small group exercise: “O, wise one?”
Has Oedipus grown wiser by the end of the play?
How do you know–i.e., what lines indicate his increased, or unchanged, wisdom?
What experiences have made him wiser, or eluded his learning?
Using brief passages from every three hundred lines, for a total of six data points, graph the change,or stasis, in Oedipus’s wisdom quotient over the course of the play. Be prepared to present the graph to the whole class, including explanations of how much wisdom each passage reveals. Focus solely on Oedipus’s words. Use a scale a ten-point scale, with Tiresias scoring a ten. Start your group’s exercise by identifying three clear criteria for establishing someone’s wisdom.
reporting
Each group will project its graph, while quoting and explaining lines for each of the six data points.
During each report, all audience members take notes by marking the lines and writing in the margins in their texts.
(During small group work, Mr. Brown creates document compiling results of “wise person” email–for comparison to “O, wise one?” exercise