In Oedipus the King, the Chorus functions as the collective voice of the citizens of Thebes. The Odes, sung by the chorus, also exemplify one of Aristotle’s criteria for great tragic theatre: “language enhanced by varying beauties.” Select one passage (You do not have to discuss the entire ode) sung by the Chorus and write a 150-word post in which you analyze the meaning of the passage and give examples of some of the beautiful language employed. Include the line numbers for us. Be sure to include the quoted material.
Please do not use a passage that someone has already used.
Also, address comments to others by name so we can all follow along.
76 thoughts on “Week 6 Discussion”
“Antistrophe
First, I call on you, Athene, deathless daughter of Zeus, and Artemis, Earth Upholder, 190 who sits in the midst of the market place in the throne which men call Fame, and Phoebus, the Far Shooter, three averters of Fate, come to us now, if ever before, when ruin rushed upon the state, you drove destruction’s flame away out of our land”, lines 190-194. In this ode sung by the chorus, they call upon the gods who are their saviors to bring them salvation, to bring them hope, to bring them peace, to save them from this plague that wishes to grant their city extinction. The city and all its inhabitants think highly of the gods, they sing praises, and they pray never-endingly for the gods to cleanse a curse that was purely ignored due to what one can describe as incompetence. There are many examples of beautiful language within these lines, for instance “when ruin rushed upon the state, you drove destruction’s flame away out of our land” this is perceived as beautiful language to me because it helps to create an image in my mind of a ruined city ravaged by a plague. With nothing left to do amidst the chaos, people get down on their knees to pray while everything else crumbles. Another example of beautiful language is “First, I call on you, Athene, deathless daughter of Zeus, and Artemis, Earth Upholder, 190 who sits in the midst of the market place in the throne which men call Fame, and Phoebus, the Far Shooter, three averters of Fate, come to us now” this again creates a popular sense of imagery for me because these people are singing out these prayers to their gods hoping someone answers. Much like how in church people sing out their prayers to god in hopes that they’ll be saved swiftly from their hell, so we wait and then the question becomes does this god or higher power care enough to answer these calls?
Giovanni, thanks for getting things off to such a good start. And thank you for being so thorough in your response, including both the quotes and your reasons for finding them powerful. I like how the gods are given other descriptors, such as “deathless daughter of Zeus.” We hear the poetic alliteration in this phrasing. You’re right that the language is like certain prayers that are said in church or passages from the Bible, and I am sure, other holy books.
Giovanni Wright Yes, i appreciate your explanation. People are waving God from their helpless hand, hoping that someone would help them and take out their problems. Every one belief god will be everywhere in complex situation. People think God should always be within that ruined city and question god or higher power to help them rescue them the mystery of the literature of great history.
Giovanni, thank you for that well thorough explanation. It was very accurate and well broken down for a clearer understanding. People want help and they are helpless they need a higher power’s help. They reach their hand out and expect God to always fix a situation but sometimes what people don’t realize is God will allow somethings to happen because some people go through tough battles but he places you there because he knows you will make it out of it. Though its tragic you’ve explained it beautifully.
Hey, Giovanni, thank you for your explain of the passage sung, perfectly reflects the meaning of the sung. They need salvation from the gods and bring them hope of peace.
Giovanni, thank you for your post, I enjoyed it. There is no doubt about the importance of the gods to the citizens. In this passage, we can see how they pray to help. They pray to Athene, Artemis, Phoebus and ask to come to them before the city is all destructed. To me, beautiful language is “Athene, deathless daughter of Zeus” – you also mentioned this in your post. This passage, as well as many others, show the faith citizens have in their gods.
Hi Giovanni,
I like how you connected this story of Greek mythology to modern day churchgoers. In the story, people pray and worship, and have a firm belief things will play out the way they’re supposed to. A plague is ravishing a community of people, and everyone is in search of the cause. There is a correlation between church and positive outcomes. As well as emotional connectivity in every set of diverse religions and beliefs.
Strophe
“There is no clash of brazen17 shields but our fight is with
the War God,18a War God ringed with the cries of men, a savage God
who burns us;
grant that he turn in racing course backwards out of our
country’s bounds
to the great palace of Amphitrite19 or where the waves of
the Thracian sea” The chorus sang Ode there is a war going on, and people are fighting with war God who is giving trouble to the people. They are so mad at God, and they are crying and asking for help where God is burning the people, and they think the God should help them but instead God is helping some other their enemy and so people are cursing God for the bad, and they believe the God is terrible and the way. There are people from where are crying and waiting for the help of God, but God is acting accordingly and acting backward, which they are nervous and telling that God is killing them and he is being happy with the waves of the Thracian sea. In this passage, the pain of the people from the ancient literature shows so much tragic story and people are suffering and they are calling the God Jesus to help. All people are Prying and hoping that God would help them but nothing went in favor of them and they think the fight is this time with war god where the opponent of them is war which God supports. Now they hate their God which kept them in this situation by saying “, a savage God who burns us;”. This is a tragic story where people lose hope from the God Jesus and Jesus Daughter and fight with all their power. These kinds of poems are from the real Imagination of the Greek world where the great Philosopher was born. This was the history of literature that made everyone remember this forever.
Saroj, yes, this is a cry to Zeus to vanquish the god of War. The battle raging in the city is not the conventional type with swords and weapons; however, the enemy of plague is just as deadly and merciless. In this passage, the citizens plead with Zeus to send a thunderbolt to stop the god of War whom they implicate in the terrible plague afficting the city. I agree that the plea is impassioned, much the way modern-day people might pray to Jesus. Just keep in mind that this play was written in the 5th Century BC (before the birth of Christ).
Saroj, this was explained splendidly it was very thorough and well put together. They want Zeus to save them because he is a God but what is being asked for causes more destruction does it not? They want a thunderbolt to come down and strike but it can inflict and cause more chaos due to natural causes of it affecting the town even more. The plea is most definitely impassioned and should be well thought about. You gave a great explanation.
Hi, Saroj
I liked your explanation of how the chorus loses faith in the gods because they “burned them” and as a result condemn the gods for letting so much innocent people die when they could have been saved. The people are begging the gods to help them but instead are betraying them to help the one who is burning them.
