Oedipus the King Essay Assignment Western Literature February 3, 2015

Warm-Up for 2/3/2015  Look back through your journal and find the warm-up that asks you to defend your position on a thematic statement from the anticipation guide. Sophocles and the Greeks would argue about that statement  Re-read your response and then explain what you think Sophocles and the Greeks would argue about that statement in a five sentence paragraph.

Irony Gallery Walk make a list of all of the ironic moments and quotes  Put your Irony assignment on a desk in the room. As you walk around, make a list of all of the ironic moments and quotes from your classmates’ assignments.  You have five minutes to observe your classmates’ work.

Oedipus the King Essay Assignment  You will select one of the following prompts and develop a well-written essay with an introduction and a conclusion that answers the question.  You will be analyzing how this play reflects universal themes and lessons applicable in all times and places. You may choose to compare these themes to modern day beliefs but you must include an analysis of how Sophocles answers this question in Oedipus the King.  You must include at least five direct quotes from the text in your essay (blended into your sentences).  Your essay should be between 2 and 4 pages.

Oedipus the King Essay Assignment  How does Sophocles use irony to create what Aristotle calls catharsis (pity and fear) in the audience in Oedipus the King? How does irony contribute to the tragic effect of the play?  You may also compare another example of irony in a movie or book used to create catharsis with a modern audience to illustrate how a text produces this effect.

Oedipus the King Essay Assignment  Fate vs. Free Will: What is the relationship between fate and free will in Sophocles’ Oedipus the King?  Are humans just “playthings of the gods” or do they control their own path?  Compare the Greek view to our modern ideas of fate versus free will.  Consider Oedipus’ exclamation, “I abandoned Corinth, / from that day on I gauged its landfall only / by the stars, running, always running / towards some place where I would never see / the shame of all those oracles come true” (Lines ).

Oedipus the King Essay Assignment  Select a thematic statement from your anticipation guide.  Argue what Sophocles’ Oedipus the King reveals about that theme. Would the Greeks agree or disagree with the selected statement? What about your own personal beliefs?  Compare and contrast this theme in Greek culture as well as our modern culture.

Oedipus the King Essay Assignment YOUR ESSAY MUST INCLUDE  Introduction (including a hook, context—name of the play and playwright, and a clear thesis statement)  Body Paragraphs  Topic Sentence (assert the main claim of each paragraph in the beginning)  Evidence (direct quotes blended into your sentences). You must have at least five direct quotes in your essay.  Commentary (Warrant your evidence to your claim and overall thesis statement)  Conclusion (include a review of your main points and synthesize your points to the greater world).

Oedipus the King Essay Assignment RULES FOR YOUR ESSAY  Your essay must be between 2 and 4 pages long.  Your essay must be in MLA format and include a Works Cited. 2 nd person  You may not use 2 nd person (absolutely no “you” in your paper). the present tense  When you are discussing literature, you should always use the present tense.

Essay Planner for Oedipus the King PURPOSE OF THE ESSAY PLANNER: TO PLAN YOUR ESSAY. MAKE IT USEFUL TO YOU.  STEP ONE:  STEP ONE: Compare and contrast Greek values with our modern values to start unpacking themes in the play.  STEP TWO:  STEP TWO: Write your thesis statement to answer the prompt of your selected topic.  STEP THREE:  STEP THREE: Using the box provided, start outlining and/or mapping your essay.

Homework  Complete your essay planner for the Oedipus the King literary analysis essay assignment.