Oedipus Rex And Antigone Rhetorical Analysis Essay
Major Works Data Sheet
Title: Oedipus Rex and Antigone
Author: Sophocles
Date of Publication: 430 B.C. and 441 B.C.
Genre: drama/tragedy
1. Characterize the author’s style: Sophocles demonstrates great insight into human suffering. He assumes a pontifical role in an attempt to present a moral lesson to the general masses.
2. Cite a sample passage that exemplifies the style (provide page number):
Chorus: “People of Thebes, my countrymen, look on Oedipus. He solved the famous riddle with his brilliance, he rose to power, a man beyond all power. Who could behold his greatness without envy? Now what a black sea of terror has overwhelmed him? Now as we keep our watch and wait the final day, count no man happy till he dies, free of …show more content…
Rhetorical Observation: minimum of five rhetorical observations (Make an observation about the author’s style and how it contributes to character, plot, or theme. Go to http://www.virtualsalt.com/rhetoric.htm for a list of common rhetorical devices. Please include a page number).
Personification: “Thebes is dying, look her children.” Page 271 (Oedipus)
Epithet: “O Tiresias, master of all mysteries of our life…” Page 275 (Oedipus)
Apostrophe: “O golden daughter of god, send rescue, radiant as the kindness in your eyes!” Page 272 (Oedipus)
Rhetorical question: “What! Has not Creon to the tomb preferred one of our brothers and with contumely withheld it from the other?” Page 2 (Antigone)
Analogy: “You see how all the trees on winter torrent banks, yielding, preserve their sprays; those that would stem it break, roots and all; the shipman too, who keeps the vessel’s main-sheet taut, and will not slacken, goes cruising, in the end, keep uppermost.” Page 27 (Antigone)
All of the quotes represent Sophocles’ style of writing by demonstrating the suffering humans endure by their own hands. Sophocles illustrates that others are affected by the actions of others. Also, the quotes represent the tendency humans have to rely on others in their time of …show more content…
Memorable or Significant Quotes: minimum of five quotes (write the quote, the page number, and why it is significant)
5. Symbols and Significance: minimum of five symbols (write the symbol, the page number, and what it is a symbol of)
Oedipus’s swollen foot (page 304) is a symbol of his true identity and represents the scars of his childhood.
The three crossroads (page 317) is a symbol of the fulfillment of Oedipus’s fate.
Physical blindness (page 31) is symbolic of the contrast between those who can physically see but are literally blind and those who are physically blind but are capable of seeing.
Antigone’s wedding veil (page 46) is a symbol of the wedding day that will never occur because of Antigone’s decision to follow the laws of the gods and not man’s law. Antigone’s prison tomb (page 29) represents Creon’s prideful nature and his refusal to be challenged by a woman’s actions.
6. Setting and significance: provide a minimum of five examples from the novel (include page
Title: Oedipus Rex and Antigone
Author: Sophocles
Date of Publication: 430 B.C. and 441 B.C.
Genre: drama/tragedy
1. Characterize the author’s style: Sophocles demonstrates great insight into human suffering. He assumes a pontifical role in an attempt to present a moral lesson to the general masses.
2. Cite a sample passage that exemplifies the style (provide page number):
Chorus: “People of Thebes, my countrymen, look on Oedipus. He solved the famous riddle with his brilliance, he rose to power, a man beyond all power. Who could behold his greatness without envy? Now what a black sea of terror has overwhelmed him? Now as we keep our watch and wait the final day, count no man happy till he dies, free of …show more content…
Rhetorical Observation: minimum of five rhetorical observations (Make an observation about the author’s style and how it contributes to character, plot, or theme. Go to http://www.virtualsalt.com/rhetoric.htm for a list of common rhetorical devices. Please include a page number).
Personification: “Thebes is dying, look her children.” Page 271 (Oedipus)
Epithet: “O Tiresias, master of all mysteries of our life…” Page 275 (Oedipus)
Apostrophe: “O golden daughter of god, send rescue, radiant as the kindness in your eyes!” Page 272 (Oedipus)
Rhetorical question: “What! Has not Creon to the tomb preferred one of our brothers and with contumely withheld it from the other?” Page 2 (Antigone)
Analogy: “You see how all the trees on winter torrent banks, yielding, preserve their sprays; those that would stem it break, roots and all; the shipman too, who keeps the vessel’s main-sheet taut, and will not slacken, goes cruising, in the end, keep uppermost.” Page 27 (Antigone)
All of the quotes represent Sophocles’ style of writing by demonstrating the suffering humans endure by their own hands. Sophocles illustrates that others are affected by the actions of others. Also, the quotes represent the tendency humans have to rely on others in their time of …show more content…
Memorable or Significant Quotes: minimum of five quotes (write the quote, the page number, and why it is significant)
5. Symbols and Significance: minimum of five symbols (write the symbol, the page number, and what it is a symbol of)
Oedipus’s swollen foot (page 304) is a symbol of his true identity and represents the scars of his childhood.
The three crossroads (page 317) is a symbol of the fulfillment of Oedipus’s fate.
Physical blindness (page 31) is symbolic of the contrast between those who can physically see but are literally blind and those who are physically blind but are capable of seeing.
Antigone’s wedding veil (page 46) is a symbol of the wedding day that will never occur because of Antigone’s decision to follow the laws of the gods and not man’s law. Antigone’s prison tomb (page 29) represents Creon’s prideful nature and his refusal to be challenged by a woman’s actions.
6. Setting and significance: provide a minimum of five examples from the novel (include page