“Antistrophe
In the unnumbered death
of its people the city dies;
205 those children that are born lie dead on the naked earth
unpitied, spreading contagion of death; and gray-haired mothers and wives
everywhere stand at the altar’s edge, suppliant, moaning; the hymn to the healing God15 rings out but with it the wailing voices are blended.
From these our sufferings grant us, O golden Daughter of Zeus,16
210 glad-faced deliverance.”
In this Ode that is sung by the chorus lines 204-210 this hymn signifies the tragedy that they are going through with the destruction and famine that is happening around them. They are praying for better days to come but what is happening at the moment seems to hold them back their city is falling with multiple people dying so much that it becomes unnumbered. Innocent children death such purity striped away from the world. People are crying and wailing that their voices become a unison because of the way such pain blended together as one. They look up to the God’s looking for answers and help but in such tragedy like that they feel it would be hard to heal from due to so much tragic deaths of not only children but mothers/wives. The beautiful language that stands out to me is “everywhere stand at the altar’s edge, suppliant, moaning; the hymn to the healing God15 rings out but with it the wailing voices are blended”(Chorus 208.) It creates a audial imagery that while reading it as you proceed to get deeper into the reading it seems as if you can start to hear the blending of the wailing through the voices of the people causing you to create an imagery of what’s happening in the story. Another example of beautiful language is “In the unnumbered death of its people the city dies;”(Chorus 204.) This gives you a visual of all the people that are lying on the ground selfless and emptied because their souls left their body. This gives off imagery to see and visualize in your mind the scenery that is taking place while reading it.
Samijah, thank you for this very sensitive response to this anguish ode by the Chorus. I like your mention of the audial imagery in the passage—how the prayers and moans of anguish blend together. Some of the visual imagery is very striking too, such as the dead children lying on “the naked earth,” suggesting that all plants and vegetation have died. As you write, readers get an emotional understanding about the depth of the suffering.
Samijah thank you for such a powerful response to the ode sung by the chorus. The chorus is just like us, how we pray in unison for better days and brighter futures. When we have nothing left, we pray for love, we pray for strength and salvation, we do all these things with the hope that our prayers will never go unanswered because we are desperate. When you’re desperate you pray to any higher power that exists because we need something to cling to, we need to believe that something is strong enough to save us.
Hey, Samijah,
I wanted to add on to your thread with the symbols of Oedipus.
OEDIPUS: O dear Jocasta,
as I hear this from you, there comes upon me
a wandering of the soul—I could run mad.
JOCASTA: What trouble is it, that you turn again
841 and speak like this?
OEDIPUS: I thought I heard you say
that Laius was killed at a crossroads.
JOCASTA: Yes, that was how the story went and still
845 that word goes round.
OEDIPUS: Where is this place, Jocasta,
where he was murdered?
There are many symbols used in “Oedipus the King,” the first of which is the crossroads, the place where three roads meet and where Laius is killed. When people are at a crossroad, they are about to make choice that will influence their lives. At this crossroads, a hotheaded Oedipus kills his father without realizing. This was done in the heat of the moment, but in doing so, he has fulfilled part of his fate. The mention of the crossroads keeps the audience steps ahead of Oedipus before he even realizes his own fate. Oedipus is literally “swollen feet” in Latin, but can also be interpreted as “knowledge of one’s feet.” As a baby, Oedipus’s feet were pierced and bound with the scars symbolizing the crippling fate destined for him since his birth – it is one of the many examples of situational irony that neither Oedipus nor Jocasta connect his scars with the story of his birth. Another symbol was that Oedipus gouged out his eyes with his Jocasta’s brooches. The brooches held up Jocasta’s gown, so taking them off would reveal her naked body. Oedipus, who had slept with his mother, uses the same instruments used to unveil his mother’s body to him, to incite his own blindness, his own punishment.
CHORUS:
Strophe who is the man proclaimed by Delphi’s prophetic rock as the bloody handed murderer, 545 the doer of deeds that none dare name? Now is the time for him to run with a stronger foot than Pegasus for the child of Zeus leaps in arms upon him 550 with fire and the lightning bolt, and terribly close on his heels are the Fates that never miss (542-552).
In this ode the chorus sings, asking who is the person that had been declared at the murderer of the old king by the prophesies. Although Oedipus is being generous with the punishment of the murderer and to whoever comes forth with any information about the tragedy, there is no men who step forward. The chorus questions who is this person that commits such a crime yet no one dared to come forward and say his name. Because there is no one who is willing to come up and accuse him of the murder, it is the right time for the murderer to flee the country quick—quicker than Pegasus. The chorus then refers to Oedipus as “the child of Zeus” as Oedipus is well-loved by the citizens and has great influence upon them, they call him a child of the greatest god. They sing that the murderer should be running fast now since Oedipus is on his heels with rage and ready to set punishment on him. They say that not only is Oedipus is after him, the Fates that never misses their targets, are also coming upon him for the crimes he committed.
In this ode, the chorus first shows confusion as they do not understand why no one is coming to point out the murderer. For they have trust in their great king, they sing that whoever it may be, he should run because their king will be right behind to send him to his fate.
Yes, Yadanar there were no men to Come along and say the murderer of the King. This shows how helpless people were in the past and we can imagine that how hard was life for poor people at that time. King was the only hope of people and if there was no king there is there no justice and Zeus was the hope for them.
Thin, yes, this is a very dramatic ode that expresses a warning to the murderer of the former king, telling him that he will be pursued by the Fates, who never miss their mark. It evokes the modern-day saying “You can run but you cannot hide.” The Chorus seems to feel a terrible dread for this murderer, who has not yet been found. The ode also shows the faith the people have in the gods and their unremitting justice.
Hey, Thin Yadanar Su, I agree with you, it is very desperate when there is no hope, no one will stand on this side. However, because Oedipus is there and willing to help them, it is deeply loved by citizens.
