Irony in Oedipus Rex Definitions irony an event

Irony in Oedipus Rex

Definitions • irony – an event or situation that differs from what is expected; use of words opposite of the words’ actual meaning • situational irony – an action, event or situation that is contrary to what is expected or desired • verbal irony – when what is said is contrary to what is meant • dramatic irony – when readers or an audience knows more than characters in a text

Exercises Directions: Identify the type of irony used in the example. Explain your reasoning.

Example #1 VERBAL

Example #2 DRAMATIC

Example #3 Harvard Sailing Team – Puppy Pictures! SITUATIONAL

Example #4 TIRESIAS …You have mocked at my blindness, but you, who have eyes, cannot see the evil in which you stand; you cannot see where you are living, nor with whom you share your house. (pg. 28) SITUATIONAL

Example #5 OEDIPUS …But you didn’t come forward, you offered no answer told you by the birds or the gods. No. I came, know-nothing Oedipus, I stopped the Sphinx. I answered the riddle with my own intelligence. (pg. 27) VERBAL

Example #6 OEDIPUS …As for the murderer himself, I call down a curse on him, whether that unknown figure be one man or one among many. May he drag out an evil death-in-life in misery. And further, I pronounce a curse on myself if the murderer should, with my knowledge, share my house. . . (pg. 15) DRAMATIC

Blogging! Directions: In pairs, • • • Read the Introduction to Oedipus Rex, section “The Legend and the Play” (first 2 pages only!) Get one laptop for you and your partner and go to www. mrcjun. weebly. com Post a response to the 1/30 blog question: According to Bernard Knox, how does dramatic irony shape audiences’ experiences watching/reading Oedipus Rex? Why does Sophocles use dramatic irony in his play? Use evidence from the text you read to support your answer.