Freedom, fate, and necessity. Incest and parricide. The riddle of the Sphinx. Self-blinding and suicide. The latent terrors of human nature.
In this course, we will read Oedipus the King by Sophocles – a tragedy that, as Aristotle remarks (Poetics 1453b3–7), makes its audience shudder. It is one of the greatest ancient Greek tragedies and one of the most unsettling explorations of what it means to be human.
We will explore the conventions of Greek tragedy – its structure, meter, language, and dramatic techniques, referring to Aristotle’s Poetics, as well as situate the myth of Oedipus within the broader ancient Greek literary and artistic tradition.
Course details:
- Sessions last 1.5 hours
- 1 session per week
- Course lasts 14 weeks
- Term runs May 3, 2026 – Aug. 8, 2026
How ALI courses work:
- ALI courses are live, online classes run by ALI Ancient Greek professors. Learn Ancient Greek from anywhere.
- Classes run on a trimester basis.
- Fall: September – December
- Spring: January – April
- Summer: May – August
- We want to make sure you’re completely satisfied. If you don’t love your first Ancient Greek class, we guarantee a 100% refund. After that, in weeks 2 – 4, refunds will be made on a pro rata basis, based on however many class sessions you’ve attended. We cannot issue refunds after the fourth week of classes.
- Read more on our FAQ page and check out our academic calendar page to see a more detailed schedule