“Whoever he was that killed the king may readily 170 wish to dispatch me with his murderous hand; so helping the dead king I help myself. Come, children, take your suppliant boughs and go; up from the altars now. Call the assembly and let it meet upon the understanding 175 that I’ll do everything. God will decide whether we prosper or remain in sorrow”. In this ode that is being sung by Oedipus, he addresses the concerns of his subjects as they seek his help from the plague that is causing harm to their city. In this quote, he lets his subjects know that he will do everything in his power to end the plague. He sends Creon to reach the oracle in order to find a way to end this plague, he learns that finding the murderer of the previous king will cause the plague to end. However this play goes a little deeper than that, the people are more or so begging god to help them from their time of need, and to no surprise, God does not show, which leads to them condemning god. In the play, the chorus says “so smite the War God, Father Zeus, beneath your thunderbolt, 220 for you are the Lord of the lightning, the lightning that carries fire.” In this quote, they’re asking Zeus to stop the god of war, who is causing the plague but they seem like they don’t really believe that God can really save them. This makes me think of when people pray for something but don’t have any real intention of believing in God, they just want whatever they prayed for. There is a lot of beautiful language in this play where the author uses it to give the audience the ability to visualize what goes on in the play for themselves. One example is “5 Our sorrows defy number; all the ship’s timbers are rotten; taking of thought is no spear for the driving away of the plague There are no growing children in this famous land; there are no women bearing the pangs of childbirth. 200 You may see them one with another, like birds swift on the wing, quicker than fire unmastered, speeding away to the coast of the Western God.” This shows imagery, where the author tries to make the audience see the plague as if it’s personified into something that can’t be escaped. Another example in this quote is a simile, where the chances of seeing a pregnant woman or a child are slim and it’s being compared to a bird flying swiftly. This means that death comes fast and you won’t even notice until it’s too late.
Rances, your post is full of good information, but the assignment for this week is to discuss an ode sung by the Chorus, not dialogue offered by Oedipus. You will find these passages in the Stropes and Antistrophes.
I seem to have misunderstood the assignment I would like to include an ode that was sung by the chorus “We look at this man’s words and yours, my king, and we find both have spoken them in anger. We need no angry words but only thought how we may best hit the God’s meaning for us.” The people are putting their faith in God because they believe he will be there for them no matter what and they have no reason to be angry towards him. This play uses a lot of audial imagery to help the audience create an image of how people did things at that time in history.
“Antistrophe
Truly Zeus and Apollo are wise and in human things all knowing;
(580) but amongst men there is no
distinct judgment, between the prophetand me—which of us is right.
One man may pass another in wisdom
but I would never agree
(585) with those that find fault with the king
till I should see the word
proved right beyond doubt. For once
in visible form the Sphinx
came on him and all of us
(590) saw his wisdom and in that test
he saved the city. So he will not be condemned by my mind.”
In this ode, the chorus expresses their confidence in the god’s wisdom, regardless of having their city devastated with a plague. And at the same time, their king Oedipus is being accused of being the source of their torment. They trust the king since he proved himself worthy of being the ruler for correctly answering the Sphinx riddle. As an example of beautiful language, I can cite the first sentence, which evokes in me that the chorus is expressing their humbleness and loyalty through those tough times. And I see that statement as being a strong expression of faith.
Hello Deanne, This is a great way to to explain what this ode is saying. The people in the city have so much trust in there gods that the gods must do something extremely horrible for the people to go against them. Even though they are going through a huge battle and are losing so many people from this plague the citizens will never doubt the kings. This was a great ode to chose and described it well.
Deanne, yes, in this passage the Chorus reiterates its trust in the wisdom of the gods and hesitates to take sides with Teiresias or Oedipus. Teiresias is said to speak for the gods, but they also cannot doubt Oedipus because he saved them from the Sphinx. The Chorus becomes increasingly conflicted as the play goes on, reflecting what you may likely feel as a reader. Thanks for a good post!
Hey Deanne,
I totally agree that their declaration proves the sturdiness of their faith. For they express confidence in the impressive wisdom of their gods. They are sure that the divine wisdom of God surpasses human comprehension. In light of this faith, they are able to make sense of the disaster that plagued their land- to them, their gods know best.
I really like that you mentioned that their faith remained intact despite the devastation of the land. This reminds me of the faith that I possess. In the Christian faith, we accept the inevitability of trials and tribulations. In difficult circumstances, we strive to remain steadfast in the faith due to our complete trust in the wisdom and love of Yahweh our God.
Hi, Deanne
I learned a great deal from your post about how that chorus seemed to look at the gods for validation but have trust in Oedipus for solving the sphinx riddle. I can see how the chorus had faith in not only the king but in the gods. I like how you said the chorus is being loyal and humble even though many of them are losing their lives. This shows the trust the citizens have in their king no matter what he gets accused of.
Antistrophe
In the unnumbered death
of its people the city dies;
205 those children that are born lie dead on the naked
earth
unpitied, spreading contagion of death; and gray-haired
mothers and wives
everywhere stand at the altar’s edge, suppliant, moaning;
the hymn to the healing God15 rings out but with it the
wailing voices are blended.
From these our sufferings grant us, O golden Daughter of
Zeus,16
210 glad-faced deliverance.
This passage is sung by the choir because it is telling Zeus and everyone what they are going through at the moment and how difficult life is for them. They are in high hope that life will get better in the future. They are awaiting help from God to stop the suffering that they are going through. A beautiful language in the passage is
“In the unnumbered death of its people the city dies”, lines 203-204. This is a beautiful language because it gives us a visual image of all the helpless civilians that are in need of desperate help and that are barely getting by. You can imagine all these people injured, unable to walk all over the streets and asking people for help but there is too much of them to help all.
Hello Alexsander,
It is a beautifully written ode, telling us of the misfortunes that people of Thebes were facing due to the deed of one man. Just like you mentioned, we can picture their devastating situation; newborns dying and spreading more diseases on the land that is already contagious. And people are scared and grieving, praying to Zeus to hear their cries and come save them. I like the part, “the hymn to the healing God rings out but with it the wailing voices are blended.” It describes the voices of citizens singing for the God and crying at the same time.
Hello Alexsander,
An excellent choice of the written ode, thebeautiful images used indicate the enormity of the situation and the suffering experienced by the people of Thebes. “unnumbered death” is a beautiful numerical use to deduce how many people die.” Gray haired
Mothers and Wives” A wonderful use of the visual image as a metaphor for the horror of the situation, misery and torment experienced by mothers and wives who lose their children.“ glad-faced deliverance”, despite all this suffering and loss, people still pray and hope for deliverance from Zeus and his golden daughter, and here aesthetic and sensual images such as “glad-faced” are used as a metaphor for the beauty of the deliverance they hope from Zeus.
