A detailed episode by episode plot summary of Sophocles' 'Oedipus Rex' with analysis for each scene. I've been getting consistent A*s in Classics and have created and used this to help me revise.
PROLOGOS Oedipus comes out of the palace, helps the “The world knows my fame: I am
priest to his feet and introduces himself with a Oedipus.”
Rhesis. The priest (another Rhesis) begs “I would be blind to misery not to
Oedipus to help rid Thebes of the plague. pity my people kneeling at my feet”
Oedipus laments the pain of the plague – Oedipus.
(kommos). Creon returns from the Oracle of “We beg you, best of men, raise up
Apollo and tells them King Laius was murdered our city!” – Priest about Oedipus
– everyone he was travelling with except one Priest and Oedipus talk about how
man who escaped. Oedipus is the saviour of Thebes
and the best of men – dramatic
irony
PARADOS 1st Strophe/Antistrophe: The chorus calls
upon the gods Zeus, Apollo, Athena and Artemis
to come down and save Thebes from the
plague.
2nd Strophe/Antistrophe: They complain
about horrors and afflictions of the plague,
including the huge number of deaths &
descriptions of the people dying.
3rd Strophe/Antistrophe: They describe how
the plague is likened to war and appeal to the
gods to defeat the horrors in the city.
Epode: They celebrate Dionysus and appeal to
him for help
EPISODE 1 Oedipus expresses his disdain for the “If I’d been present then there
murderer, says if he’d been there there’d be ‘no would have been no mystery, no
hunt’ (irony)asks them or anyone who knows long hunt” – Oedipus
them to step forwards & no one does so he “You are the curse, the corruption
curses the murderer (Rhesis). O & chorus of the land!” – Tiresias
leader send for Tiresias, he praises T and asks “You are the murderer you hunt”
who killed Laius. T recognizes the king's true “You’ve lost your power … eyes as
identity and repeatedly refuses to say the truth blind as stone” – Tiresias (irony)
because it will ruin lives. This frustrates O, they “True, it is not your fate to fall at
argue (Stichomythia and agon) and T tells O my hand” – Tiresias
he is the murderer & cause of plague. Oedipus “You pious fraud!” – Oedipus
talks about all the amazing things he’s done & Oedipus accuses Tiresias of being
calls Tiresias a fraud, saying he’s conspiring bribed by Creon.
with Creon. T says the killer is Theban & will be
blinded & married his mum and killed his
father.
STASIMON 1 The chorus sings of its confusion about The Chorus does not question the
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