Oedipus Rex
1. The myth of Oedipus differs from the play in that much of the mythology (such as the backstory and the answering of the riddle of the Sphinx) takes place prior to the play’s beginning.
2. An example of where Oedipus demonstrates hubris is when he states, “I count myself the son of Chance, the great goddess, giver of all good things—I'll never see myself disgraced” (1188-1190). This is just before it is revealed to him who he actually is—which brings about the disgrace he thinks he will never suffer.
3. Creon is Jocasta’s brother. Jocasta is both Oedipus’s wife and mother—so that makes Creon Oedipus’s uncle and brother-in-law.
4. The purpose of the chorus in the play is to provide narrative for the viewer. The chorus tells the viewer what is happening and also provides the moral lesson that is to be communicated plainly.
5. Exposition is given throughout the play. It sets the stage for the drama and tells about the suffering of the city of Thebes and the plague that his visited it. Information that is learned in another exposition is the background of Oedipus, who is, where he came from, and why he is identity matters.
6. The recognition in the play is that Oedipus is the killer of the king.
7. The reversal in the play is that proud, kingly Oedipus is brought low, blinded, and cast out of Thebes.
8. The three unities—unity of time, unity of space and unity of action—are employed in the play, which takes place over the course of one day, in one setting, and is focused on one action—solving the dual-mystery of who killed the former king and who Oedipus really is.
9. The 24-hour cycle is portrayed in the play because it takes place over the course of one day, with Oedipus vowing to get to the bottom of the mystery and ending with Oedipus discovering that he is the regicide and patricide.
10. Dramatic irony is employed in the play whenever Oedipus makes a vow—such as the vow to find the killer and bring him to justice (the audience knows it is Oedipus but he does not at that time).
References
Sophocles. (n.d.). Oedipus Rex. Retrieved from http://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/oedipus.html