Hi Alexsander, I agree. I think that this passage has lovely language as well that depicts the invasion of the plague upon the people. For example, the excerpt “in the unnumbered death of its people the city dies” (204), uses the word “its” to personify the city, and make the reader feel for how the city is being rattled by the plague. In addition, I think that this alludes to why the chorus later on expresses their anger towards their god, because they are at war with this plague. In addition, helps the readers to understand why they beg their god to take away their struggle.
Alexsander, yes, this is a powerfully bitter passage, depicting the great suffering of the plague. It has already been cited in this discussion, which you probably didn’t notice.
Hi
Alexander
I agree with you and I think that this passage has a beautiful language such as when it says “everywhere stand at the altar’s edge, suppliant, moaning;
the hymn to the healing God15 rings out but with it the
wailing voices are blended “as it shows their belief and how they have fought, prayed and pleaded for the welfare of their city. They express their suppression through prayers and supplications, thus keeping their faith high.
This written definitely shows and tells us the tragedy that a good amount of people were facing. Not because of something they did but because of something another person did which put them in bad situations. One can visualize the things going on and how the situation is looking as a whole. Justice and order seems to become a thin line of its counter part while one reads on. This definitely bring a light to what is going on and how people may be feeling.
Hello Alexsander, given passage gives us good description of those difficulties citizens were facing. The situation depicted in this passage is dreadful and demonstrates how these people need help. The most terrifying phrase to me is “those children that are born lie dead on the naked earth”. As you mentioned, we can see how citizens pray for help and it can be said that they still have hope for the future. I think that this passage not only describes the helplessness of the citizens but it also triggers the emotions of the readers.
The Chorus is very important part of Aristotelian tragedy so Greek tragedies are incomplete without chorus. The chorus is true representative of voice of Thebes society, and his odes are reflection people’s sufferings.
Our sorrows defy number;
All the ship’s timbers are rotten;
Taking of thought is no spear for the driving away of the plague
There are no growing children in this famous land;
There are no women bearing the pangs of childbirth.195-200.
In this ode sung by the Chorus, people are fully desperate and in extreme pain. It has increased the miseries and suffering of Thebes. Now they are fully hopeless because death has engulfed the lives of children, fathers and women. The plague is merciless and did not spare anyone. Every path is restricted that can take away from epidemic. Now it is wrong to assume that the people can escape from epidemic because a number of children and men are died due to famine. There are many words in Strophe like “Our sorrows defy numbers because these words gave the complete understanding of their sufferings. Their sorrows and miseries are out of the digits and “pangs of birth exactly naked depiction of infertility and endlessness. “No spear is beautiful narration of helplessness.
Amr, yes, this passage depicts the terrible suffering of the city in highly dramatic language.. We also see the metaphor of the city as a ship whose timbers are rotting from the core. I’m afraid I don’t your last two sentences here.
As I read the play In Oedipus the King, the Chorus functions as the collective voice of the citizens of Thebes. The Odes, sung by the chorus, exemplifies one of Aristotle’s criteria for great tragic theatre: “language enhanced by varying beauties.” A piece of the chorus which stood out to me was in the Chorus when Creon say “ Citizens, I have come because I heard deadly words spread about me, that the king accuses me. I cannot take that from him.
595 If he believes that in these present troubles he has been wronged by me in word or deed I do not want live on with the burden of such a scandal on me. The report injures me doubly and most vitally—600 for I’ll be called a traitor to my city and traitor also to my friends and you.” Creon is giving his confession to the people letting them know his side and what is and what is not true. Keep in mind they are in a time where to blatantly come out and call the king who accuse him a lier is more than likely put him in the direction of execution. Also saying that there is no proof of what people are accusing him of and all it does his effect him in a negative way. It tarnishes his image and tarnishes his relationships he made with others. That experiencing all this is almost no better than death, he will basically become or is already becoming a outcast where he lives. I found beautiful language within age of this writing and how in today society there are time where people who have done nothing have been accused for acts they did not commit or say. Then through that it’s effects there life and are seen I a different light for something they didn’t even do. Or better yet a person who has been accused of something in a situation such as the criminal justice system and your in court and you choose to represent yourself.
Arleen, I appreciate your posting; however, the assignment for this week is to analyze/interpret an ode sung by the Chorus. Your quote is, instead, dialogue by Creon rather than a section from an strophe or antistrophe.
Strophe
The augur40 has spread confusion, 565 terrible confusion;
I do not approve what was said nor can I deny it.
I do not know what to say;
I am in a flutter of foreboding;
570 I never heard in the present nor past of a quarrel between
the sons of Labdacus and Polybus, that I might bring as proof
in attacking the popular fame
575 of Oedipus, seeking
to take vengeance for undiscovered
of Labdacus.
Discussing what is going strophe is at a lost for words. Can’t seem to find the right words for what is going on. Yet definitely knows and can identify his emotions at the moment. claiming he never heard of any fights going on between Labdacus or Polybus in present or saw in the past or could say about the future. That he can’t properly say anything is truth and have no real evidence behind it. So vengeance or issues themselves sound far fetch.
540-555 “who is the man proclaimed by Delphi’s prophetic rock as the bloody handed murderer, 545 the doer of deeds that none dare name? Now is the time for him to run with a stronger foot than Pegasus38 for the child of Zeus leaps in arms upon him 550 with fire and the lightning bolt, and terribly close on his heels are the Fates that never miss.”
Chorus starts questioning the murderer and seems like they are presenting him in severe form – “bloody handed murderer”. They are curious about why no one can say the name of this person but they are sure about the fact that murderer should be running as fast as he can because something horrible is about to happen to him – Zeus will be using fire and lightning against him. We can see how this is inevitable because of the “fate that never miss”. Therefore, ode frightens the murderer and urges to run, however it also says that even if he runs, he will not run away from fate.
Hi Mariam Pruidze,
I like that you have chosen this chorus to analyze. I particularly liked this one for line 550, in which there is the use of beautiful language exalting how powerful their gods are to go after the murderer, even though his name is so far unknown. This line feels like a threat, implying that the murderer should flee, which consequently would set the city free from their sorrows. However, no matter where he goes, the gods will go after him because he cannot hide from his fate which is up to the gods to decide what it will be (552).
