Sophocles turns the chorus, simply serving as a nameless onlooker and commentator in other Greek tragedies, into a collective "actor" within the drama itself. The dramatic irony occurs when the reader or audience knows something important that a character in a story or drama does not know. ... The play contributed to the development of modern drama because every line of story contains a possible double meaning or an ambiguity, which made story more interesting. ...

• Word Count: 703
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Sophocles does not include any direct communication between the two lovers during this drama. The reader might assume that such a conversation could have taken place but was not included by Sophocles; however, it is my belief that if a conversation occurred between Antigone and Haimon prior to their deaths, Sophocles would have made it a part of his drama. ... When we look at the nature of the drama, we see that the point Sophocles is trying to make is a political one. ...

• Word Count: 1000
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Oedipus doesn't know it but we do and that's the hook of the drama, to keep the audience feeling terror and pity for the hero. ... Another part of the drama that makes it powerful is the notion of the tragic hero. ... The drama still evokes pity and terror from the audience even though in the end the audience disconnects from the character because of his rash actions. ...

• Word Count: 1070
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography

According to Aristotle, a tragic hero is someone who creates his or her own downfall, whose fate is not deserved, and whose punishment exceeds the crime. In the play "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles, the main character Oedipus is a perfect example of Aristotle's tragic hero. In the play, three main theme...

• Word Count: 647
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

In the plays "Oedipus Rex" and "Antigone", there is one reoccurring theme, which is represented in numerous ways. This theme is justice, but whether to follow the laws of man or the laws of the gods is a different matter. Apollo is the god of truth, light, medicine, and intelligence, being mentioned...

• Word Count: 984
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

In Oedipus Rex the drama is built around a similar, yet slightly different concept of faith. ... After analyzing both dramas it is quit evident that the themes of, fate and, the willingness to ignore the truth play a major role in the in sculpting the plot of these plays. ...

• Word Count: 1200
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Reading Report Six Sophocles Sophocles was born around 496 BC. He served as treasurer of the imperial league in 443 BC. Sophocles was also one of only ten generals chosen for the war against Samos. In 411 BC, he was selected to be on a special council to ...

• Word Count: 571
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

A tragedy is a drama in which a major character undergoes a loss in order to gain a new perspective. In Sophocles" Oedipus Rex, the reader sees the epitome of Aristotle's tragedy described in Poetics, the first section of his major critical work. In it, Aristotle defines the three key elements tha...

• Word Count: 696
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Tiresias is a blind prophet from Thebes, who is loyal to his city and wants good fortune for it. Creon relies on Tiresias to help make the decisions of Thebes. Tiresias was the one who told Oedipus of his prophet only because Oedipus insisted. Once Oedipus was banished from Thebes, Creon took ov...

• Word Count: 1097
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Irony is an event that is naturally bound to happen. The characters might be so wrapped up in a situation while being oblivious to the true reality. In literature, irony was originally used in Greek tragedy-the audiences had suspicions of what was bound to happen but the character was unaware. We are aware, or discover irony as the plot continues to develop in any story. Irony is used to stress the inevitable nature of reality or the contrast between an ideal and actual condition. ...

• Word Count: 1047
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School