The punishment must fit the crime, even for a king. Sophocles' Oedipus the King meets its grisly end with a lesson that focuses on the conclusion of the play and Oedipus' self-assigned punishment. Learners connect the symbolism of his newfound affliction to the prophecy of his fate, as well as to the central theme of the play.

Concepts

oedipus, sophocles, central ideas, literary themes, literary elements, literary analysis, greek tragedies, greek dramas, textual evidence

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Additional Tags

english language arts

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Instructional Ideas

• Have individuals journal about whether they believe Oedipus' punishment is too harsh or not harsh enough
• Encourage groups to record their responses to the discussion questions and to share their responses

Classroom Considerations

• The 18th of 20 lessons in a literary analysis unit

Pros

• Provides both a blank and model version of the annotation tool for the conclusion

Cons

• None

Common Core

RL.9-10.2 RL.9-10.5 W.9-10.9.a L.9-10.4.b