Mariam, I believe someone has already quoted this passage here; however, you post adds to this discussion. The Chorus seems horrified at the fate awaiting the murderer as they imagine the guilty one trying to flee the Fates, which will never be outrun. And yes, they cannot name the person though they know he/she is one of their own compatriots.
“There is no clash of brazen shields but our fight is with
the War God, a War God ringed with the cries of men, a savage God
who burns us;
grant that he turn in racing course backwards out of our
country’s bounds
to the great palace of Amphitrite19 or where the waves of
the Thracian sea” (211-214).
In this passage, the people are facing a plague that is causing them to question and become angry at their god. Though the passage uses the word “shields,” which implies a physical man to man battle, this war in which the chorus speaks about is actually talking about their war against the plague, which wreaks just as much havoc and destruction. In their plea, they are begging for help, for a god to come and save them from the war. I think that some of the beautiful language employed in this passage is the line “a savage God who burns us” (212). Not only does this excerpt depict possibly what the plague was (causing burns), but it also shows how angry the people were at their god, and how they believed that it was the source of their struggle.
Anna, this passage has been mentioned before, but your comments add to the discussion. Your analysis of the passage is excellent in its discussion of the metaphor of the plague to a great battle brought about by the gods of War. The people pray that Zeus will strike a thunderbolt and send the god of War back to the sea.
Hi Anna, I agree that “a savage God who burns us” is good use of beautiful language. It is good use of a metaphor to liken the effects of a plague to a burning of the people, and also emphasizes the importance of God and religion to the people involved. Not only is such language beautiful, but it also helps in making this such a timeless writing, as it aids in world building and establishing the setting and culture involved.
” Strophe
195 Our sorrows defy number; all the ship’s timbers are rotten; taking of thought is no spear for the driving away of the plague There are no growing children in this famous land; there are no women bearing the pangs of childbirth. 200 You may see them one with another, like birds swift on the wing, quicker than fire unmastered,
speeding away to the coast of the Western God”, liines 195-203. This ode that the chorus sung shows how bad the plague has damaged their city. Not only are their people dying but there is no form of repopulation happening. They are all fearing for the end of their city and praying that the gods will save them from this plague. Some beautiful language they used is on line 199 “ there are no woman bearing the pangs of childbirth”. This is a beautiful piece of language by the way they are able to give people an image on how the pain is for mother during childbirth but how worth it the pain is. It uses words like bearing the pangs and shows the reader how childbirth is painful for women but they need women to go through this pain in order to populate the city so they can rise in numbers. Another piece of beautiful language is on line 200-203” You may see them one with another, like birds swift on the wing, quicker than fire unmastered, speeding away to the coast of the Western God”. This uses the language to show how desperate and frightened the citizens are from this plague that they are trying to stick by on another and run as far away from this plague and go to the gods to pray for them to save them. This whole part sung by the chorus shows just how much suffering the people in the city are going through and shows how much they need the gods to help them in order for them to fight the plague and start repopulating the city once more.
Antonio, I share your admiration for this particular passage. There is a desperation to it as the Chorus watches the ravages of death through the cessation of new life through childbirth and to the vast numbers of dying people—as quickly as birds take flight. The reference to the gods of the western shore is a beautiful but eerie reference to death, which is seen as the place where the sun goes down.
“Creon”: Citizens, I have come because I heard
deadly words spread about me, that the king
accuses me. I cannot take that from him.
595 If he believes that in these present troubles
he has been wronged by me in word or deed I do not
want to live on with the burden
of such a scandal on me. The report
injures me doubly and most vitally
600 fOR I’II be called a traitor to my city
and traitor also to my friends and you.In this passage we can see how Creon is an angry and intent character because he doest care about what the king says in the way that the creon expresses himself in this passage and we know that by the end of the story Creon does not die he survives. Creon was in shock about what the king was talking about and Creon didn’t want to live with the burden because he couldn’t believe what the king was saying. Creon is a complete autocrat, a leader who identifies the power and dignity of the state entirely with himself.
I believe what you wrote and I talked about the same thing.How he reacted and it affected him showed how much it meant what others would think of him and over that his loyalty so he cant live with a burden for something he did not tho.The anger also shows his strong of character that could fight against all wrong doing.
strophe
“May fate ever find me
pious in word and deed
995 prescribed by the laws that live on high: laws engendered in the pure air of heaven,
whose only father is Olympus;
no mortal nature brought them to birth,
no forgetfulness will lull them;
1000 because God is great in them and does not age. “Line 995-1000 in this wave sung by the choir, with its belief in Olympus, asks heaven to be blessed with the word and work of those who live on high. This passage describes His faith, although his public is going through a bad time with the plague, they trust in the great power of God, their God. A beautiful language behind these lines is “May destiny ever find me pious in word and deed 995 prescribed for the laws that live in the heights “For me this is a beautiful language since it shows their faith before the gods and they do not lose hope of being heard, found by the work of Olympus (God). Another example of beautiful language It is “because God is great in them and does not age” for me this is a beautiful language since it speaks of the greatness of God and that he never leaves them alone since he would never grow old. In this wave they show greatness, faith, hope that they have towards God and ask one day to be e listen since they know that God will not forget them; This wave allows us to imagine the greatness of God and gives us great hope when they say that God does not forget because God is great and does not age.
‘There is no clash of brazen17 shields but our fight is with
the War God,18
a War God ringed with the cries of men, a savage God
who burns us;
grant that he turn in racing course backward out of our
country’s bounds
to the great palace of Amphitrite’19
The people of Thebes commence the ode by proclaiming that are at war. However, this war is waged not against a mortal opponent but an immortal being- the War God. This means the people are in trouble. Undeniably, they are in a terrifying predicament for their opponent has the upper hand- he can see them but they can’t see him. In addition, he possesses supernatural power and intelligence. Even worse, he fights with supernatural weapons. What hope do the people have?
In order to deny a human conflict, the playwright uses the language ‘there is no clash of brazen shields’. The allusion to the sound of colliding weapons employs the literary device of onomatopoeia.
