Sophocles Oedipus Rex The Epic and Tragic Hero in Myth...

Outline- Background to story and structure Thesis the hero as both epic and tragic Oedipus Rex Theme and Plot The Epic and Tragic Hero in Myth and Culture How myth is ingrained, purpose Oedipus as a tragic Hero Formation of myth and commonalities with the everyman Aristotelian definition of hero Conclusions How Aristotles definition fits Oedipus Background- Within the rubric of the human experience we can find a number of commonalities that relate to psychology, culture, and the manner in which certain types of thematic materials are repeated in religion, mythology, and literature regardless of the time period or location. Many scholars believe this is because humans have a need to explore both the known and unknown, the past and the future, and the individuals place within their own society and/or culture. These patterns of themes that appear in religion and myth become, in fact, archetypal themes. Use of these themes allows us to re-craft the past, make sense of the present, and predict our future. There is synergism, then, in both myth and ritual that permeate history and culture the concept of a tragic hero is a prime example (Bittarello). This type of hero continues to amaze contemporary society witness the Star Wars or Lord of the Rings franchises all heroes with both tragic and epic proportions. Oedipus Rex is one exa mple of the complex relationship between the hero and society; tragic and epic, and the manner in which the very core of the herosShow MoreRelatedThe Heros Journey1704 Words   |  7 Pagesdiscovered many common patterns running through hero myths and stories from around the world. Years of research lead Campbell to discover several basic stages that almost every hero-quest goes through (no matter what culture the myth is a part of). He calls this common structure â€Å"the monomyth† (Hero’s Journey). The â€Å"hero’s journey† appears in drama, storytelling, myth, religious ritual, and psychological development. It describes the typical adventure of The Hero, who goes out and achieves great deeds onRead MoreGreek Mythology8088 Words   |  33 Pagesand  heroes  and  their  relations  with  ordinary  mortals.   The  ancient  Greeks  worshiped  many  gods  within  a  culture  that  tolerated  diversity.  Unlike   other  belief   systems,  Greek  culture  recognized  no  single  truth  or  code  and  produced  no  sacred,  written  text  like   the  Bible  or  the  Qur’an.  Stories  about  the  origins  and  actions  of  Greek  divinities  varied  widely,   depending,  for  example,  on  whether  the  tale  appeared  in  a  comedy,  tragedy,  or  epic  poem.  Greek   mythology  was  like  a  complex  and  rich  language,  in  which  the  Greeks  could  express  a  vast  range  of  Read Moretheme of alienation n no where man by kamala markandeya23279 Words   |  94 Pagesï » ¿ANTIGONE KEY LITERARY ELEMENTS SETTING This tragedy is set against the background of the Oedipus legend. It illustrates how the curse on the House of Labdacus (who is the grandson of Cadmus, founder of Thebes, and the father of Laius, whose son is Oedipus) brought about the deaths of Oedipus and his wife-mother, Jocasta, as well as the double fratricide of Eteocles and Polynices. Furthermore, Antigone dies after defying King Creon. The play is set in Thebes, a powerful city-state north of Read MoreAncient Greek Culture2704 Words   |  11 Pagesam studying right now. I feel that it was always interesting to learn about Ancient Greece and its culture in music and poems. Not only does it set music apart, but it also tells an interesting tale with its art, literature, architecture, important people, and historical significance or relevance. Now you know that I am a girl who enjoys a great tune and also enjoys delving in the history and culture of many ancient cities. Now let’s get started. One thing that sets Ancient Greece apart from all