1answer.
Ask question
Login Signup
Ask question
All categories
  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Social Studies
  • Business
  • History
  • Health
  • Geography
  • Biology
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Computers and Technology
  • Arts
  • World Languages
  • Spanish
  • French
  • German
  • Advanced Placement (AP)
  • SAT
  • Medicine
  • Law
  • Engineering
Ad libitum [116K]
3 years ago
9

How does Sophocles manipulate different literary terms to enhance the theme of Oedipus Rex?

English
1 answer:
qaws [65]3 years ago
7 0

Answer:

Sophocles uses many themes to create one of the greatest Greek tragedies of all time. This lesson will go over the complex themes of 'Oedipus Rex' and how those themes propel the plot of this tragic play.

Fate vs. Free Will

The idea of fate and free will comes up a lot in Oedipus Rex. The characters seek out prophets and oracles to find out what prophecies are in store. For instance, when Oedipus is told his father was not his natural father, he seeks out the oracle of Delphi to find out the truth. The oracle does not actually tell him if his father is actually his natural father; he is only told he will kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus uses his free will to try and escape the prophecy, yet he ends up fulfilling it, literally, while running from it. Jocasta tries to calm Oedipus by telling him she does not believe in prophecies, since she and Laius were once given a prophecy that did not come true. When she recounts the story, Oedipus shares his own prophecy, yet they try to pretend this is merely a coincidence. We, of course, know otherwise.

In the end, Oedipus accepts that no one can run from fate; however, he states humans are able to use free will in how we respond to fate. After gouging out his eyes, Oedipus states the gruesome action is by his own free will, and not by the will of the gods.

Sight vs. Blindness

The theme of sight vs. blindness is used to show how characters seem capable of only seeing what they want to see. This theme is used in conjunction with irony, as the character that can see the most is actually blind; then, when the character that has the worst vision can actually see the truth, he blinds himself.

In the play, Oedipus claims he will save the people of Thebes from the plague by helping everyone see what they have all been blind to. Only the blind prophet, Tiresias, is able to see the truth about Laius' murderer. Oedipus refuses to see the truth and mocks the prophet's literal blindness. Tiresias warns Oedipus through riddles that he will soon be blind. When Oedipus finally sees the truth, he literally gouges out his eyes so he does not have to see the pain that he has caused or suffered.

You might be interested in
I need help please.
laiz [17]

Answer:

b. competitor  is the answer to your question

Explanation:

hope this helps

5 0
3 years ago
What does Brian see at the end of chapter 16?
kiruha [24]

Answer:

He goes to the lake to get a drink of water, and he sees something bright sticking out of the middle of the lake. No, it's not Excalibur. At first he can't figure out what it is, but then he realizes that it's the tail of the plane. The tornado somehow flipped the plane around and raised the tail up in the water.

Explanation:

4 0
3 years ago
Read 2 more answers
It is a statement or information that is real or proven true
natka813 [3]

Answer:

real becouse of the statement

5 0
3 years ago
Read 2 more answers
Your English teacher has asked you to write a story.
vlada-n [284]

Answer:

Explanation:

A girl was walking home one day, It was terribly cold and nearly dark on the last evening of the old year, and the snow was falling fast. In the cold and darkness, a poor little girl with bare head and naked feet roamed through the streets. It is true she had on a pair of slippers when she left home, but they were not of much use. They were very large, so large, indeed, for they had belonged to her mother and the poor little girl had lost them in running across the street to avoid two carriages that were rolling at a terrible rate.

One of the slippers she could not find, and a boy seized the other and ran away with it saying he could use it as a cradle when he had children of his own. So the little girl went on with her little naked feet, which were quite red and blue with the cold. In an old apron, she carried a number of matches and had a bundle of them in her hands. No one had bought anything of her the whole day, nor had anyone given her even a penny. Shivering with cold and hunger, she crept along, looking like the picture of misery. The snowflakes fell on her fair hair, which hung in curls on her shoulders, but she regarded them not.

Lights were shining from every window, and there was a savory smell of roast goose, for it was New-year's eve, yes, she remembered that. In a corner, between two houses one of which projected beyond the other, she sank down and huddled herself together. She had drawn her little feet under her, but could not keep off the cold. And she dared not go home, for she had sold no matches.

Her father would certainly beat her; besides, it was almost as cold at home as here, for they had only the roof to cover them. Her little hands were almost frozen with the cold. Ah! perhaps a burning match might be some good, if she could draw it from the bundle and strike it against the wall, just to warm her fingers. She drew one out- "scratch!" how it sputtered as it burnt. It gave a warm, bright light, like a little candle, as she held her hand over it. It was really a wonderful light. It seemed as though she was sitting by a large iron stove. How the fire burned! And seemed so beautifully warm that the child stretched out her feet as if to warm them, when, lo! the flame of the match went out!

The stove vanished, and she had only the remains of the half-burnt match in her hand.

She rubbed another match on the wall. It burst into a flame, and where its light fell upon the wall it became as transparent as a veil, and she could see into the room. The table was covered with a snowy white table cloth on which stood a splendid dinner service and a steaming roast goose stuffed with apples and dried plums. And what was still more wonderful, the goose jumped down from the dish and waddled across the floor, with a knife and fork in it, to the little girl. Then the match went out, and there remained nothing but the thick, damp, cold wall before her.

She lighted another match, and then she found herself sitting under a beautiful Christmas tree. It was larger and more beautifully decorated than the one she had seen through the rich merchant's glass door. Thousands of tapers were burning upon the green branches, and colored pictures, like those she had seen in the shop-windows, looked down upon it all. The little one stretched out her hand towards them, and the match went out.

She again rubbed a match on the wall, and the light shone round her; in the brightness stood her old grandmother, clear and shining, yet mild and loving in her appearance.

In the dawn of morning there lay the poor little one, with pale cheeks and smiling mouth, leaning against the wall. She had been frozen on the last evening of the year; and the New-year's sun rose and shone upon a little child. The child still sat, holding the matches in her hand, one bundle of which was burnt.

"She tried to warm herself," said some. No one imagined what beautiful things she had seen, nor into what glory she had entered with her grandmother, on New-year's day.

Hope this helped you!

6 0
3 years ago
if the verb in the independent clause is in the present tense in which tense should the verb in the indirect quotation be
Alchen [17]
If the verb in the independent clause is in the present tense, the tense that the verb in the indirect quotation should be is <span>remain in its original tense. 
</span>You don't have to shift tenses because it is present in the independent one.
For example:
He says: "I need to wash my hair."
He says that he needs to wash his hair.
You wouldn't say - he says that he needed to wash his hair. 

7 0
3 years ago
Read 2 more answers
Other questions:
  • . How involved do you think our government should be in our lives?
    8·1 answer
  • Pleasee help ASAPP!!
    12·1 answer
  • Squeaky talks about her love of running. It is her special talent and she is proud of all the hard work she has put into being a
    12·1 answer
  • What kind of figurative language is used here? The sun sizzled in a sky so blue, it could have been created out of a paint can
    14·1 answer
  • Read the excerpt from The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone.
    12·2 answers
  • Blossom red as sunset what part of speech is that.​
    10·2 answers
  • Can you help me please?
    12·2 answers
  • What is something you might have a sudden desire to do?
    10·1 answer
  • Which example below best supports her claim? A. a research journal revealing data that both traditional and year round schooling
    7·1 answer
  • Who made satire popular?
    14·1 answer
Add answer
Login
Not registered? Fast signup
Signup
Login Signup
Ask question!