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Oedipus Rex - Online Term Papers

Oedipus Rex

represents one of the greatest tragedies ever written. A classical style tragedy contains six main elements within a plot. These sequences are the exposition, the rising action, the climax, the falling action and finally, the catastrophe.
begins with the exposition. The exposition usually takes place in the beginning of the story and it sets up the rest of the plot. This is usually where the audience is introduced the dramatic conflict within the story. In , it is found out that the city of Thebes is besieged by a plagued that could lead to the devastation of the city. Kreon returns from Delphi and learns from the oracle that because the murderer of the former king, Laius, has never been ...

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killed Laius might - who knows? - Lay violent hands even on me -and soon. I act for the murdered king in my own interest." (33.141)
The rising action begins when the blind man, Teiresias, who is a prophet arrives. He is praised by Oedipus for his vast knowledge and then is requested the name of the murderer in order to rid the country of the plague. Tieresias professes to know nothing, which angers the king. Oedipus warns the blind man about remaining silent and even speculates whether Tieresias had a hand in the murder. This angers the old man and he states that it is indeed Oedipus who is the murderer. "I say that you are the murderer whom you seek." (39.149) Thus is the beginning of the rising action.
Other elements in the rising action include when a messenger arrives and informs Oedipus that his father, Polybus has died. Initially this relieves Oedipus because this news dispels what the prophet has said. This overjoys the king's wife, Iokaste. "Yet this news of your ...

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Oedipus Rex. (2008, October 18). Retrieved January 13, 2026, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Oedipus-Rex/91629

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 10/18/2008 12:13:30 PM
Category: English
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 993
Pages: 4

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