This War God is said to be ‘ringed with the cries of men’. I understand that this conveys that the people’s groanings are continuous and desperate for their imploration is compared to the ringing of a phone. A constant ringing noise is really annoying. Nevertheless, their dire emotional state is understandable considering that this god is ‘savage’. How could they survive at the hands of his wrath?
More so, he ‘burns’ them. ‘Burn’ is often used to refer to the effect of a hot flame of fire yet they employ this word to describe their experience at the hands of this god. What did they do to this god to send him into such fury?
Right after, the people express their hope that their invisible enemy chooses to let go of his grievance. They hope that he ‘ turn in the racing course backward’. This is another creative use of language. In my mind, this creates an illustration of a running horse. As swiftly as a horse would change direction as it races on the field, is the same speed at which the people of Thebes long for the War God to retract out of their land and relieve them of their distress.
Excellent analysis! Great job pointing out the literary devices employed by the author of this great story. The passage you selected does a great job of displaying the state of dread the city is in and the inevitable suffer that’s to come.
Hi, Olere. This is an informative comment. You pointed out every literary devices that employed here. From the lines, we can see the gods are cruel. They do not have mercy. As you said, the god burns people. People are looking for help from some god, they don’t get any response. People are helpless.
CHORUS:
Strophe
who is the man proclaimed
by Delphi’s prophetic rock
as the bloody handed murderer,
545 the doer of deeds that none dare name? Now is the time for him to run
with a stronger foot
than Pegasus38
for the child of Zeus leaps in arms upon him 550 with fire and the lightning bolt,
and terribly close on his heels
are the Fates that never miss.
This quotes comes after the exchange between Oedipus and Theiresias. An example of beauty language employed here is “The doer of deeds that none dare name? Now is the time for him to run with a stronger foot than Pegasus.” This is a sort of warning, a turn back sign to King Oedipus as his world is about to crumble. The next line that states “For the child of Zeus leaps in arms upon him with fire and the lightning bolt,” implies how instead of heeding the prophet’s warning he instead responds with spite and anger. The last line “and terribly close on his heels
are the Fates that never miss,” indicates how futile his attempt to escape his fate are. His fate has already been predetermined by the gods, and the inevitable suffering of life is unavoidable.
I would also like to point out the imagery employed by “who is the man proclaimed
by Delphi’s prophetic rock as the bloody handed murderer,” this literally devices does a good job at illustrating the severity of Oedipus’ crime.
As I read what you have wrote I can definitely see the beauty of language which take place in this writing. Something that stands out to me in this writing is when you quote “ for the child of Zeus leaps in arms upon him 550 with fire and the lightning bolt, and terribly close on his heels“ you can actually visualize it and see how the language carries it beautifully with no issue great quote.
“Antistrophe
Lately from snowy Parnassus
clearly the voice flashed forth,
bidding each Theban track him down,
the unknown murderer.
In the savage forests he lurks and in
the caverns like
the mountain bull
He is sad and lonely, his feet
that carry him far from the navel of earth;39
but its prophecies, ever living,
flutter around his head.” Lines 542-563
In this ode, the Chorus sings that Oedipus is on Mount Parnassus. He hears voices coming from the mountain that are the Thebes hunting him down. As he’s running, he stalks in the forest and stays in caves to avoid being seen. There is a simile being used to compare him to a mountain bull from the way he moves throughout the mountain. As he is now away from the mountain, the prophecies that he’s learned now stay with him in his constant thoughts. This ode showed me some imagery as it describes Parnassus with lots of snow.
Hello Adonis,
In Greek mythology, Mount Parnassus is associated with Apollo/Phoebus, who is the god, among other things, of prophecy. I don’t think the text says that Oedipus is on Mount Parnassus, but that the prophecy came from Mount Parnassus – Apollo by metonymy. I liked how you analyzed the beautiful images used by Sophocles here. The “savage forests” and “caverns” the murderer wanders in can be seen as metaphors for the darkness in which he is. The chorus maintains the ambiguity about the murderer’s identity (who the prophecy revealed as Oedipus). They are torn between their faith in Apollo’s prophecies and their trust in the king that saved their city.
“Antistrophe
Truly Zeus and Apollo are wise and in human things all knowing;
(580) but amongst men there is no distinct judgment, between the prophetand me—which of us is right. One man may pass another in wisdom but I would never agree
(585) with those that find fault with the king till I should see the word proved right beyond doubt. For once in visible form the Sphinx came on him and all of us
(590) saw his wisdom and in that test he saved the city. So he will not be condemned by my mind.”
In the concluding antistrophe of the chorus’s second dithyrambic interlude, the townsfolk express their cognitive dissonance after hearing Teiresias’s shocking revelation. Asking Phoebus (the Greek god of the sun, therefore of light and prophecy) about the reason the gods unleashed a plague on the town of Thebes, the old blind prophet saw the uncomfortable truth: it is the old king of Thebes Laius’s murder that angered the gods, and his murderer is no one else but his successor, Oedipus. The chorus reaffirm their faith in the gods Zeus and Apollo, who are all-knowing. However, they also are indebted to Oedipus, who solved the Sphinx’s riddle and saved their city. In other words, what they saw in the past “in visible form” blinds them from seeing the current situation clearly. Oedipus’s “wisdom” is put in perspective with the prophet’s at the beginning (thus the repeated use of the word). Unlike with gods who are beyond question, human affairs are often beyond “distinct judgment.” It is a clash of faiths, the faith in their gods via the prophet and the faith in their king. The antistrophe’s phrasing, with its back-and-forth between arguments, conveys the torment they are facing, and their blindness to the truth. As they sing in the preceding strophe, they “do not approve what was said nor can [they] deny it.”
Strophe
O generations of men, how I
1370 count you as equal with those who live
not at all!
What man, What man on earth wins more
of happiness than a seeming
and after that turning away?
1375 Oedipus, you are my pattern of this,
Oedipus, you and your fate!
Luckless Oedipus, whom of all men
I envy not at all.
In this passage, Strophe is claiming that Oedipus’ struggle is not of his own choice, but rather his fate, as no man would voluntarily achieve a happiness and then turn away from it. Despite Oedipus’ political position in life, Strophe does not envy his emotional position. Beautiful language is used in this passage when Strophe says:
O generations of men, how I
1370 count you as equal with those who live
not at all!
