In the play Oedipus Rex, Sophocles tells the story of a young man who is taken through life by his fate. ... Throughout the play Oedipus is searching for the killer of Laius, who is actually his father, and ironically it turns out that it was him all along. ... Oedipus" flaw is his ignorance. ... Oedipus, however, does not even think twice that it is himself who he wants to serve this punishment. ... Jocasta pleads Oedipus to end his search for knowledge, but Oedipus merely replies: " Forget it all? ...

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• Grade Level: High School

Sophocles was a great writer of tragedies who wrote Oedipus the King modeling Aristotle's theory of a tragic play. ... Also, Oedipus is so prideful that he is blind to the fact that he was indeed the killer of his father. He called for punishment on the man who killed Laius, the king and Oedipus" estranged father, when it was his hand that slain the king. ... Although the physical punishment was agonizing, emotionally, Oedipus was even more grieved. ... As the protagonist of the play, Oedipus parallels Aristotle's theory of a tragedy. ...

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Oedipus" opening speech to the gathered audience is consumed with dramatic irony. ... The audience knows that Oedipus killed his father and therefore being aware of his fate, the audience can distinguish the horror of Oedipus" threat against the murderer of King Laius. ... Besides creating this tension, the dramatic irony here also foreshadows Oedipus" tragic fate; the audience can feel fear and pity for Oedipus since he is oblivious to his destiny. ... The messenger who arrives thinks that he brings good news in that Oedipus" thought to be father, Polybus, is dead. ... This sets Oedipus on...

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• Grade Level: High School

In Oedipus the King, Sophocles demonstrates how Oedipus is one of the most tragic characters in all of literature while using countless examples of irony. ... A fascinating example of irony is Oedipus" life in itself. ... Oedipus threatens the killer of King Laius. "But my curse be on the one who did this, whether he is alone or conceals his share in it with others. ... The conclusion of Oedipus the King is also essential in classifying Oedipus as a tragic character. ...

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At the beginning of Oedipus Rex, Oedipus is the king of Thebes. ... Oedipus? ... He is also still sure that he can solve this mystery of the murder of Laius himself; so, he sends for the only one who survived the attack: a Shepard. ... All rejoice for if Oedipus?... At the beginning he was King and glorified and now he is the incestuous son who killed his own father. ...

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• Grade Level: High School

We realize Oedipus is damning himself when he declares punishment on he who has murdered King Laios. ... Many of those who know or read the story of Cinderella can identify with her just like they identified with Oedipus, which is what makes the writing powerful. Those who know of Cinderella wish to be her, to be swept of their feet and married to a prince and live happily ever after. ... He says, "he represents Oedipus as a man who believes he is the measure of all things, but shows how the belief leads him to the recognition that he is not who he thought he was" (Wilson,3). This is...

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Oedipus the King is a story of trials and tribulations for a man who believed he had it all. ... Oedipus the King can be seen as a tragic hero which is defined as a person of high status who experiences a downfall due to their tragic flaw. ... Oedipus vows to seek out the killer and get sweet revenge. ... The downfall of Oedipus seems to improve with the news of his fathers death, this means that Oedipus did not kill his father. ... Oedipus had a flaw that affected his entire life for the worst, too much pride. ...

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• Grade Level: High School

A tragic character is "A morally good but not perfect tragic hero who is brought from happiness to unhappiness because of a mistaken act, to which he or she is led by a hamartia, an error in judgment" (1493). A perfect example of a tragic character is Sophocles's Oedipus the King. ... Oedipus is a noble character who has no vices. ... King Oedipus fits the definition of a tragic character precisely. Despite his character flaw, he is a good and noble hero who tries his best to accommodate the wishes of his people. ...

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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

In Oedipus the King by Sophocles, Oedipus was a mythological character who experienced intense personal battles since the day he was born. ... Willy Loman was a low-middle class working man who worked his whole life and ended up in tragedy; whereas Oedipus's tragedy was placed upon him at birth which ultimately made him work his whole life to try to counteract it. A tragic hero is one who evokes a feeling of pity or fear in the audience. ... Miller's paradigm was Willy Loman a common man who experienced tragedy through wealth. ... Oedipus was a courageous leader who was cursed at bi...

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• Grade Level: High School

His drama, Oedipus the King – also known as Oedipus Rex, fits all Aristotle's requirements for a classic tragedy. ... He kills the man partly responsible in creating him and marries the woman who gave birth to him making him the son and husband of his mother and brother and father of his siblings and children! ... His struggle raises sympathy and pity for Oedipus by the audience. ... In Oedipus Rex, the recognition occurs when Oedipus discovers his origin and his true identity by the herdsman and that is also when the peripeteia occurs. The man who saved Thebes by the Sphinx becomes...

