Mythology and

Folklore
Valerie L.
Cruz

Sophocles (496
406 B.C.)
one of the greatest
Greek poets
born at Colonus in
Attica

he
wrote
and
produced 120 plays in
all and Oedipus, The
King was known to be
the
most
perfect
Greek tragedy of all.

1.She left her family without a

word. She was an
unspeakable mother!
a. disgraceful
b. cannot talk with
c. unpleasant

2. The thought of you leaving

me, makes me shudder.
a. sad
b. tremble
c. shrink

3. It was stacked, it cannot be

gouged out.
a. extracted
b. forgotten
c. magnified

4. The films barely conceal the

war.
a. hide
b. secreted
c. reveal

5. Cory Aquino is widely

venerated by all sections of
society.
a. impressed
b. admired
c. awed

Concept Mapping

Literature

Tragedy

Irony

Oedipus

King Lauis and Queen Jocasta

reigned the city of Thebes. King Lauis
was warned by the oracle of Apollo in
Delphi that a prophecy is bound to
happen. His own son will kill him and will
marry his own mother and will have
children with her. King Lauis was
determined to avoid the prophecy by not
having a child but he failed.

King Lauis and Jocasta gave their

son to one of their slaves to bring the
baby to Mt. Cithaeron, which was hunted
by wild beast to die there. The slave felt
pity, so he gave the baby to another
shepherd. The King Polybus of the City of
Corinth was presented the baby and he
decided to bring him up on his own.

Years passed and Oedipus became

a full grown man of intelligence known as
the prince of Corinth but another Delphic
oracle told him that he was destined to
kill his father, marry his mother and have
children with her. So, to avoid this to
happen, Oedipus decided to journey to
Thebes away from King Polybus.

On the way to Thebes

he ran into an old man
driving a wagon at a place
where three roads cross.
The man ordered Oedipus
to move out, but he
refused.
He
became
aggressive and killed the
man he thought to be all
guards.

Before Oedipus could

enter Thebes, he had to solve
the riddle asked by the sphinx
who guarded the entrance to
the city, asked him, What
creature walks on four legs in
the morning, two at noon and
three
in
the
evening?
Oedipus answered, Man..

The city welcomed Oedipus and

offered him the vacant job of king and the
marriage to the kings widow, Jocasta.
After few years, the city was infected by a
plague. He told Creon, Jocasta brother to
consult the oracle at Deplhi who told
them that the plague was due to the
unpunished murderer of King Lauis but,
Tireisias said that Oedipus was the killer.

Jocasta disdainfully disagree to what

the blind prophet had said and told Oedipus
that there was a prophecy about King Lauis.
He should die at the hand of his son but he
did not. He was killed by robbers where
three roads meet on the way to Deplhi. He
told Oedipus that their son died in the
mountain.

It was then when a Corithian messenger

arrived with news that Polybus died so
Oedipus would be the King of Corinth. The
messenger told him that she was not his
mother and King Polybus was not his real
father. He explained that he was given the
baby many years ago by a Theban shepherd.
The Theban shepherd arrived and confirmed
what was said by the messenger.

And
the
truth
came upon them, the
prophecy was proven
true. He looked for
Jocasta but he found
her dead. She killed
herself with a noose
upon realizing the truth.

Oedipus,
standing
beside her mother, he too
turned his hand against
himself, but not to end his
life. He change his light to
darkness. He gouged his
eyes and left Thebes.

GROUP ACTIVITY
The group shall draw a symbolic
object to capsulize the whole story. The
students shall be able to present and
explain the output to the class.

ASSIGNMENT
Write an essay in which you prove your
thoughts on the statement below and use the
protagonist from Sophocles Oedipus the King
to build your argument.

Circumstances are beyond the

control of man; but his conduct is in
his own power.
Benjamin Disraeli

GUIDELINES
Include
Begin with
an introduction
thatof includes
and explain
one example
authors a
strong
title
& author
the
craft. It thesis.
should Include
build onthe
your
ideas
within of
that
text
you will
refer to in your essay.
particular
paragraph.
End
Provewith
your
thesis by developing
three your
body
a conclusion
that re-states
paragraphs
with relevantyour
andkey
specific
details.
thesis and summarizes
points.
Include two quotes from the story and cite
them properly.

Format:
Your essay must be typed Size 12,
Times New Roman Font.
Double-space your essay.
1 Margin all around.
No Title Page just your name