Just as in real life‚ you get to know the characters in a piece of literature by their words‚ their actions‚ and of course‚ by the words of others. This method of acquainting the reader with a character is called characterization. Direct characterization portrays a character through his or her own words‚ whereas indirect characterization illustrates a character through the author’s or other characters’ words. Direct and indirect characterization allow us to see not only each character’s obvious side
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Flynn Ap Lit and Composition 10/12/10 Death and heartbreak‚ both two very tragic things that could happen in your life‚ but what makes these things tragic? According to Aristotle there are many elements to a tragic tale. Oedipus Rex lives up to all of them. The reader knows how serious Oedipus’s actions are‚ how complete they are‚ and how high his fall is. A tragedy by definition is a drama which imitates an important and casually related series of events in the life
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Oedipus: An Exceptional Man In all the passages that have been written through history on how an excellent man should behave‚ one writing stands out from all of them. Aristotle’s‚ The High-Minded Man. This manuscript explains that for any play to be truly considered a tragedy‚ its hero must meet Aristotle’s standards for a high-minded man. In the tragedy of Oedipus Rex‚ by Sophacles‚ Oedipus clearly meets the requirements to be called a high-minded man. Oedipus is expressive about his thoughts
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Tragedy in Oedipus Rex The Greek drama Oedipus Rex is clearly a tragedy. It definitely meets the five main criteria for a tragedy: a tragic hero of noble birth‚ a tragic flaw‚ a fall from grace‚ a moment of remorse‚ and catharsis. Oedipus Rex clearly meets the first of these five criteria. Oedipus is the son of Laius‚ who was king of Thebes. Even at the beginning of the story‚ when we are told that Oedipus is the son of Polybus‚ he is still of noble birth; Polybus is king of Corinth. The
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Professor James Place October 15‚ 2012 Pham 1 In the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles (rpt. in James P. Place‚ Literature: A reader for Freshman Composition II‚ 1st ed. [Boston: Pearson‚ 2011] 122-168)‚ the oracles had prophesied that Oedipus would kill his father and beget children by his mother. Oedipus does not want to do the things that Apollo predicted; he is no puppet‚ but indeed the controller of his own fate. Oedipus was unwilling to have his fate come true; he was frightened that he
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The Robert Fagles translation of the last part of Oedipus Rex is the best translation compared to the others. The meaning of this excerpt is very rich and ties up the entire story. It also includes the main theme‚ which is one that still applies today. This translation is the best because it has some elements of poetry that makes it stand out from the others. In this section‚ the chorus is talking about the life of Oedipus. They are explaining of how he was the greatest of men‚ and how he solved
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to portray. Even though the presentation clarified most of my questions‚ I was still left pondering certain aspects of Oedipus Rex. In the book‚ the main question for me was if Oedipus really had control of his life or what he being controlled by the gods and fate. When Oedipus heard the prophecy for the first time‚ he tried to run away from it. That gives me inkling on Oedipus that tells me he believes in the prophecy and it will come to pass. When he really does kill his father without knowing
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Prof McGee November 23‚ 2013 Proper Punishment and Justice in Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex Within Sophocles’ play‚ Oedipus Rex‚ Oedipus’ destiny was to marry his biological mother and murder his biological father. Oedipus pointlessly tries to change his fate‚ but was powerless in changing anything. With no control over his destined fate‚ unaware of his family history‚ and unconscious of who his birth parents were‚ Oedipus is guiltless in killing his father and marrying his very own mother. Justice
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the audience mourn. They are also the voice of reason‚ clarity and sense‚ attributes to which we cannot associate with Oedipus. And so they play a vital role‚ connecting his actions back to the play. A way to describe the chorus‚ would be that they’re the collective conscious of the people’ of Thebes‚ but they also act as guardians. For although they are seen appealing to Oedipus to help them‚ they in turn have to help the king‚ they represent the faith that the city has in him. The chorus appears
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Oedipus Rex revolves around the main character Oedipus‚ king of Thebes‚ who represents major ironies and controversies within the story. The previous ruler of Thebes and father of Oedipus is Laius‚ who accidentally was killed by Oedipus. The wife of both Laius and Oedipus is Jocasta‚ who ironically is also Oedipus’ mother. Creon‚ Oedipus’ brother in law‚ stands as the messenger to the gods and Oedipus’ close friend. Teiresias is the blind prophet who reveals the truths of Oedipus’ life to himself
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