The Greek Tragedy Elements Relation to Oedipus Rex Essay

Critical Essay, World Literature

Assignment Description:

You may choose to write the paper on The Epic of Gilgamesh.

Other literary works to write about will be the Lliad, Oedipus Rex or the Aeneid. These are most of the stories we’ve read throughout the course

PROMPTS

1. Compare and contrast 2 different characters from 2 different works of literature we’ve covered. Explore the question: What are the similarities and differences between [character A] from [literary text] and [character B] from [other literary text]? Also, explore why this comparison is worth making; what do we as readers gain from comparing these two characters?
2. Gilgamesh, The Iliad, and The Aeneid are all described as epic poems with epic heroes. So what makes an epic hero different from a regular hero? Drawing on examples from one or more of these 3 epic poems, explore and explicate the concept of an epic hero. Why is the concept of an epic hero important?
3. Explore the elements of Greek Tragedy and their use in the play Oedipus Rex. Argue for the importance of Greek Tragedy, and evaluate its value for later audiences (including contemporary readers). Use specific examples from Oedipus Rex.
4. The ability (or sometimes inability) to choose one’s destiny–what we might call “freedom” or “agency”–is a common theme in many works of Literature. On the other hand, ancient works often explore the role of the gods in human destinies or talk about fate or fortune as governing forces in characters’ lives. Considering one or more works of literature we’ve studied, explore the tension characters’ face between freedom of choice and compulsion by outside forces. For contemporary readers, how does ancient literature help us navigate our own choices and think about our own destinies? Address this question in your essay as well. *You may examine just one character or multiple, but draw upon the literature.

This should be an analytical essay (as opposed to a merely informative one). The essay should be argument-based: Advancing a thesis (argument) based on the writer’s own informed interpretation of the literary work(s). This informed interpretation should consider the views of scholars (see sources below). For example, if you chose topic three on Greek Tragedy, you would look for scholarship on Greek Tragedy and/or on Oedipus Rex. Literary critics are like investigative journalists in that both carefully consider a set of evidence, analyzing what each piece of evidence implies, suggests, or perhaps proves. For scholars, the primary and secondary texts are the evidence.

Sources: The literature you are analyzing makes up the primary text(s) for this assignment. You should also use three or more scholarly/academic articles, books, or book chapters as secondary sources. You must cite from all of your sources both in the essay itself (in-text), and include a list of works cited (properly formatted in MLA style). Use MLA style for all citation and formatting of the essay. A cover page is not required. Number all pages.

Length: Five (5) pages of writing, plus a list of works cited. Here “five pages” means five full pages of text: Four pages and a few lines does not count for the length requirement, and a letter grade will be removed for each page missing.

Authenticity: To earn credit, the work must be your own. A program in Blackboard will be used to check for authenticity via a general web search and previous submissions in prior classes. Work proven not to be one’s own will not be awarded credit. Plagiarism is the use of others’ words or ideas as if they were your own, and needs to be avoided at all costs. When in doubt, point out where any and all information is coming from in your writing. This keeps you safe. Also, quote, cite, and paraphrase in accordance with MLA style (MLA style may be reviewed online at the Purdue Online Writing Lab website, among other places).