"The Theban Plays" Unit Plan

Theban Plays Unit Plan
September 14th -September 25th
Text: Sophocles. The Three Theban Plays. Trans. Robert Fagles. NY: Penguin Books, 1984.
Student Responsibilities:
• Read Introductory material for each of the two plays
• Participate in the in-class reading – take roles
• Post daily responses on blog for each day’s reading
• Take notes and/or annotate text during the reading – questions or comments you may want to post or bring up during small group and large group discussion
• Jot down line numbers for quotations you may want to use to support your test answers
• Participate in small and large group discussions
Oedipus the King:
• September 14th: Introductory information; start reading the play, Oedipus the King
• September 15th: Read to the end of page 185 -- blog
• September 16th: Read to the end of page 211 -- blog
• September 17th: Read to the end of page 223 -- blog
• September 18th: Finish the play -- blog
Antigone
• September 21st: Introduction information; start reading the play, Antigone: 57-77 -- blog
• September 22nd Read 78 – 106 -- blog
• September 23rd: Read 107 – 128 -- blog
Assessment Discussion and Test
• September 24th: Large Group Discussion; finish blogging
• September 25th: Final Theban Play Test
Pretest Focus
• Purpose of the chorus
• Concepts
• Analysis of The Tragic “Man” based on the Aristotle’s definition
• Analysis of hero qualities – Oedipus and Antigone – blog generated list
• Discussion of theme – proper burial of the dead; conscioentious objection; individual versus state; conscience versus law; moral or Divine law versus human law; hubris; purpose of prophesy; the blind “see”; loyalty; free will vs. fate; ritual; despair; integrity; ignorance is an excuse; others that may come up during discussion


http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Sophocles