Oedipus Rex

Worksheet Description

This catharsis-focused worksheet is designed around Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex,” inviting students to analyze the elements that make this ancient Greek play a quintessential tragedy. By asking what kind of play “Oedipus Rex” is, the worksheet prompts learners to classify the drama and summarize its plot, distilling the story’s complex narrative into a concise overview. Questions concerning Oedipus as a tragic hero, his tragic flaw, and his responsibility for his downfall encourage a deeper investigation into the character’s journey and the pivotal decisions leading to his tragic end.

The worksheet’s emphasis on catharsis is especially significant, as it asks students to identify the moment of cathartic release within the play. This encourages engagement with the text on an emotional level, fostering an understanding of how catharsis operates as both a narrative climax and a psychological release for the audience. Students are guided to explore how the protagonist’s epiphany and subsequent actions orchestrate a purging of emotions, aligning with Aristotle’s definition of catharsis as a crucial aspect of tragedy. This exercise not only enhances literary comprehension but also connects students to the enduring human themes encapsulated in the ancient text.