What man, What man on earth wins more
of happiness than a seeming
and after that turning away?
This part in particular means that Strophe believes life to generally be suffering, and all those who have lived on earth may as well not have lived at all, as nothing good ever comes of it. Even if you achieve a temporary happiness, it will always be lost.
Hi Emily, thank you for this. After reading the quote you chose, I genuinely didn’t understand what his cry to Oedipus was about, but you helped. I now understand that he was referring to Oedipus for the most part, but one thing I don’t quite understand is when you say that “strophe believes life to generally be suffering”. I didn’t really get that idea from this ode that was sung, but I also had trouble analyzing it myself; so you could be right.
OEDIPUS: O dear Jocasta,
as I hear this from you, there comes upon me
a wandering of the soul—I could run mad.
JOCASTA: What trouble is it, that you turn again
841 and speak like this?
OEDIPUS: I thought I heard you say
that Laius was killed at a crossroads.
JOCASTA: Yes, that was how the story went and still
845 that word goes round.
OEDIPUS: Where is this place, Jocasta,
where he was murdered?
There are many symbols used in “Oedipus the King,” the first of which is the crossroads, the place where three roads meet and where Laius is killed. When people are at a crossroad, they are about to make choice that will influence their lives. At this crossroads, a hotheaded Oedipus kills his father without realizing. This was done in the heat of the moment, but in doing so, he has fulfilled part of his fate. The mention of the crossroads keeps the audience steps ahead of Oedipus before he even realizes his own fate. Oedipus is literally “swollen feet” in Latin, but can also be interpreted as “knowledge of one’s feet.” As a baby, Oedipus’s feet were pierced and bound with the scars symbolizing the crippling fate destined for him since his birth – it is one of the many examples of situational irony that neither Oedipus nor Jocasta connect his scars with the story of his birth. Another symbol was that Oedipus gouged out his eyes with his Jocasta’s brooches. The brooches held up Jocasta’s gown, so taking them off would reveal her naked body. Oedipus, who had slept with his mother, uses the same instruments used to unveil his mother’s body to him, to incite his own blindness, his own punishment.
Please ignore this. This is a response meant for a previous comment.
Gamby,
Thank you for shedding light on the symbolism of Oedipus. His fate was bound to him from birth, and we see it play out with him blinding himself and killing his father. Your examples perfectly illustrate how his fate is bound, especially the crossroads, where one is suppose to make their own clear choice, yet he was killing his father without realizing. I also did not know about the interpretation of “knowledge of one’s feet.”, which further shows we knew is fate to be scarred. This helped me understand his character better.
Citizens, I have come because I heard deadly words spread about me, that the king accuses me. I cannot take that from him.
595 If he believes that in these present troubles me in word or deed want to live on with the burden of such a scandal on me. The report injures me doubly and most vitally— 600 for I’ll be called a traitor to my city and traitor also to my friends and you
In this passage chreon shows how strong of a character he is.When he is blamed for something he believes he did not do he takes in charge to talk about it and does not care what the king thinks.This shows how angry he is when he hears rumors.But the passage also shows his loyalty with his city and friends and how much he cares about it.That when he was blamed illegally his anger got out of hand.
CHORUS: You that live in my ancestral Thebes, behold this Oedipus, — Him who knew the famous riddles and was a man most masterful; not a citizen who did not look with envy on his lot — see him now and see the breakers of misfortune swallow him! Look upon that last day always. Count no mortal happy till he has passed the final limit of his life secure from pain.
In “Oedipus the King,” the Gods, not human beings, determine the fate of an individual. Sophocles’ play reflects his belief that suffering serves as a way to clarify the power of the Gods and their intentions for humanity. In the story, fate is unavoidable not matter the characters do to make sure they avoid their destinies. Ironically, the attempt to escapes fate itself is the very thing that ensures that fate is inescapable. For, Jocasta attempted to avoid her fate by telling the shepherd to abandon ad kill her baby, which led to a chain of events where Oedipus lived to fulfill the prophecy of marrying her after unwillingly killing his own father. Human choices and the Gods’ will are perpetually at odds. All of the character of Oedipus either start off as blind become blind, refuse to see the truth or wish they had never seen it at all. Prophet Teiresias is blind. Oedipus, Creon, and Jocasta are willfully blind to the truth culminating with Oedipus blinding himself at the play’s conclusion. At the end of the play, the Chorus wishes themselves struck blind, wishing they had never seen the shame that Oedipus must bare. Blindness symbolizes the character’s ignorance, however once they acquire the knowledge and understanding that leads to the truth, their vision – and by proxy, their fate – becomes clear. We see this in especially in Oedipus, post exile, in the play’s sequel, “Oedipus at Colonus,” but that’s for another day.
“Antistrophe
First I call on you, Athene, deathless daughter of Zeus,
and Artemis, Earth Upholder,
190 who sits in the midst of the market place in the throne
which men call Fame,
and Phoebus, the Far Shooter, three averters of Fate,
come to us now, if ever before, when ruin rushed upon the
state,
you drove destruction’s flame away out
of our land.”
The chorus seems to be calling on a god (Athene); a god they believe in. “First I call on you” seems like their way of catching the lord’s attention. In other words, they are praying to their god, looking for help within their city’s disaster. “come to us now, if ever before, when ruin rushed upon the state, you drove destruction’s flame away out of our land” (193-196). In this section, they long for help in their community, while reminding the gods about the time(s) they’ve saved the city from disaster. In analyzing this, you can tell that these gods are truly reliable by the amount of trust and worship the city is putting out; not that they have much of a choice. This stood out to me because it can relate it to today’s world-in this covid pandemic- we are struggling and have been struggling with this deadly sickness for a while. Though, you can see the differences between then and now. Back then, they seemed to be very organized and comfortable with each other, in a way where they can all gather around as a community and speak on it’s health. We can honestly say that our modern generations and cultures will not allow us to be as civil in trying to fix our home.
