"The Oedipus Trilogy"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses Sophocles, the master of the tragedy and his "Oedipus Trilogy". The paper contends that the "Oedipus Trilogy" is a prime example of the drama presented in ancient Greece. The paper explains that "Oedipus Rex" is a better example of tragedy than "Antigone", not because it is more 'tragic' by the modern definition in any way, but because of the technicalities of the plot, presentation and characterization within the plays.

From the Paper:

"Sophocles is considered to be one of the greatest Greek dramatists, and remains among the most renowned playwrights even today. The Greek tragedy is one of the most influential genres of literary and theatrical history on the modern drama and theatre. The theatre of ancient Greece was inspired by the worship of Dionysus, and the performance of plays was considered to be a religious experience for both the actors and the audience. Because of this, the intensity of the Greek theatre was very strong, and the degree to which the plays were taken seriously as a means of influencing and interpreting life was also very high. According to Aristotle, the philosopher credited with creating the definition of a tragedy, "Tragedy, then, is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not of narrative; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish its katharsis of such emotions."

More papers on "The Oedipus Trilogy":

• Analytical Essay # 50852 : "Oedipus"
• Comparison Essay # 42509 : "The Tragedies of Oedipus Rex and Othello"
• Comparison Essay # 66808 : "The Role of Women in "Agamemnon" and "Antigone" "

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