Oedipus Rex Paper
1) Please read the Fitts – Fitzgerald translation of Oedipus Rex (on D2L)
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2) Watch a a version of Oedipus.
Go to https://library.wcupa.edu/home
to Research Help
to Research Guides, scroll down to “Theatre”
In the middle of the screen is Digital Theatre Plus. Click on it
Log in with your email & password (it is safe)
You will be on Digital Theatre’s website. Search ‘Oedipus’
10 matches will come up. Below that there will b e a list of three productions.
Pick one of them and watch it.
Oedipus (Berkoff version 2012) rather modern (suggested)
King Oedipus (1972) shorter, dated but you might recognize Ian Holm.
Oedipus the King (1970), longest and older but has John Gielgud
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THEME: the subject of a talk, a piece of writing, a person’s thoughts, or an exhibition; a topic. (from Oxford Languages)
“The theme of a play is an abstract concept which part or all of the play is about.” (from Ball Backwards & Forwards)
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3) Write a paper and submit it on D2L as a PDF, or WORD document, answering the following:
a) What version of Oedipus did you watch?
b) Identify two major themes of the play based on what you read. Do not describe the plot, but tell me what the play was about (see above for what ‘theme’ is. What should the audience be thinking about after seeing the play? What is the point’ of the play?
c) How did the version you watch emphasize (or not) those two themes?