And your unconquered arrow shafts, winged by the golden corded bow, Lycean king, I beg to be at our side for help; and the gleaming torches of Artemis with which she scours the Lycean hills, and I call on the God with the turban of gold, who give his name to this country of ours.220 to 225
From the lines, we can see the people really needs help. The people not just asking help from Lycean king, but they also asking help from other gods. There is something interesting here. In Greek mythology, Lycean king is a legendary king of Arcadia. He was a cruel king and tried to trick Zeus into eating human. If we don’t read some mythology, just read the lines. We must consider he was a good king. Here it descried he has arrow shafts, winged by golden corded bow. He was mighty. And they also asking help form Artemis. They asked many gods for help, but it seems useless.
“Strophe
If a man walks with haughtiness
1010 of hand or word and gives no heed
to Justice and the shrines of Gods
despises—may an evil doom
smite him for hiss ill-starred pride of heart! —
if he reaps gains without justice
1015 and will not hold from impiety
and his fingers itch for untouchable things.
When such things are done, what man shall contriveto
shield his soul from the shafts of the God?
When such deeds are held in honor,
1020 why should I honor the Gods in the dance?”
In this passage sung it implies that if someone does not fear the god of justice, does not respect the gods, is very arrogant in words and deeds, covets improper gains, and stupidly defiles the holy things, may bad luck catch it for this unlucky arrogant behavior. While doing such as the thing like this they can’t escaped the arrows of the gods. And this reflects God’s control over the destiny of human and the preservation of their authority. If such as behavior is respectable, then why should be sing and dance here? This passage reflects the dignity of God.
“Strophe
If a man walks with haughtiness
1010 of hand or word and gives no heed
to Justice and the shrines of Gods
despises—may an evil doom
smite him for hiss ill-starred pride of heart! —
if he reaps gains without justice
1015 and will not hold from impiety
and his fingers itch for untouchable things.
When such things are done, what man shall contriveto
shield his soul from the shafts of the God?
When such deeds are held in honor,
1020 why should I honor the Gods in the dance?”
In this passage sung it implies that if someone does not fear the god of justice, does not respect the gods, is very arrogant in words and deeds, covets improper gains, and stupidly defiles the holy things, may bad luck catch it for this unlucky arrogant behavior. While doing such as the thing like this they can’t escaped the arrows of the gods. And this reflects God’s control over the destiny of human and the preservation of their authority. If such as behavior is respectable, then why should be sing and dance here? This passage reflects the dignity of God. From this passage song, we can think of respecting everyone in real life and try to accumulate good deeds. The god will see these actions, if you do too many bad things, you will get retribution. Even if you can hide for a while, the retribution will always come, the god’s punishment will not come too late.
“Antistrophe” In the unnumbered death of its people the city dies; 205 those children that are born lie dead on the naked earth unpitied, spreading contagion of death; and gray-haired mothers and wives everywhere stand at the altar’s edge, suppliant, moaning; the hymn to the healing God15 rings out but with it the wailing voices are blended. From these our sufferings grant us, O golden Daughter of Zeus,16 210 glad-faced deliverance. “Strophe” There is no clash of brazen17 shields but our fight is with the War God,18 a War God ringed with the cries of men, a savage God who burns us; grant that he turn in racing course backwards out of our country’s bounds to the great palace of Amphitrite19 or where the waves of the Thracian sea 215 deny the stranger safe anchorage. This chapter represents the tragedy they are experiencing as a result of the damage and starvation that is occurring. What’s going on right now appears to be preventing them from moving forward. Their civilization is collapsing, with so many people dying and making it impossible to count. Children being born lie dead right after and Many mothers look up to God. People are screaming and crying so loudly that their voices are mixed into one voice. They appeal to the God for answers and assistance, but they believe it will be difficult to heal from such a tragedy due to so many unfortunate deaths. An example of one of the beautiful language employed is “the hymn to the healing God15 rings out but with it the wailing voices are blended.”, It shows how in tragic times one praises to God.
Antistrophe
In the unnumbered death
of its people the city dies;
205 those children that are born lie dead on the naked
earth
unpitied, spreading contagion of death; and gray-haired
mothers and wives
everywhere stand at the altar’s edge, suppliant, moaning;
the hymn to the healing God15 rings out but with it the
wailing voices are blended.
From these our sufferings grant us, O golden Daughter of
16
210 glad-faced deliverance.
This section reveals the plague that the city is experiencing which is killing a major part of the population. Innocent children, even from birth are being killed as by this plague as well.Besides these innocent children, mothers and wives are being wiped out by this plague. The people in the city are literally a cry for help as they stand at the altar where they are praying for help, as they are praying for this deadly plague to be put to an end. The number of death has become uncontrollable and that’s what made it scarier for the citizens of the city. As the people cry, they cry together and unified in hopes that their cry and prayers are heard louder. Antistrophe is seeking help from Athena.
CHORUS: “May the Sun God,47 king of Gods, forbid!
May I die
772 without God’s blessing, without friends’ help, if I
had any such
thought. But my spirit is broken by my unhappiness for
my
wasting country; and this would but add troubles
775 amongst ourselves to the other troubles.:”
The citizens are at a loss of hope from the wreckage of their city. Their spirts waist away from the endless killing brought down by their king and people. The beautiful language shown in this passage is when they say “May I die 772 without God’s blessing, without friends’ help, if I had any such thought.” The citizens rely and worship the Gods so much, but they are so Brocken down by the killing, they are willing to throw way their life, against the God’s blessing in order to stop it. This passage signifies the complete helplessness of the citizens, and how happiness is a lost cause. Another example of beautiful language is in “and this would but add troubles
775 amongst ourselves to the other troubles.:” This shows the spiraling state of their country. The citizen’s minds are spinning from the wreckage around them. It shows the endless cycle of troubles.
The chorus represents the citizens in the story. Their poetic lyrics add dramatic effect and their commentary plays out with the development with the story. The chorus comments on Oedipus’s greatness and weaknesses, and the fate of their King of Thebes.
718 Chorus: ”His words are wise, king, if one fears to fall. Those who are quick of temper are not safe.”
Oedipus is prideful, but rightfully afraid and angry of his possible fatal future. His arrogance is warned by the chorus.
320 Chorus: ”Yet if he has a share of fear at all, his courage will not stand firm, hearing your curse.”
Oedipus has an unreasonable attitude and uncontrollable anger towards an oracle that he will eventually kill his father and marry his mother. He is blind to his flaws and does not know how to appropriately handle this information. His decision making skills under stress further destroy him.