Oedipus the king
Unraveling the Riddle of Oedipus
Study Guide
PITTSBURGH PUBLIC THEATER’S STUDY GUIDE
Oedipus the King by Sophocles
Translated by William Butler Yeats
September 28 – October 29, 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SOPHOCLES
Sophocles’ Life
3
Works by Sophocles
4
THOUGHTS FROM THE DIRECTOR
5
OEDIPUS THE KING
Synopsis
6
Characters
7
Glossary
8
The Translator
9
Themes
10
The Riddle of the Sphinx
11
ANCIENT GREECE
Daily Life
12
Why Ancient Greece Matters
13
Ancient Greek Theater
14
Modern Greece
16
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
17
ACADEMIC STANDARDS
18
2
SOPHOCLES
Sophocles (495-405 B.C) was one of the great playwrights of the golden age of Greek Drama.
The son of a wealthy merchant, he enjoyed all the comforts of a thriving Greek empire. He studied all of the arts. By the age of sixteen, he was already known for his beauty and grace and was chosen to lead a choir of boys at a celebration of the victory of Salamis. Twelve years later, his studies complete, he was ready to compete in the City Dionysia--a festival held every year at the Theatre of Dionysus in which new plays were presented.
Sophocles, as depicted in a
Roman portrait bust
In his first competition, in 468 B.C, Sophocles took first prize. More than 120 plays were to follow. He would go on to win at least eighteen first prizes. An accomplished actor,
Sophocles performed in many of his own plays. However, his voice was comparatively weak, and eventually he would give up his acting career to pursue other ventures.
In addition to his theatrical duties, Sophocles served for many years as an ordained priest of Alcon and Asclepius, the god of medicine. He also served on the Board of Generals, a committee that administered civil and military affairs in Athens, and for a time he was director of the Treasury, controlling the funds of the association of states known as the
Delian Confederacy.
One of
Study Guide
PITTSBURGH PUBLIC THEATER’S STUDY GUIDE
Oedipus the King by Sophocles
Translated by William Butler Yeats
September 28 – October 29, 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SOPHOCLES
Sophocles’ Life
3
Works by Sophocles
4
THOUGHTS FROM THE DIRECTOR
5
OEDIPUS THE KING
Synopsis
6
Characters
7
Glossary
8
The Translator
9
Themes
10
The Riddle of the Sphinx
11
ANCIENT GREECE
Daily Life
12
Why Ancient Greece Matters
13
Ancient Greek Theater
14
Modern Greece
16
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
17
ACADEMIC STANDARDS
18
2
SOPHOCLES
Sophocles (495-405 B.C) was one of the great playwrights of the golden age of Greek Drama.
The son of a wealthy merchant, he enjoyed all the comforts of a thriving Greek empire. He studied all of the arts. By the age of sixteen, he was already known for his beauty and grace and was chosen to lead a choir of boys at a celebration of the victory of Salamis. Twelve years later, his studies complete, he was ready to compete in the City Dionysia--a festival held every year at the Theatre of Dionysus in which new plays were presented.
Sophocles, as depicted in a
Roman portrait bust
In his first competition, in 468 B.C, Sophocles took first prize. More than 120 plays were to follow. He would go on to win at least eighteen first prizes. An accomplished actor,
Sophocles performed in many of his own plays. However, his voice was comparatively weak, and eventually he would give up his acting career to pursue other ventures.
In addition to his theatrical duties, Sophocles served for many years as an ordained priest of Alcon and Asclepius, the god of medicine. He also served on the Board of Generals, a committee that administered civil and military affairs in Athens, and for a time he was director of the Treasury, controlling the funds of the association of states known as the
Delian Confederacy.
One of