was trying to get rid of her children
 * Only survivor between the fight of Laius and Oedipus

__A Chorus of Old Men__ Reiterate what is happening so far in the story
 * Represent the voice of Thebes
 * Give advice to Oedipus in the story

The herdsman and chorus of old men are not major characters, but without them, the story would be incomplete. The chorus of old men helped move the story along because they are the people who provided advice for Oedipus when he is confused. They are similar to the regular chorus in some ways but they do not always stay on stage and act as other characters when needed. However, they act as narrators, yet unlike the chorus, they are not apparent in each scene. They also provide advice for Oedipus when he needs guidance. Further more, the herdsman is the person who knows what is really happening between Jocasta and Oedipus. In the beginning, none of the characters know that Jocasta is Oedipus’ mother except the herdsman because he was the person to whom Oedipus was given to when he was just a baby. > > > __Questions__
 * 1) How would the story’s outcome be different if the Oracle had kept Oedipus’s fate to himself?
 * 2) How do you think the story would have changed if Oedipus listened to the Oracle in the beginning and accepted his destiny?
 * 3) Do you believe that the chorus being included as narrators in the story changed the opinions of the audience towards situations throughout each scene?
 * 4) How do you think the story would change if Oedipus was never given to the herdsman by his mother? Would Oedipus's destiny still be that he would marry his mother and kill his father?
 * 5) Oedipus replies to the Oracle's prediction of his destiny, "...Quick, home with you! Out of my house at once!" Pg. 442 Part I Line 449. Do you think that Oedipus called the Oracle because he was just curious about his future and did not //really// want to know what was planned for him?