Monday, November 1, 2010

Background Knowledge of Greek Tragedy

Oedipus the King has a large amount of historical significance. It has been a basis for psychological idealism, a metaphor used in many subjects, and an overall representation of what Greek tragedy is. According to Jan Parker, writer of The Patchwork Text in Teaching Greek Tragedy, it is vitally important to have a grasp on the history of Oedipus and the story in order to teach the audience viewing the play. It is a teach, in order to teach scenario. The director and dramaturg's duty is to teach the cast and crew (along with the cast and crew doing research of their own), as well as it being the cast and crews job to teach the story to the audience. It is important to look at a historical story from a teaching stand point, which is what Parker talks about in her short monograph. Applying this to Oedipus the King, the audience should be able to walk away from the show with a basis of knowledge about the story and its historical relevance.


Work Cited:
Parker, Jan. "The Patchwork Text in Teaching Greek Tragedy." Innovations in Education & Teaching International. 40.2 (2003): 180-94. Print.

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