In Greece people wrote many plays for entertainment. The most memorable and well written were called tragedies. "Oedipus Rex" displays many characteristics of this form of literature; such as a tragic hero, a dynamic character, and the role that fate plays in the outcome of his existence.
Now, you ask what is a tragedy? A tragedy is a "serious drama featuring a noble and dignified main character, often a member of royalty, who strives to achieve something and is ultimately defeated."(Holt, 302) One of the most memorable tragedies is "Oedipus Rex." This opinion is supported in the statement: "The most famous ancient tragedies are probably the Oresteia of Aeschyles, Sophacles, Oedipus Rex and "Trojan Women" by Euripides.
There are many characteristics that make up a tragedy, the most important being a tragic hero. A tragic hero is a "privileged and exalted character of high repute, who by virtue of a tragic flaw and fate, suffers a fall from glory into suffering."(Aristotle, Online) Aristotle once stated: "He must be better than we are; a man who is superior to the average man in someway."(Grade saver, Online) In Oedipus's case he is superior, not only because he is smart, but also because he is the only one who solved the Sphinx's riddle. Another major element of tragedy is the tragic situation. The tragic situation must have no solution and involves the characters in a tragedy.
.
Another form of literature involved in "Oedipus Rex" is the role that fate plays in the play. Oedipus's fate is pre-determined by a prophecy. During the play, Oedipus's fate is determined and the truth of the prophecy is revealed. A writer once said, "Fate is something which is usually spoken of in past tense; where future is concerned, there is usually an alternative or uncertainty."(Weber, Online).
The last characteristic of literature that I recognized in this play was the role of a dynamic character.