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"Oedipus Rex," written by the great playwright, Sophocles, depicts ancient Theban, Oedipus, who attempts to escape the fate given to him by an oracle. "Things Fall Apart," is a novel authored by Chinua Achebe and tells the tale of a wealthy African man, Okonkwo, who realizes that he is powerless when trying to protect his clan. ... He "left hold of Nwoye, who walked away and never returned"" (Achebe 152). ... He tells, "I would not have you speak through messengers and therefore I have come myself to hear you, "I, Oedipus, who bear the famous name"" (Sophocles 4). ... He takes advantage...

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(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. ... Oedipus's fate is pre-determined by a prophecy. ... A dynamic character is someone who undergoes significant development or change during the story. ... "Oedipus Rex" is a classic example of a tragedy. ...

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• Grade Level: High School

This ancient quote applies directly to Oedipus's life. ... The Gods control Oedipus. ... Oedipus could not avoid his fate because the Gods, who also determined his fate, gave his qualities and flaws to him. ... Oedipus's tragic flaws lead him to his downfall. ... To which we hear Oedipus reply, "There is nothing to fear- . ...

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• Grade Level: High School

Oedipus Rex by Sophocles is a famous Greece tragical play. ... The hero must be one who is highly renowned and prosperous. ... From the play (line 43- 55), the speech of the priest to Oedipus, saying " O mighty power, we turn to you", "by counsel of the gods or of men", "A king of wisdom", "Noblest of men" and " Liberator for your boldness long ago" show that they believe that Oedipus is the closest person to the god and is the only person who can lead the people out of the predicament. ... Oedipus is a tragic hero because he also fit in the definition of being a person who is not eminently go...

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• Grade Level: High School

The two examples that are reflected on are Sophocles' Oedipus the King and E. ... Oedipus was a true tragic hero. As an audience, we gain an emotional connection to Oedipus. ... In fact, it is the common man who knows this fear best.... Both Willy and Oedipus go blindly through life not knowing who they are, never realizing their full truths and neither can accept their failures. ...

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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

A hero stands as a prime example of who we should be and who we wish to be. ... This is especially true in the Greek hero, Oedipus. To me, Oedipus is the bravest of the Thebans. ... Who can relate to Beowulf, fighting a dragon named Grendel? ... Oedipus is a tragic hero according to Aristotle's Conception in The Poetics. ...

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Okonkwo is one of these unfortunate few who seethe with hatred for a man he hardly knew, but a man nonetheless who is his father. ... Aristotle is the first to define and use a tragic hero in the play "Oedipus Rex," translated from the Greek meaning King Oedipus (pronounced edipis). Oedipus becomes the king of Thebes by defeating a Sphinx plaguing the city. His prize is to marry the queen who turns out to be his mother. ... Ironically, it is the District Commissioner himself who provokes the turmoil of the tribe and Okonkwo. ...

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A character is also someone who re- enacts the actions of the plot. ... Describe the Aristotelian tragic hero and why Oedipus is a perfect example- The definition of an Aristotelian tragic hero is the demise of an essentially good person. ... Oedipus is a perfect example because he was brought up as a prince; he lived well and behaved well. ... Even though he swore he would never do such a thing the fact that he did not know who his real parents were left him subject to mistake and mishap. ... In my mind it applies to comedy through the Pepsi twist commercial because it shows Ozzy Osborn...

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In the Greek Mythology a hero is often referred to as a man of divine ancestry, who is gifted with great courage and strength, celebrated for his braveness, and favored by gods. ... Aristotle's best example of a tragic hero is Sophocles's play "Oedipus of the King", where the hero Oedipus is doomed to kill his father and marry his mother. ... A modern hero can be someone who goes to war to fight for his country and dies, or he can be a firefighter saving someone from a fire. ... A fantasy hero who is on the good side has all the characteristics of a traditional hero, but it does not ...

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• Grade Level: High School

In his book, "The Poetics," Aristotle expresses some of his thoughts about the merging of literature with tragedy.  Tragedy is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude. Every Tragedy, therefore, must have six parts namely, Plot, Characters, Diction, Thought, ...

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• Grade Level: High School

In the play Antigone, Sophocles at first portrays Creon as a respected leader who formulates a rational basis for his laws and punishments, and has a generally positive reputation among the people of Thebes. ... This reveals the great amount of change Creon has undergone since the events of Oedipus the King, in which he is a much more compassionate and sensible leader. ...

• Word Count: 951
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate